Taking only five months from its color suggestion to supplying the paint, the company has now painted 1,300 police cars for the ministry. To manage this gargantuan task, the paint producer tripled its speed. The new Škoda Octavias, outfitted in BASF silver, are already cruising the roads of the Czech Republic.
The speed at which the car bodies were given their new color can be primarily attributed to the excellent cooperation between the two companies. "The cooperation between Škoda and BASF Coatings was seamless. We're happy to have worked with such a strong partner and look forward to continuing the cooperation in the future," said Dirk Lorbeer, account manager at BASF Coatings.
After Škoda commissioned BASF Coatings to come up with a silver paint, the coatings manufacturer's bid was accepted that same week. "The deadlines for delivering the cars to the Czech police laid down in the contract were so tight that the color development phase had to be condensed. We would like to thank the BASF team for its accommodation and flexibility in managing this job," said Michal Hahn, head of process technology for the paintshop at Škoda.
In the three weeks that followed, the BASF basecoat lab in Würzburg developed the final formula for the color. Škoda used the perfected formula to produce the first batch at its plant in Mladá Boleslav. When the cars were presented to the contacts at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the police, they passed with flying colors, and all systems were go for regular production.
In the following weeks, BASF Coatings supplied Škoda with over five tons of waterborne basecoat. In contrast to solventborne basecoats, water replaces the majority of the organic solvents in waterborne basecoats. The resulting reduction in solvent emissions means a considerably lower impact on the environment - a huge advantage of the technology.
In the meantime, the last of this order's police cars have rolled off the assembly line. The first follow-up delivery has already been planned. In 2009, 600 more cars are to be coated with BASF Coatings' paints.
About BASF
BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
The speed at which the car bodies were given their new color can be primarily attributed to the excellent cooperation between the two companies. "The cooperation between Škoda and BASF Coatings was seamless. We're happy to have worked with such a strong partner and look forward to continuing the cooperation in the future," said Dirk Lorbeer, account manager at BASF Coatings.
After Škoda commissioned BASF Coatings to come up with a silver paint, the coatings manufacturer's bid was accepted that same week. "The deadlines for delivering the cars to the Czech police laid down in the contract were so tight that the color development phase had to be condensed. We would like to thank the BASF team for its accommodation and flexibility in managing this job," said Michal Hahn, head of process technology for the paintshop at Škoda.
In the three weeks that followed, the BASF basecoat lab in Würzburg developed the final formula for the color. Škoda used the perfected formula to produce the first batch at its plant in Mladá Boleslav. When the cars were presented to the contacts at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the police, they passed with flying colors, and all systems were go for regular production.
In the following weeks, BASF Coatings supplied Škoda with over five tons of waterborne basecoat. In contrast to solventborne basecoats, water replaces the majority of the organic solvents in waterborne basecoats. The resulting reduction in solvent emissions means a considerably lower impact on the environment - a huge advantage of the technology.
In the meantime, the last of this order's police cars have rolled off the assembly line. The first follow-up delivery has already been planned. In 2009, 600 more cars are to be coated with BASF Coatings' paints.
About BASF
BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost €58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
