The PPS Colour Check Light introduced by 3M, achieves a virtually perfect match to the colour spectrum of natural daylight.
Depending where the vehicle is located in the crowded workshop or where you are in the repair process; the quality of lighting, the time of day or current weather conditions; whether the sun is shining or not – then the refinisher’s task of achieving an accurate, first-time colour match is made more difficult.
Imagine not having to worry about ambient light conditions and not being concerned that when the car is picked up by its owner in bright sunlight, that your spray-job; that was done under fluorescent lights, is not criticised or even rejected. Not forgetting, of course, the huge costs involved with a re-work.
Well help is at hand, because 3M has developed a hand-held light that can be used to check the colour match in what is a near perfect copy of natural daylight.
The portable PPS Colour Check Light uses a patented bulb that gives a virtually perfect balance to the colour spectrum of natural daylight whilst electronic systems maintain and control the light balance, regardless of the level of battery charge. There are two intensity light settings – Standard for mid-range colours and metallics, and High Intensity for darker colours or for use in extremely poor lighting conditions.
Daylight is characterized by a full and even light spectrum, without spikes, across the visible colour range. Daylight with its even spectrum is the best light source for viewing colours. For an artificial light source to mimic daylight properly it must have a light spectrum very close to daylight; otherwise it will affect the accuracy of colour judgement.
The Colour Check Light from 3M is also useful for identifying paint defects such as swirl marks, holograms and sanding marks.
The Colour Check Light carrying case containing light, battery, charger, power supply, cords and instruction manual.
Lights used in bodyshops can have an uneven spectrum and colours will therefore look different. The ability to spot minor imperfections and the need to examine colour from different angles and see complete coverage under fixed lighting is extremely difficult even for the most experienced sprayer.
The PPS Colour Check Light from 3M has a spectrum virtually identical to daylight and therefore colours look the same as in daylight. The Light can therefore reduce the chance of costly re-work caused by colour mismatch, poor coverage or metallic layout as well as pre and post-paint defects like swirl marks, holograms and burn-through.
The Light can also be a big help for estimators when they are assessing vehicle colour and where incorrect identification is an easy mistake to make. Xirallic paints for instance - that can look like regular paints in normal lighting - can now be easily identified and the risk of this potentially costly error removed.
To find out more about 3M Colour Check Light, contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
3M and PPS are trademarks of the 3M Company.
No matter where the vehicle is in the bodyshop, the 3M Colour Check Light provides near perfect daylight conditions – all year round
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New Booth Coating from 3M
A non-tacky fast and effective treatment for booth interiors.
Optimum lighting conditions in the paint booth are critical to top quality paintwork, so to maintain perfect lighting levels it is vital to keep all lights, walls and windows regularly cleaned of paint and primer overspray. But because this takes time and can be costly, there is a danger that it becomes regarded as an unproductive chore that discourages proper booth maintenance.
Thanks to 3M, there is happily now a quick and simple solution.
3M Booth Coating 06839 is a non-tacky coating that dries to a clear film and can be used to protect the entire booth interior, including light fittings and windows – essential sources of light when spraying in the booth.
Some booth coatings are known to discolour over time, however the non-tacky feature of 3M’s new product means that the protected walls stay cleaner and don’t smudge or smear if brushed against.
3M Booth Coating is available in one gallon containers; is applied using conventional spray equipment and is easily and quickly washed off with water or a pressure washer.
To find out more about 3M Booth Coating, contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
3M is a trademark of the 3M Company.
New Booth Coating from 3M
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3M Bristle Discs offer faster cleaning and longer life
3M has added a new, improved performance Bristle Disc to its Roloc Bristle Disc range.
Available in the most popular, 50mm size, the Roloc Bristle Disc Purple from 3M features a new open, spiral type bristle formation that limits the splaying effect, ensuring the action of the bristles is more directional. The bristles also benefit from a new polymer formulation that makes them stiffer and enhances longevity.
Bristle Discs enable the rapid removal of paint, e-coat, sealers, adhesives, coatings and light rust from a vehicle’s bodywork. The flexible prongs adapt well to awkward surfaces and there’s no risk of flying wires or damage to panel integrity, compared with other coarse removal products such as wire wheels and mule skinners.
3M’s unique Bristle Discs are a modern replacement for conventional abrasive brush products. They are moulded in one piece from a highly engineered composite containing an advanced aluminium oxide abrasive in a plastic binder material. The moulding is shaped into a disc with flexible bristles radiating from its centre in different widths to suit the application. Mounted on a Roloc Back-up pad and using conventional rotary grinding and finishing tools, Bristle Discs deliver a fast, consistent surface finish. In use, the discs wear evenly delivering constant performance throughout the product’s life.
The new Bristle Disc Purple joins Green, Yellow and White discs in the current 3M range that meet applications as diverse as rust removal, gasket and brake disc cleaning and paint removal on more sensitive substrates such as aluminium.
To find out more about 3M Bristle Discs, contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
3M and Roloc are trademarks of the 3M Company.
Bristle Discs offer faster cleaning and longer life
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Less spatter from new weldable primer
Advanced formula reduces weld spatter and aerosol nozzle blockage.
An improved zinc primer has been introduced by 3M to provide long lasting corrosion protection between metal surfaces that are to be welded.
Weld Thru ll 50410 from 3M can be used for both spot and MIG welding applications. The highly concentrated coating achieves the required coverage, without runs, quickly and easily from an aerosol spray can. The product’s new formulation results in a consistent spray pattern and virtually no nozzle blockage. Weld spatter too is minimised, reducing the risk of operator injury or damage to adjacent work. Welding can be undertaken within 20 minutes of application.
3M’s July Swistek recently visited Just Car Clinic, Nottingham where Panel Technicians Alex Millar and Mark Ingram said: "Used and abused it, didn’t shake or purge the aerosol nozzle and yet it still sprays well. Delivers plenty of product quickly and efficiently, without runs".
While Scott Chapman and Dave Smith, Panel Beaters at Stratstone Honda, Mansfield commented, "Better than other products – there’s minimal spatter when MIG welding, and that’s important".
To find out more about 3M Weld Thru II, contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requriements.
3M is a trademark of the 3M Company.
Less spatter from new weldable primer
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Further accolade for PPS™
The latest accolade is the Society of Automotive Engineers' (SAE) International Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award which recognises groups that have made strides toward reducing the environmental impact of the transportation industry.
PPS which is a unique, closed paint system that eliminates the need for separate mixing cups and filters, received honours in the Service, Maintenance and Logistics category.
Eliminating traditional paint mixing methods, the Paint Preparation System from 3M offers a one-cup mixing and spraying system. Upon completing the painting process, theliner and filter lid can be discarded, leaving only the spray gunand adapter to be cleaned. The painting system produces cleaner jobs, reduces solvent usage up to 70 percent and improves operator efficiency. Because there is less solvent used, the operator isexposed to smaller amounts of solvent vaoprs and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in addition to reducing disposal costs.
The key criteria for the SAE International Award are innovation, originality, demonstrated significant favourable impact on the environment and improvement over existing technologies.
"3M is dedicated to improving the environmental footprint of the transportation industry and we are honoured to be recognised for our strides," said Steve Joseph, product development specialist, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division.
3M is well known as an environmental leader. Recent recognition includes the EPA's 2005 Climate Protection Award, the 2005 and 2006 EPA Energy Star Sustaines Excellence Award, the 2006 Waste Management Award from Air and Waste Management Association for 3M's 30-year-old Pollution Prevention Pays Program (3P) and inclusion in the 2006 Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
To find out more about 3M PPS, contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
3M, PPS and Paint Protection System are trademarks of the 3M Company.
Further accolade for PPS(TM)
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Are you sitting comfortably?
New range of Protection Products from 3M
These premium quality products are designed to protect vehicle interiors whilst the cars are being worked on in the workshop – however long the job. No matter how many times somebody gets in and out of the car, the ultra-strong, purple seat covers resist tearing. The generous size is designed to fit all types of car seats and the profile of the cover features two pockets for extra coverage.
The seat covers feature two ply technology. The exterior of the cover film has a slippery finish, which makes it easy to manoeuvre in and out of the vehicle without moving the cover. However, conversely the interior surface of the cover is designed to grip the seat and keep the cover firmly in the required position.
Darren Lansley, Marketing Executive at 3M, explained: “One of the major issues with this type of product in the past is that it tends to rip easily, risking both potential damage to the interior through dirt and oil transfer, and the need to use one or more replacements during the repair. All of this adds to the cost.
“PAS125 requires bodyshops to take sufficient action to protect vehicle interiors during repair, while many insurers also stipulate that due care must be taken not to damage vehicle interiors.”
“This range of products is the ideal solution - made of a strong, protective, tear-resistant material which will last the duration of the repair, meaning less cost per repair than other similar products on the market.”
Completing the Interior Protection range is a large, heavy-duty floor mat and a steering wheel cover. Used together, these products provide princely protection for your customers, preventing any oil, dirt or debris from transferring into the car and also saving time and money on end-of-job valeting bills.
As part of an introductory offer, bodyshops ordering two rolls of seat covers and one pack of floor mats will receive one trial pack of steering wheel covers and a wall-mountable system dispenser free of charge.
Show your customers you care about their cars with the 3M range of Interior Protection Products. 3M has got it covered.
To find out more about 3M’s Interior Protection Products, contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
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3M simplifies the paint rectification process
3M has come up with a clever way to help bodyshops identify which compounds and polishes to use with which pads when carrying out paint rectification.
Whether it’s simple de-nibbing or a more serious defect, 3M offers a wide range of rectification products designed to help bodyshops achieve a perfect finish quickly and efficiently. It’s important that the correct application pad is used with the appropriate compound and it can be difficult to decide which combination of products to use.
So 3M has developed a colour coded system that matches compounds and polishes with the most effective pads.
The bodyshop should start by using Perfect-it™ III Fast Cut Plus compound, in a green-capped 1-litre bottle, on a green Compound Pad.
The next stage would be Perfect-it™ III Extra Fine compound that has a yellow top on a yellow-coloured Convoluted Polishing Pad.
The third step, to remove any swirls or holograms, needs Ultrafina™ SE (in a blue topped bottle) matched with a blue High Gloss Polishing Pad.
To find out more about the 3M Colour Coded Paint Rectification System Contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
Colour coded bottles and pads simplify selection
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Insurance incentive for plastic repairs
An exciting initiative has been launched by The Co-operative Insurance in association with 3M to encourage the repair rather than costly disposal of plastic parts.
The Co-operative Insurance will give repairers within their network who choose to repair a plastic part, a cash incentive equating to 50% of the cost of the new part. So, if a repairer decides to repair a bumper with a RRP of £260, the Co-operative Insurance will credit the repairer £130.
3M’s range of plastic repair products has been chosen by The Co-operative Insurance for this initiative. Automix™ Superfast Adhesive, Automix Instant Plastic Repair Patch and 3M Flexible Parts Repair Material are used to repair cracks in bumpers as well as tab repairs and rebuilds.
3M has run a series of road-shows around the country to demonstrate the simplicity and effectiveness of the product range to The Co-operative Field Engineering team and Network Support Managers and has exhibited at the Sexy Green Car Show and the International Motor Show, ExCel.
To find out more about the 3M Automix™ Plastic Repair product range Contact us today and a member of our Customer Service Team will be available to discuss your requirements.
The Co-operative Insurance Technical Assessors are shown 3M’s plastic repair systems
