Consumables
Refinish Uses Imagination and Drive to Capture Business in China
Thursday 26. February 2009 - DuPont has long been the global leader in providing technologically advanced products for the premium collision repair market. Body shops typically buy DuPont finishes and associated products from distributors, know as "jobbers." The shops then use their own "mixing machine" equipment to match and mix coatings for each paint job.
In some markets, however, small often one-person collision repair and paint shops are a vital and growing part of the refinish value chain. As low-volume operations, the shops are unable to afford the equipment and inventory needed for automotive painting services.
To meet the growing need, DuPont has developed Lucite — an economical paint line that is sourced in China and targeted specifically at the needs of small shop operators. DuPont also is launching Duxone XP, which is specifically designed for the needs of local Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) local dealership shops. The finishes are sold to shop owners through “DuPont Economic Line Product Standard Shops,” which also are referred to as “eco-shops.” Nineteen of the retail mixing shops are expected to be in operation by the end of the month, with a total of 150 planned by year-end. If the concept proves to be successful, it will be expanded across China and to other Asian markets.
“Its clear that these low-volume customers would typically not be on our radar in a market like China where the traditional new car brands like Toyota and Honda are growing so aggressively,” said Matt Robertson, marketing director, DuPont Refinish. “But due to the imagination and drive of our team in China, the eco-shop model proves that it is possible to capture business that might otherwise be missed.”