NEWS - Retail & Shopping Centers

By Lou Phelps, SBJ Staff

Jan 30 – Automotive Paint & Equipment of Savannah is doing its part to protect the environment by converting its tenth body shop to PPG’s waterborne technology, according to A.P.E.’s General Manager, Lonnie Strickland, of Savannah. (pictured.)   It is an effective solution for lowering VOC emissions- improving air quality and our environment. Waterborne paint is mandatory in Europe, Canada, California and parts of the northeastern United States.

The line of paint is called Envirobase High Performance, or EHP for short, and represents the 3rd generation advancement of the innovative, waterborne technology that PPG first introduced in 1999. Though it has not yet been put into regulation in Georgia, several collision centers are leading the way in their industry by making the switch early, explained Strickland.

“After getting familiar with EHP, we are finding it to be faster, better color match, lay’s down better and is easier to blend than solvent based paint. Painters using EHP would not go back to solvent based paint,” he adds.

Ward’s Auto Paint & Bodyworks of Savannah has just become A.P.E.’s newest partner in this aspiring movement. Ward’s has three locations in Savannah, two of which have already made the conversion to waterborne technology, with the third switching soon. Another collision center using the waterborne technology is Chatham Parkway Toyota/Lexus Collision Center. Chatham Lexus converted to PPG’s waterborne system in early 2009, and has continued to remain a frontrunner in Savannah’s collision repair industry.

“The Waterborne paint system has proved to be very good for us. The Refinish technicians adjusted to it easily. The paint matching is a lot easier. We always welcome the opportunity to use a “greener” product and improve quality at the same time. We work on all makes and models including our Luxury line, Lexus. We have to provide quality repairs and refinishing on every vehicle, the waterborne paint system helps us provide that to our customers,” said Joanie Iaco, Chatham Parkway Toyota/Lexus Collision Center Manager.

Behind these conversions to waterborne technology is an experienced and trusted company, Automotive Paint & Equipment, according to Iaco. A.P.E. has five locations in Georgia, in Warner Robins, Statesboro, Savannah, Dublin, and Brunswick.