Training: the ultimate future-proof investment In today’s fast-moving world it would be impossible for bodyshops to keep on top of the latest developments and ahead of the competition without investing in training. The advantages of equipping employees with up-to-date knowledge and improved skills include maximized benefits from new technologies, higher-quality repairs, increased efficiencies and stronger motivation, to name but a few. Kaleidoscope has asked Sikkens technical experts from all over Europe for their own opinions on how continuous development of skills can help in future-proofing the bodyshop business. Kaleidoscope: From a technical perspective, what are the biggest challenges for a bodyshop? Armin Dürr, Technical Coordinator, Germany, Austria, Switzerland: Continuous change is the source of many of our challenges. For a start, painters need to cope with a much wider variety of substrates today. Often these are extremely sensitive, leading to problems with contour mapping. In the case of electro-coated steel and zinc-coated parts, sanding can become a particularly time-consuming issue. The automotive industry’s quest for improved efficiency in its production processes is another fundamental cause of change. For example, it is now common for OEMs to use a fillerless coating. Strictly speaking, this is not a completely fillerless process, but a wet-in-wet mixed application using two layers. The first is the functional layer, combining filler and basecoat as a foundation for the color, and the second is the effect layer. Our training makes painters aware of these trends and shows how our existing repair systems and methods can achieve the right effect. Our colored filler system, Sikkens Colorbuild Plus, which uses exactly the same basic principle, is becoming increasingly important in this respect. A trend toward greater individuality has resulted in ever more exotic colors and effects, using three-layer techniques, extraordinary matt clearcoats and other new approaches, all of which must be mastered by our painters. Alternative drive technologies, like electric and hybrid, also create extra demands, including different recommended drying temperatures. Kaleidoscope: What are your key aims in painter skill development? John Grevers, Technical Coordinator, Benelux: Our technical coaching comprises two main aspects: the ‘what’ and the ‘how’. The ‘what’ is about informing painters of new trends – explaining their background, exploring them and becoming aware of both the risks and the opportunities they bring. The ‘how’ is about understanding which product systems, equipment and repair techniques are most effective in achieving the highquality results that customers demand. 38 Sikkens - Services Pagina 37
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