By John McQuillan
Ecologically-minded coatings have become an increasingly popular choice for work truck manufacturers and refinish operations within the commercial vehicle industry over recent years. Increased focus on climate change, health concerns, and environmental regulations limiting the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be used in commercial coatings are factors contributing to this trend.
In response, coatings manufacturers are offering low VOC paint systems designed to meet the stricter regulations and contribute to cleaner air and a healthier work environment. The challenge, however, is creating a low VOC offering without sacrificing important qualities that the commercial vehicle industry demands—such as a great-looking finish and down-the-road durability.
One manufacturer that is effectively addressing this challenge is PPG. The company’s next generation DELFLEET ONE® paint system features exceptionally low VOC ratings and is specifically designed for use across the entire commercial transportation continuum—including the work truck, or medium-duty, segment.
“It’s pretty simple—the work truck industry can benefit from an environmentally-progressive coating system that enhances job quality and looks great over the long haul,” says Scott Colvin, PPG brand manager, fleet segments, USCA Commercial Coatings – Refinish. “The DELFLEET ONE system delivers these qualities while also reducing environmental concerns. It represents a major technological step forward.”
QUALITY & MATCHING
It didn’t take long for the DELFLEET ONE paint system to catch on with those who paint work trucks on a daily basis, like John Melvin Jr., owner of JM Collision Center in Laveen Village, Arizona. His shop provides collision repair service for a wide range of trucks ranging from pickups to Class 8 heavy-duty haulers.
“The gloss retention of the DELFLEET ONE system is phenomenal,” Melvin says. “It delivers this real smooth flow that looks better than any coating I’ve ever sprayed. In fact, it has more depth and clarity than factory finishes. And it’s a system that’s easy to manipulate. For example, on complete jobs we can get the metallics to stand up just the way we want. That’s pretty impressive.
“It’s important to note that a work truck, for the most part, is a rolling advertisement. That’s why appearance is so important. I’ve been in this profession for over 40 years, and I can honestly say the DELFLEET ONE system outperforms anything out there.”
While Melvin is a big fan of the system’s ability to deliver a great looking finish, it’s not the only attribute he appreciates. With thousands of OEM, fleet, and transit color formulas, and the industry’s most advanced color matching tools, the DELFLEET ONE paint system takes color matching to an entirely new level.
“The color capability of the system has allowed me to dial in on what have typically been difficult colors to match,” Melvin says. “Even painters without a lot of experience can blend out colors. That says a lot because before we brought in the DELFLEET ONE system, I would handle the tough matches. That’s no longer the case.”
HEAVY-DUTY DURABILITY
Right on par with color capability and appearance, collision shops that serve the work truck segment place great value on a commercial paint system’s durability factor. After all, trucks work in some of the harshest environments on earth, including mud, gravel, road salt, and blazing sunlight to name a few.
To mitigate such exposures, the DELFLEET ONE system features the latest epoxy and urethane coatings technology in its direct gloss and basecoat/clearcoat systems. Additionally, UV inhibitors are built directly into both the direct gloss products and the clearcoat for the basecoat/clearcoat offering. The result is a long-lasting, tough-as-nails coating designed to provide exceptional corrosion and UV protection.
To back the durability of any paintwork performed to PPG certification standards, PPG offers a comprehensive Commercial Vehicle Paint Performance Warranty. “The DELFLEET ONE warranty program provides a five-year warranty on our direct gloss system, and a seven-year warranty on our basecoat/clearcoat system,” PPG’s Colvin explains. “These warranty options directly reflect our confidence in the DELFLEET ONE paint system and its ability to deliver the hard-working, long-lasting finish that the work truck market demands.”
The appearance and durability qualities of the DELFLEET ONE system alone are cause for serious consideration from any commercial vehicle OEM or collision repair shop looking to upgrade their paint operation. But when you consider the fact that these qualities and much more are delivered by a system that offers a VOC reduction of over 50% compared to traditional 3.5 VOC paint systems, the decision to upgrade becomes that much easier.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John McQuillan is a senior writer for the Group-eX agency and has covered the automotive industry for more than 20 years. Find out more about the PPG DELFLEET ONE paint system, visit www.delfleetone.com.
