colorexpert - Spies Hecker

colorexpert 

Product Systems • Colors • Training • Marketing 

Project 

Volksrodder. 

Products 

Hi-TEC 

Performance 

System. 

Color 

ColorDialog 

Delta-Scan. 

Marketing 

Customer types. 

2012 

Spies Hecker – simply closer.

2 colorexpert 

Win a Volksrodder 

T-shirt at: 

Our trade is constantly changing. If bodyshops 

want not only to keep up, but 

also to compete on the highest level at all 

times, they have to be open to new technological 

trends. At the same time, values 

and traditions can still be useful. It is 

our conviction that a proven business 

strategy is the best foundation for innovation 

– and ultimately for success. We, 

to, can look back on a long and successful 

tradition – this year Spies Hecker celebrates 

its 130th anniversary. 

In touch with the 

industry. 

One of Spies Hecker’s key principles has 

always been to identify trends early on 

and come up with matching solutions. 

This way, its partner businesses can respond 

flexibly and skilfully and master all 

the challenges they’re confronted with. 

In this issue, you can find out all about 

such technological milestones as the Hi- 

TEC Performance System. Whatever the 

material – base coat, clear coat or surfacer 

– it’s all adapted to Permahyd ® Hi- 

TEC 480. The outcome is even greater 

process security and nothing but immaculate 

finishes. 

There’s also a new product for application 

on large surfaces. VOC-compliant 

Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 680 Base Coat 

brings an entirely new standard of refinish 

quality to commercial vehicles. 

Editorial 

Thomas Melzer, 

Brand Manager 

Spies Hecker GmbH. 

Tradition meets innovation. 

www.spieshecker.com/ 

volksrodder 

Dear Reader, 

And talking of technologies of the future: 

as you know, Spies Hecker has had a 

strong commitment to electronic colour 

measurement for some time now. With 

the new ColorDialog Delta-Scan, it is 

now possible to identify not only the 

color, but also the effect at the same 

time – with precision, ease and speed. 

Along with the above-mentioned and 

many other innovations, we are also bringing 

back history in a new guise in this 

issue. Do you remember the “Pretzel 

Beetle”? Austrian airbrush artist Knud Tiroch 

has breathed new life into a scrapped 

model. The outcome is a powerful 

engine, broad tyres and a low-riding 

body – a hot rod, painted with the Hi-TEC 

Performance System. The Volksrodder is 

a wonderful example of the accomplished 

blending of the time-honoured with 

the totally new. Allow yourself to be inspired 

– and take part in our prize competition 

at the same time. 

Enjoy your read of the new issue dedicated 

to the fascinating world of colors and 

painting! 

Yours Thomas Melzer 

colorexpert – tips and information for bodyshops • © SPIES HECKER GMBH, 50858 Köln, Horbeller Str. 17, Germany • Email: Patrick.Kreuz@deu.spieshecker.com Internet: www.spieshecker.com 

• Responsible under the German Press Act: Karsten Jürs • Editors: Patrick Kreuz, Christian Simmert • Layout: Adfactory GmbH, Düsseldorf • Text: Mediaservice GmbH, Neuss 

Reader: LLINGUA, Gelsenkirchen • Images: Spies Hecker, CH Coatings AG, ITW Finishing Systems and Products, Hedson Technologies AB, Metalak B.V. • Reproduction, even in part, only 

by permission of the editors. The data and information on the suitability and usage of our products are not binding and do not release the user from his responsibility to carry out his own 

tests on their suitability for the intended purposes and processes. The product names mentioned in the articles are predominantly registered trademarks.

Whether solid colors, metallics or effects, 

the range of OEM colors is growing in 

complexity. For years now, Spies Hecker 

has been assisting innovative bodyshops 

with digital color management – and is 

constantly refining it so that bodyshops 

can respond effectively even to the very 

latest trends. 

“With the newly developed ColorDialog 

Delta-Scan, refinishers get to the matching 

formula faster,” says Dietmar Wegener, 

Spies Hecker color expert, 

adding: “The device measures not only 

the color but also the effect, which simplifies 

data evaluation enormously. For 

each reading, the device issues a correction 

formula that can be displayed 

side-by-side with the measured color on 

the screen. Comparisons with color 

chips will soon be a thing of the past.” 

Another new feature of the ColorDialog 

Delta-Scan is the color touchscreen. 

Wegener: “Convenient menu guidance is 

assured with neatly laid-out, self-explanatory 

icons.” For inputs, it’s also possible 

to use the touch pen planted on the 

side of the Delta-Scan housing. 

ColorDialog 

A new dimension in color 

measurement. 

The new ColorDialog Delta-Scan measures the color and the 

effect at the same time – quickly, precisely and digitally. 

Precise measurement. 

The Delta-Scan measures the paint surface 

with multi-angle optics and analyses 

the color effect at the same time. “A rubber 

ring on the measuring head excludes 

external light and reflections to improve 

the quality of the reading,” says color 

specialist Wegener, listing further technical 

innovations of the device. In addition, 

four contact pins on the measuring 

head ensure that the ColorDialog Delta- 

Scan sits correctly on the surface. Additional 

LEDs increase the light intensity 

during measurement and contribute to 

exceptionally precise scanning. 

The calibration of the Delta-Scan also 

saves time, as the much longer intervals 

reduce the associated workload. “Usually, 

the refinisher only has to calibrate 

the device once a month,” Wegener explains. 

The software does 

more. 

The CRplus software has also been upgraded. 

The new software module ensures 

the straight forward application and 

evaluation of the measurement results. 

The color comparison on the screen has 

a very user-friendly design and takes you 

quickly to the desired color formula. The 

measured data are automatically compared 

with some 250,000 formulas from 

the database. The Delta-Scan also has 

internal data storage for the direct retrieval 

of car manufacturer and other color 

information. 

There’s no doubt about it: whatever the 

paint finish – solid color, metallic or pearl 

effect – with the new ColorDialog Delta- 

Scan, forward-looking refinishers get to 

the desired formula faster 

The device is due for launch soon. 

3


Hot rod Beetle! 

A powerful engine and broad tyres. A 

chopped, low-riding body. And yet, when 

you see the hot rod, you can’t help thinking 

of a VW Beetle. It’s an art project, an 

impassioned statement on behalf of 

Volkswagen’s cult car. A modified and 

tuned variation on a historic car theme. 

“The Beetle is a car that’s accompanied 

people down the years, from one generation 

to the next,” says Austrian airbrush 

artist Knud Tiroch about his project. “It 

has inspired love, hate, desperation and 

hope. As a military utility vehicle in the 

war. And then as the first car that became 

affordable to many in the 1950s. It 

has seen revolutions and experienced 

Flower Power in the Sixties. It is the 

Volkswagen per se.” 

Car with a soul. 

The artist has been specialising in “pimping 

up” muscle cars and hot rods for 

years now. In his Hot Rod Hangar in 

Vienna, Knud Tiroch and his son Dominic 

have breathed new life into the ‘Pretzel 

Beetle’. “This hot rod tells a new story of 

the forgotten Beetle that was abandoned 

on the scrapheap of 

history, along with a 

battered old Opel Diplomat 

with a GM V8 

engine,” says the artist, 

explaining his 

source of inspiration. 

“One day, the Opel really was scrapped. 

And the wings were taken off the Beetle. 

The little one thought to himself: ‘Surely 

this can’t be the end of the road?!’ It 

wasn’t, for the Beetle came back to life 

as the ‘Volksrodder’.” 

The hot rod style 

The project has a message: “If you firmly 

believe in something, it may one day 

come true.” This idea is indeed motivation 

for many – including the Spies Hecker 

team in Cologne. This was where 

the complete body was rebuilt and painted 

with Spies Hecker Hi-TEC 480. Many 

motifs and the Volksrodder’s logo have 

been incorporated in the paint finish itself. 

There’s a hint of barbed wire trailing 

across the vehicle superstructure. The 

Top-Story 

Beetlemania meets Hot Rod Art. Knud Tiroch and 

Spies Hecker present a global first: the “Volksrodder”. 

Dominic and Knud Tiroch

interior of the Volksrodder is more reminiscent 

of that of a B-52 bomber. Lots of 

brushed aluminium, heavy bomber seats, 

retro style and plenty of brass. The windows 

are of red solar glass to provide protection 

from the UV radiation on the salt 

lake. “Its look harks back to the highspeed 

races on American salt flats, the 

Bonneville Salt Flat Races,” says Knud Tiroch, 

explaining his interpretation of the 

interior. The position of the 700 hp engine 

symbolises the typical hot rod. Originally 

at the rear of the Beetle, it is now, in a 

powered-up version, at the front. Strongly 

accentuated with body parts made of 

milled aluminium. 

Many details on the Volksrodder only reveal 

themselves at second glance. The 

Floor panel 

bottom floor panel has been embellished 

with graffiti of the Berlin Wall. The artist 

explains: “With this graffiti, I want to show 

that history always accompanies us in our 

lives – like the Wall that unnecessarily divided 

Germany for almost 30 years. This 

is why I’ve added this feature to the lowest 

part of the body.” 

We know no bounds. 

Technically, the project was 

a real challenge for the 

Spies Hecker team. “We’ve 

achieved our goal,” says a 

proud Frank Barduna, 

Technical Manager at Spies 

Hecker. “Despite the historic 

body of bare steel and 

the new add-on parts, we succeeded in 

applying an absolutely immaculate finish.” 

Knud Tiroch has been working with 

Spies Hecker for 30 years now. “I really 

appreciate these guys with their specialised 

paint knowledge and their commitment,” 

says the Austrian, happy with their 

latest cooperative venture. “For my projects 

I need the best technical solutions 

available on the market. For the finish, I 

didn’t hesitate to choose the Hi-TEC Performance 

System.” 

Passion for 

technology 

The Volksrodder is unique. Handmade 

down to the finest detail, no compromises. 

Weight 700 kilos with a 700 hp 

engine. 

Body: VW Beetle Type VW 1 (Pretzel 

Beetle), dating back to the beginning 

of the Nineteen Fifties. 

Engine: Chevrolet racing engine, 

6.6 litre displacement, 700 hp, 8 cylinders, 

700 R transbrake (General 

Motors), computer-controlled 

ACCEL injection system. 

Typical hot rod: Roof chopped by 

20 cm. The body has been channelled, 

i.e. lowered over the frame, the 

wheel arches enlarged and the engine 

exposed at the front. Working 

hours roughly 1,000. 

Tyres: 525/15 Pro-Drag. 

Paint: Spies Hecker Permahyd ® 

Hi-TEC Performance System. 

5


Interview & Practice 

A class apart! 

The paint finish on the Volksrodder called for a technical 

master class. Frank Barduna describes how the Spies 

Hecker team rebuilt the body and surfaces. 

Michael Kramer, Jörg Sandner and Frank 

Barduna (from the left to right) teamed up 

with Knud Tiroch to style the Volksrodder at 

the Spies Hecker Center. 

What was special about 

this project? 

Substrate preparation and the painting 

were very precise. Don’t forget that this 

is, after all, a chopped Fifties Beetle body. 

Bare steel. The geometry of the Beetle 

and the production of an absolutely

super-smooth surface – this alone was a 

huge challenge, but one that we were determined 

to overcome. 

What substrate work 

was necessary? 

Every single part had to be treated with 

meticulous care. The overall surface had 

to be rebuilt to create a tangible level surface 

and smooth transitions between adjacent 

parts, inside and outside. We had 

to adjust the roof beam, door frame and 

gap dimensions again and again. These 

jobs alone kept the team busy for a whole 

week. It was particularly important 

throughout the project to make sure that 

the treated surface got corrosion protection 

again and again. This is the only 

way of giving the Volksrodder a lasting 

and high-quality finish. 

The design and paint 

finish are also a class 

apart. 

Correct. First we applied the base coat in 

the ground color. Then Knud Tiroch applied 

the design at the Spies Hecker Center. 

After this, we sprayed an effect color 

over the plastic film, then peeled off the 

film and applied the clear coat. After sanding, 

we applied clear coat again and 

sanded it again. Then we jointly applied 

the logo with the Volksrodder signet and 

flames on the side, sprayed another film 

of clear coat over it and sanded it. This 

cycle was repeated again before the final 

film of clear coat was applied. Finally, the 

surface was totally smooth. 

How much time did you 

invest in it? 

Difficult to say, because we were totally 

absorbed in the project together with 

Knud Tiroch. It must have been more than 

250 working hours. But that’s all water 

under the bridge. What counts is the result. 

Thanks, Frank, 

for telling us the story. 

Step by step: The hot 

rod paint system 

Step 1: Corrosion protection on 

the body 

– Priomat ® Wash Primer 4075 

– Permasolid ® HS Vario Surfacer 

5320 grey 

Step 2: Rebuilding the surfaces 

– Raderal ® IR Premium Putty 2035 

– Raderal ® Fine Putty 0911 


sanded-through areas 


– Permasolid ® HS Vario Surfacer 

5320 grey 

Step 4: Smoothing the surfaces, 

levelling minor irregularities 

– Raderal ® Spray Polyester 3508 


the bare metal, isolating the surfacer, 

final touches 


– Permasolid ® HS Performance 

Surfacer 5320* grey 

Step 6: Painting 

– Permahyd ® Hi-TEC 480 

– Permasolid ® HS Clear Coat 8055 

*Permasolid ® HS Performance Surfacer 5320 

grey is due for launch soon. 

7


Cross-border network. 

“Train the Trainer” is the name of the international 

Spies Hecker training strategy. 

At regular intervals, Frank Barduna 

of Technical Service International trains 

technical consultants from roughly 18 

countries at Cologne headquarters. The 

expert also travels repeatedly to the various 

Spies Hecker locations so that he 

can work with local technicians under 

local conditions. 

In this interview, Samuel Martínez from 

Spain, Mariusz Safarzyński from Poland 

and Frank Barduna report on their close 

communication – and outline how all 

Spies Hecker refinishers all over the 

world ultimately benefit. 

What’s the thinking behind 

the “Train the Trainer” 

strategy? 

Barduna:The most important thing for us 

at Spies Hecker is the close personal 

networking between all of our people, irrespective 

of national borders. Whether 

the subject is innovative paint technologies 

or complex repair methods, only 

those who are right up to date can explain 

properly to customers what it’s all 

about. And this doesn’t just mean making 

our knowledge at German headquarters 

available all over the world. We 

can of course resort to the latest equipment 

and hypermodern technology. But 

for us it’s just as important to listen to the 

experience of technicians in other countries. 

We’re fully committed to the principle 

of mutual learning. 

The second part of the strategy envisages 

training sessions locally – so as to 

lend depth to the newly acquired 

knowledge. We witness how the technical 

consultants pass on their expertise to 

their technicians – who pass it on in turn 

to bodyshops. We therefore attach great 

importance to a uniformly high quality of 

training. It’s the bodyshop that ultimately 

benefits, in whatever country it happens 

to be. This is the only way we can uphold 

the high standard of our wide-ranging 

technical support services. 

Incidentally, we’re constantly extending 

the strategy and adapting it to current 

developments and trends. For instance, 

we’ve currently got an e-learning project 

in preparation which will enable technicians 

in the various countries to obtain additional 

training online. 

What do you as technical 

consultants appreciate 

about the training 

sessions at the Spies 

Hecker Center? 

Safarzyński: Matt 

paints, new effect finishes, 

modern application 

techniques and 

color identification: a 

great many technical 

innovations come onto 

the market every year. And this means new 

challenges for us refinishers. At headquarters 

in Cologne, we’ve got the chance to 

find out about and discuss new trends. It’s 

an ideal forum for exchanging views. To be 

quite honest, we’re right at the source … 

Training/Interview 

Martinez: I agree entirely. 

In Cologne I get 

straight answers to 

the questions that are 

important for my work 

in Spain. There’s also 

a spirit of familiarity at 

headquarters. The atmosphere and the 

people are incredibly welcoming, helpful 

and obliging – and this for me is the best 

basis for successful cooperation. 

Frank, you train the experts 

in their countries. 

Barduna: Yes, as I 

mentioned just now, 

this is extremely important 

for us. Because 

only on location in the 

various countries can 

we personally experience 

the different conditions under which 

our customers have to work. The equipment, 

environmental factors and the local 

mentality – only when we go personally to 

the places where our consultants train our 

customers can we gain a genuine understanding 

of the realities in the country in 

question. This is an absolutely essential 

aspect of our strategy. We want to be simply 

closer. 

Mariusz and Samuel, 

what’s your assessment 

of local training? 

Safarzyński: It’s definitely a very useful 

addition to training in Cologne. The

people in Cologne give us wholehearted 

support with implementation – such as in 

the changeover to the Permahyd ® Hi-TEC 

480 waterborne base coat system. 

Martínez: There’s no substitute for the 

training sessions locally in Madrid. In 

Spain we’ve got a market situation that 

differs a lot from that in other countries. 

And, taking the example of climate, we’ve 

got to battle with totally different conditions 

than the Fins, for example. And then 

we not only use to some extent different 

equipment, but it’s also important to realise 

that Spanish customers have their 

own views and needs. 

What are the important 

factors in other countries? 

Barduna: I’d like to take up the example 

of the climate. Due to the hot, dry weath- 

er in summer in countries like Spain, refinishers 

are confronted with tough conditions. 

Up to 40 °C in the sun and hardly 

any humidity – yet the ideal storage and 

application temperature for paint materials 

is 20 °C. Appropriate measures therefore 

have to be taken in the bodyshop to 

safeguard the quality of the paints and 

systems. In a country like Poland, on the 

other hand – and Mariusz knows all about 

it – the winters are extremely cold. Here 

again, all conceivable precautions have 

to be taken to prevent paint defects. We 

give advice on how to correctly store, 

transport and apply the material. 

Or let’s take another example. Owing to 

the financial crisis, there’s been a strong 

emphasis on efficiency for some time in 

almost all countries. Many bodyshops 

therefore come to the Training Center to 

gird themselves for the increasingly fierce 

competition in their countries. 

And we’re ready to help them. 

Frank, Mariusz and Samuel – 

thanks very much for the 

interview! 

A turn 

for the 

better. 

The Spies Hecker 

Mixing Ratio Disc. 

This is an indispensable aid that the 

refinisher should always have within 

reach. On the two-sided disc are all 

the VOC-compliant paint products 

including Permahyd ® Hi-TEC 480 

that are of relevance for modern bodyshops. 

The disc indicates the mixing 

ratios of primers, surfacers, 

base coat and clear coat and the 

matching additives and hardeners. 

As of now, the handy Mixing Ratio 

Disc from Spies Hecker is also available 

in digital form for mobile use on 

smartphones and iPads. 

9


Tone colors. which now handles sales of WERSI or- 

Spies Hecker brings color to the world of 

music. Be it Sunset Stream, Luminous 

Blue Pearl or Macadamia Brown Metallic, 

modern Permahyd ® Hi-TEC colors are as 

of now revitalising the image of WERSI 

organs. The most celebrated example is 

the show organ of internationally famed 

composer, music producer and virtuoso 

organist Robert Bartha. His LOUVRE 

GS100 has been painted in Volcano 

Magic, a color specially developed for 

WERSI. “We’re delighted to be able to 

work with the MUSIC STORE in Cologne, 

White on the ascendancy. 

Worldwide, 60 to 70 per cent of cars have 

white, silver, black or grey paintwork. In 

2011 however, white surged to the fore. 

According to the Global Automotive 

Color Popularity Report, this color occupies 

the No. 1 position worldwide. This 

represents a quantum leap, as white was 

back in fourth place in 2010. Among car 

colors in Europe, black still heads the 

field, but now has white hard on its heels. 

But white is not just white. As an additional 

base coat film, pearl is a source of 

new effects, such as Volkswagen’s Oryx 

White. “There’s a clear trend towards 

gans. As a result, we’ve been privileged 

to support the world’s greatest artist in 

the organ scene with paint products for 

his show instrument,” says chuffed color 

expert Dietmar Wegener. “Even today, 

organ music has plenty of fans, young 

and old. The ‘dusty’ image of what was 

once known as the ‘home organ’ is well 

and truly a thing of the past,” he reports. 

A claim underscored by the new paint finishes 

now available for WERSI organs. 

light-colored pearl effects,” Frank Barduna 

of Technical Service International 

explains. “On the production line, these 

are now being applied more often than 

ever in multi-stage finishes, simply because 

much more has now become technically 

possible.” 

“However, repairs to many new colors are 

only possible with the special effect pigments 

that are additionally available 

today.” 

Hi-TEC Tools 

The right additive 

every time! 

The Spies Hecker Climate 

Poster for Permahyd ® 

Hi-TEC 480 provides at-aglance 

assistance. 

Which additive should the refinisher use 

when applying Permahyd ® Hi-TEC 480? 

WT Additive 6050 or WT Additive 6052? 

The Spies Hecker Climate Poster tells the 

refinisher which of the two additives is 

used with Hi-TEC 480 Base Coat for the 

given ambient temperature, humidity and 

size of repair – quickly and at a glance. 

Automotive color preferences in 

2011. Europe’s favorite colors.

Equipment 

A spirit of 

tradition 

and passion. 

“Dr Allen DeVilbiss” – a man who wrote paint history. 

Effortlessly wielding modern spray guns, 

today’s refinishers skilfully apply paint to 

vehicle surfaces. This item of equipment, 

the stock-in-trade of the present-day 

bodyshop, can in fact look back on a 

long development history. 

We’ve all heard of Carl Benz. For it was 

this German that invented the motor car 

in Stuttgart 125 years ago. But what few 

people know is that the invention of the 

spray gun is at least as old as the first automobile. 

When Henry Ford had his first 

car series built on the production line in 

1912, “Permanent” vehicle paint was already 

being produced by Spies Hecker 

in Cologne. At the time, asphalt and oil 

paints were still applied with a brush – a 

method that was hardly compatible with 

the production line. This is when the 

spray gun really came into its own. 

From the atomiser to 

the modern spray gun. 

Its history goes back to the 1880s. At the 

time, it was usual for doctors to coat patients’ 

sore throats with Vaseline or 

goose grease – a cumbersome but nevertheless 

highly efficacious remedy. Yet 

the doctor and tinkerer Dr Allen DeVilbiss 

in rural Ohio, USA, was convinced there 

must be a more pleasant way of administering 

treatment to his patients with sore 

throats. 

In his quest for an effective method of 

treatment, he developed in his little 

workshop the first adjustable spraying 

device consisting of a rubber ball, a 

metal can and a short tube. The doctor 

filled the metal container with Vaseline 

and heated it over the flame of a candle 

to melt it into a sprayable liquid. When 

the ball was squeezed, the device released 

a cloud of medicine. He then fitted 

an adjustable tip enabling him to vary 

the spray pattern. DeVilbiss lost no time 

in applying for a patent. 

This was effectively the birth of the modern 

spray gun. Not only did the invention 

bring welcome relief to his patients, 

but word of it also soon got around – and 

the atomiser went into mass production. 

In 1907, finally, his son Tom DeVilbiss 

manufactured the first industrial version 

of the medical device – at just the right 

time. Because in car production, Henry 

Ford was not alone in his search for more 

effective paint application methods. 

Even today, the name of DeVilbiss stands 

alongside Adolf-Friedrich Hecker at the 

dawn of modern paint history – a history 

undoubtedly accelerated by car manufacture 

and such pioneers as Henry Ford 

and Carl Benz. In a spirit of tradition, passion 

and innovative enterprise, the modern 

spray gun has advanced to what it 

is today from its beginnings over 125 

years ago. 

11


Bodyshops rank among the businesses 

with high energy consumption. What really 

push costs up are ventilating and 

heating the booths and drying. Starting 

up the dryer in order to temper individual 

body parts is particularly costly. Experts 

estimate as much as eight euros per 

hour of operation. With steadily rising 

energy costs, it’s worth taking a closer 

look at the drying process. 

“By organising processes effectively and 

using IR dryers, refinishers can cut their 

energy costs,” says Spies Hecker specialist 

Wolfgang Feyrer. “Compared to 

the convective drying of individual body 

parts, energy consumption can be reduced 

by almost 70 per cent. So this is an 

area where the bodyshop can really economise.” 

Energy 

Red hot technology. 

Modern infrared dryers cut costs and optimise 

the drying process at the same time. 

Current technical 

trends. 

To keep pace with spiralling energy 

costs, manufacturers are constantly improving 

the efficiency of their IR dryers. 

And Hedson, the Swedish manufacturer, 

is no exception with its IRT brand: “With 

the new IRT Hyperion series, we’ve 

boosted energy efficiency by employing 

gold-coated FreeForm reflectors,” explains 

Kenneth Lundin, Product Manager 

Hedson Technologies IRT Systems. As a 

result, “the optimised heat distribution 

ensures a uniform temperature and enables 

a 20 per cent larger repair surface 

to be treated in the same drying time.” 

The object is directly heated without the 

ambient air being warmed at the same 

time. 

However, it’s not a question of the technology 

alone. You have to use the IR drying 

technology intelligently if you want to 

save energy. “Parameters such as object 

distance, temperature, drying time 

and temperature increase have to be 

precisely set,” says IRT expert Kenneth 

Lundin, enumerating the key factors. 

“Modern IR dryers are capable of storing 

these data. This gives the refinisher 

greater process security and creates 

ideal conditions for optimum results.” 

Many IR dryers are flexible in their use. 

Along with the drying of putty and surfacer, 

they can also be used for base and 

clear coat – both for part resprays and 

for spot repair jobs. Manufacturers offer 

different types of equipment. IRT dryers, 

for example, can be used as cassette 

dryers on a mobile stand or as railmounted 

systems in the spray booth. 

With a hand-held lamp, the unit is also 

capable of drying poorly accessible 

parts of the vehicle. 

IR drying times 

Material Minutes 

Putty 2 – 3 

Surfacer 3 – 7 

Primer 5 – 8 

Waterborne base coat 2 – 4 

Top coat 6 – 10 

Clear coat 5 – 10 

Surfacer on plastic 7 – 10 

Top coat on plastic 15 – 18 

Clear coat on plastic 15 – 18 

The listed times refer to the IRT Hyperion 

PcAuto series. Source: IRT.

Accessories 

Taking a new tack. 

From pre-treatment right through to final polishing, 

using the right cloths gives you the assurance of an 

immaculate paint finish. 

Sontara ® Degreasing Cloth 

Dirt and dust are frequent causes of 

paint defects – and that’s why absolute 

cleanliness is essential in the bodyshop. 

“Even if the pressure of deadlines and 

costs often dominates the refinish process, 

consistent cleaning always pays 

off,” stresses Iiro Hakola of DuPont Sontara 

® . But what are the important points 

to bear in mind when cleaning? 

“You can only create dust- and greasefree 

surfaces if you use technically highgrade 

cloths with special properties 

together with the matching cleaners and 

silicone removers,” the expert explains. 

In bodyshops you can often find cloths 

coated with adhesive. This is where caution 

is advised, for cloths containing 

chemicals leave a film on the surface 

being coated. “The product should 

therefore contain as little tack material as 

possible so as to prevent wetting problems.” 

Quick and reliable 

absorption. 

For surface preparation Iiro Hakola recommends 

the Sontara ® Degreasing 

Cloth that the refinisher uses for thorough 

pre-treatment of the repair zone. 

The cloth has a textured surface on one 

side and can be relied on to quickly wipe 

up silicone remover, for instance. “Particularly 

when used with water-based silicone 

removers, the cloth goes a long 

way towards reducing flaws in the priming 

materials or top coat.” The key properties 

of the lint-free degreasing cloth 

are its toughness and extreme tear resistance 

– even in its wet state. 

Before the application of surfacer, base 

coat and clear coat, the surface should 

again be thoroughly cleaned. The Son- 

Sontara ® Tack Cloth 

tara ® Tack Cloth, for instance, removes 

dirt and dust particles. Such a cloth 

should fluff as little as possible and not 

leave any residues,” says Hakola summing 

up. 

Cleanliness pays off! 

To create an immaculate surface finish, 

an extremely soft cloth is used – the Sontara 

® Polishing Cloth. “This cloth is free 

of additives that can cause streaks as 

well as being fleecy and lint-free, and its 

fibres are so soft that damage to the 

paint finish is excluded,” is the professional’s 

advice. This makes it ideal for polishing 

chrome and glass and parts of the 

interior. 

Furthermore, the various cloths should 

always be regularly replaced. The rule of 

thumb is one cloth per process. “Anyone 

using the same cloth the whole day 

shouldn’t be surprised if the paint surface 

turns out to be flawed.” Cleanliness 

simply pays off. “Using the right cloth 

makes far more sense than having to remedy 

the consequences of sloppy preparation,” 

says Iiro Hakola in conclusion. 

13


OEM Trends 

The changing face of painting. 

Automotive finishing is constantly changing. 

So what are the current and future trends? 

And what will be their effect on refinishing? 

Advances in automotive series finishing 

are having an ever greater effect on 

refinishing. More and more is now 

becoming technically possible on car 

manufacturers production lines. “Obviously, 

changes in OEM paintwork won’t 

affect refinishing overnight,” says Peter 

Minko, Manager Process & Application 

at DuPont. “At the same time, the trends 

emerging in the car industry are pretty 

momentous!” 

Mass-produced 

change. 

A glance at the production methods 

shows what’s in store for bodyshops. “In 

the future, the depth of roughness at the 

electrophoretic priming stage will be significantly 

reduced, which means that the 

substrate for subsequent base and clear 

coat application will be more level. The entire 

paint system thus becomes appreciably 

smoother,” is the expert’s 

assessment. Minko also expects the layer 

of surfacer to vanish in the next ten years. 

DuPont refers to this as its “EcoConcept” 

– some three million cars have so far been 

painted surfacer-free. Consequently, “the 

film thickness has to be applied extremely 

evenly – from one end of the car to the 

other,” the expert explains. “The paint film 

is thus more uniform. This ensures greater 

color constancy and better color flow.” In 

terms of refinishing, “the process makes 

color identification easier, as there are 

fewer different color nuances on a single 

vehicle.” 

How does a car 

manufacturer like 

Volkswagen see color 

trends? 

One thing is certain: not only are car manufacturers 

turning to the latest technical 

trends, but designers are also 

becoming more creative in color development. 

Car colors are becoming increasingly 

important as a selling point. 

“We develop the matching color 

language for each vehicle type and size,” 

says Oona Scheepers, Senior Designer 

Color & Trim at Volkswagen, outlining the 

approach at Europe’s biggest car maker. 

“At the IAA, for example, we presented 

the R-Line in Fire Spark Red Chroma. 

The striking four-stage effect color underlines 

the sporting character of the 

special models. Customers up to the age 

of 40 are often bolder in their choice of 

color. Motorists of 45 and upwards tend 

to go for what they’re familiar with and 

what they think will last.”eher das Beständige 

und Bekannte.“ 

More coats and tinted 

clear coat. 

All vehicle manufacturers are resorting to 

novel effect paints with strong colors for 

their mass models. Nissan, for instance,

is catching the eye with its extraordinary 

KAB Ultimate Metal Silver, and Ford with 

its potent Hot Magenta and its new Midnight 

Sky. On the other hand, Toyota, 

Porsche, Opel, Renault and other manufacturers 

are amplifying brand identity 

with effect paints containing special Colorstream 

pigments. For bright colors, 

new effects are achieved with tinted 

clear coat. In the small car segment in 

particular, the clear coat gives red, for 

example, deeper brilliance and enhanced 

luminosity. On the production line 

today, we’re now finding more multistage 

finishes than ever – lighter pearl 

effects, for instance. “More is simply 

technically feasible today,” Minko concludes. 

This means that refinishers will 

be repairing three- and multi-stage colors 

more often from now on. “However, 

the refinishing of many new colors is only 

possible with special effect pigments.” 

Two current examples of refinishing: 

Ford’s Midnight Sky can be repaired with 

Permahyd ® Hi-TEC Mixing Color WT312 

Magic Fire. For the Chevrolet color Dynamic 

Orange, Hi-TEC Mixing Color 

WT383 Brilliant Orange is used. 

Finding the right color 

faster. 

“We’ve responded effectively to new 

trends with beautifully balanced refinish 

solutions and professional color management,” 

says Frank Barduna, Tech- 

nical Service International at Spies 

Hecker, commenting finally on the refinishing 

trends of the future. What’s 

more, the mixing formulas of current colors 

can be retrieved straight from the Internet. 

One example is Midnight Sky, 

which Ford’s series models have only 

been sprayed with since 2011. Almost simultaneously 

with launch at Ford, the repair 

formulas became available in the 

Spies Hecker Color Finder as well. Incidentally, 

in addition to color codes and 

names, you can also find the models 

sprayed with Midnight Sky on the production 

line. Plus the colors are visually 

displayed. 

Summary: 

In vehicle refinishing today and in the future, 

not only is specialised technical 

knowledge called for, but also the right 

information on the color variant in question. 

Mixing formulas, special paint and 

its application – anyone who wants to 

paint cars in future, will have to be aware 

of the latest developments in technology 

and colors. Changes in series finishing 

will thus make the refinishing process 

even more challenging. 

How to find the right color faster: 

www.spieshecker.com/colorfinder 

15


Hi-TEC Performance System. 

Professionals use integrated paint systems. A system, for example, 

in which the surfacer and clear coat are precisely adapted to modern 

Permahyd ® Hi-TEC 480 waterborne base coat. 

It’s essential to have paint products you 

can rely on. Products that ensure easy 

and reliable application and powerfully 

enhance efficient work processes. “With 

the new Performance System comprising 

HS surfacer, Hi-TEC base coat and 

HS clear coat, the refinisher has a fully 

balanced complete package to work 

with,” enthuses Frank Barduna, head of 

Technical Service International at Spies 

Hecker. “Paint defects are thus reduced 

to a minimum.” 

Everything in a 

single system. 

“A firm foundation is provided 

by new Permasolid ® HS Performance 

Surfacer 5320,” 

Frank Barduna explains. “The 

product is very easy to apply, 

shows good overspray absorption and 

thus dries to a smooth surface with good 

vertical stability and outstanding sanding 

characteristics.” 

Spies Hecker Hi-TEC 480 waterborne 

base coat, on the other hand, is distinguished 

among other things by its high 

opacity and color accuracy. 

The Performance System includes three 

clear coats. For universal applications, 

there’s Permasolid ® HS Clear Coat 8055. 

“It’s suitable for all repairs and is simple, 

flexible and reliable in its application,” 

the Spies Hecker expert continues. Its 

range of uses covers standard repairs 

such as mudguards and doors and 

partial resprays that can be handled in a 

single pass (1.5 coats). 

Permasolid ® HS Optimum Plus Clear 

Coat 8650 is a high-productivity clear 

coat that always achieves impeccable 

results, even in less than perfect booth 

conditions. Since it is also extremely flexible 

in its application and dries very 

quickly, it is ideal for use on Speed Repair 

jobs, for instance. 

For superlative results combined with reliable 

application, Permasolid ® HS Clear 

Coat 8034 is the No. 1 choice. “It too can 

be used on any repair and is an assu- 

HS Clear Coat 8055 

HS Optimum Plus 

Clear Coat 8650 

HS Clear Coat 8034 

rance of top quality,” says a delighted 

Frank Barduna. “It is simply ideal for design 

finishes and personalised full resprays 

and can be effortlessly applied in 

two coats.” Standard repairs can be executed 

cost-effectively in a single pass 

(1.5 coats). The product’s properties: 

good vertical stability, extra-high build 

and excellent gloss. The clear coat also 

polishes very well. 

All in all, the new Performance System 

delivers much more than just outstan- 

Hi-TEC 

ding results – and regardless of which 

employee applies the system. Straightforward 

sanding and rapid application 

and drying of the materials speed up vehicle 

processing and increase bodyshop 

throughput.

A system 

you can 

count on. 

New Permasolid ® HS 

Performance Surfacer 

5320 creates a sound 

substrate for all kinds of 

repairs. 

The distinctive feature 

of this innovative 

product is its 

high solids content. 

“This means a little goes a long way,” 

stresses Frank Barduna of Technical 

Service. But this is by no means all. 

The economical surfacer also ensures 

excellent overspray absorption 

and good surface levelling. “What’s 

more, the surfacer can also be quickly 

and easily sanded after drying.” It is 

applied in anything from one to three 

coats, and its mixing ratio with Permasolid 

® VHS Hardeners is 5:1. 

In developing this high-grade Performance 

Surfacer, Spies Hecker has 

also followed the latest trend in automotive 

colors. The product is therefore 

available not only in black and 

medium grey, but also of course in 

white. Barduna: “With these three colors, 

the surfacer can be adapted 

perfectly to the base coat.” 

Numerous approvals. 

The 2K HS sanding surfacer has meanwhile 

been approved by various 

car brands. This is becoming increasingly 

important, as car makers specify 

certain paint materials and 

systems for refinishes. “Because 

they’re bound by their guarantees 

and warranties,” the Spies Hecker 

expert explains. 

* Permasolid ® HS Performance Surfacer 5320 

grey is due for launch soon. 

Image 

Sporting passions. 

With everything from the white Ferrari 

F430 and the tuned Mercedes SLS Brabus 

to the noble Wiesmann, the current 

Spies Hecker “Passions” Calendar demonstrates 

an enthusiasm for sport and 

luxury. “This time we’ve put the spotlight 

on sporty vehicles,” explains Peter Wingen 

of Marketing International. At the 

photo shoots, bodyshops in Belgium, 

Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain 

and Switzerland pulled out all the stops 

with their outstanding paint finishes. 

The photo shoots left lasting impressions 

on both the bodyshops and the Spies Hecker 

team. Peter Wingen: “The Wiesmann 

plant in Germany is both unique and remarkable. 

The picture for the calendar 

sheet was taken in the production shop. 

Despite the shop’s size and ongoing production, 

the sense of organisation during 

the shoot was fascinating.” 

Whatever the vehicle – an elegant classic 

car, spectacular model aeroplane or a 

huge commercial vehicle – every single 

subject of the new Spies Hecker Calendar 

2012 is a real stunner in its workshop 

setting. The images are supplemented by 

pictures of the respective owners, bodyshop 

managers or refinishers – all of them 

Spies Hecker customers with a whole-hearted 

dedication to painting. 

You can download 

the calendar images at 

www.spieshecker.com/calendar2012 

17


The new Hi-TEC 680* waterborne paint system for 

commercial vehicle finishes yields greater process 

security on large surfaces. 

Spies Hecker’s Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 680 is 

a base coat developed especially for large 

surfaces – on such objects as buses, 

drivers’ cabs, dropsides, box bodies, superstructures 

and special-purpose vehicles. 

“Our aim is for high repair quality – 

particularly if powerful effects are to be 

achieved,” says Arno Steyns, commercial 

vehicle specialist at Spies Hecker. 

Used for the original finish or for repairs, 

Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 

680 is an assurance of 

absolutely dependable 

results. 

The VOC-compliant 

Hi-TEC base coat covers 

a broad spectrum 

of colors and 

permits the reliable 

application of metallic 

and pearl effect colors. Thanks to its excellent 

overspray absorption, it proves to 

be economical on large surfaces as well. 

Arno Steyns sheds light on the technology 

behind it: “Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 680 Base 

Coat exploits patented 

hybrid technology and 

thus ensures particularly 

uniform effect 

formation. High pigmentation 

improves 

its opacity.” A specially 

developed additive 

helps to improve spraying behaviour. The 

expert continues: “The positive effect of 

Permafleet ® WT Additive 6060 on the base 

coat’s viscosity is an advantage when 

spraying large surfaces.” 

The top coat is impressive with its easy and 

flexible application and good hiding power. 

What’s more, it’s now also possible to 

mask the paint even faster and more neatly 

– an important factor in view of the popularity 

of design finishes on commercial vehicles. 

Commercial Vehicles 

New paint system for large surfaces. 

Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 680 

Climate Poster. 

The Climate Poster for Permafleet ® 

Hi-TEC 680 helps users choose the right 

WT additive in relation to local temperature 

and humidity. 

* Permafleet ® 

Hi-TEC 680 is to be 

launched soon.

Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 680 – 

system recommendation. 

The Permafleet ® paint system comes with the outstanding chemical and mechanical 

properties so important for commercial vehicles and multi-color finishes. 

This commercial vehicle paint can be applied in two different paint combinations: 

1. Top system wet-on-wet with Permafleet ® VHS Non-Sanding 

Surfacer 5620 and 

2. High-Class system with sanded HS Bus Surfacer 5530. 

For high-quality effect finishes, we recommend a final coat of HS Clear Coat 

8320/8330. 

Setting the 

tone. 

Substrates can be adapted 

to the base or top coat 

with the matching 

Permafleet ® surfacer color 

levels. 

With the white, light-grey and dark-grey 

color levels from Spies Hecker, the bodyshop 

improves the efficiency of its 

commercial vehicle finishing. By selecting 

the matching Permafleet ® surfacer 

ground color, it’s possible to enhance 

the hiding power of the base or top coat. 

But where do you find the color level? 

“The ground color is given on the can of 

the ready-mixed base coat or top coat,” 

explains Arno Steyns, Spies Hecker commercial 

vehicle specialist. “If you mix the 

color yourself in the bodyshop, the color 

level of the matching surfacer is indicated 

by the CRplus color software and in the 

ColorFinder on the Internet.” 

The desired opacity can be achieved with 

only 1.5 spray passes and thus saves material. 

“When painting commercial vehicles 

with their large surfaces, this really is 

a useful advantage,” says Arno Steyns. 

The color levels for Permafleet ® surfacer 

are available for the Permafleet ® Top Coat 

Series 630/670/675 and, as of October 

2012, for new Permafleet ® Hi-TEC 680 

Base Coat. 

19


Training camp. 

Alex Klassen, Daniel Plog and 

David Kloster jointly styled the 

iMiev at the Spies Hecker Center. 

Color 

Electrifying colors. 

“In six or seven years, we shall find that a new era of the motor car has dawned with 

the onset of electromobility,” says a convinced Oona Scheepers, Senior Designer 

Color & Trim at Volkswagen. At the IAA last year, the car manufacturer presented its 

new “E-Up!” model, whose very design is bolder, dynamic and looks almost futuristic. 

“We’re developing a color language specifically for electric cars. A technical silver blue 

as on the E-Up! and white stand for the electric drive.” 

Elke Dirks, Color Designer at DuPont Automotive OEM Coatings, has identified new 

trends. “Electric cars have to look both modern and eco-friendly. Ideally, the exterior 

color lends expression to the forward-looking ecological strategy.” In Europe, she believes, 

car makers are mostly going for satin metallics in light-colored, pastel shades 

evocative of nature. “These color effects are chosen to stress the close relationship 

between futuristic technology and nature – as with a frost effect, for example.” In this 

context, white is also considered an important “front color”. In Asia, “ice blue” is the 

key color symbolising the eco-generation. In the USA, on the other hand, fine metallic 

paintwork draws attention to the shift towards fuel- and emission-saving models. 

“How would you depict the future of 

electromobility in a paint finish?” This is 

the question put by Spies Hecker to upand-coming 

refinishers in a training project. 

What was wanted was an 

extra-creative finish for the white electrically 

powered i-MiEV compact car from 

Mitsubishi. “The suggestions were all 

very lively and imaginative, and we ultimately 

chose a blend of three of them,” 

says Dietmar Rausch, Manager of the 

Spies Hecker Center in Cologne, enthusiastically 

summing up the results of the 

project. 

From thorough substrate pre-treatment 

and elaborate design work through to 

the final clear coat, the trainees had two 

whole days to put their ideas into 

practice with expert equipment – and 

show what they had learnt so far. Most 

enjoyable of all, they claimed, was working 

on the details of the stylistic design 

elements and the shading. The white 

electric car is now adorned with multilayer 

printed circuit boards, plug sockets 

and plugs. The youngsters were absolutely 

delighted to be able to work at the 

Spies Hecker Center. A project that 

ought to spur them on for the rest of their 

training in their respective bodyshops.

Marketing 

Colorful characters. 

Are you a red type? Or more of a green? Colors are closely associated 

with personality types. The business owner can respond better to 

customers by using a color classification system. 

Whatever the task – dealing with complaints, 

negotiating a deal or attracting 

new customers – a good measure of 

sensitivity is always required. Understanding 

what makes people tick means 

identifying the personality type. At least 

this is the view of Frank M. Scheelen of 

SCHEELEN ® AG, a German firm devoted 

to management consultancy and diagnostics. 

“Personalities can be assigned 

to different basic types represented by 

the colors red, yellow, green and blue.” 

The colors stand for 

character types. 

“To accurately gauge the person you’re 

dealing with and to select the right conversation 

strategy, you have to analyse 

his or her appearance, body language 

and style of communication according to 

a certain color classification system.” 

Does he or she make a determined impression? 

If so, red is probably the matching 

personality type. Does the voice 

lack volume, and does the person seem 

hesitant? This may be a green type. For 

the bodyshop, this means the “red type” 

is a confident negotiator who loves to be 

served quickly. The “green type”, on the 

other hand is very reserved at first and 

demands more attention, understanding 

and patience. He or she wants above all 

else to have confidence in the bodyshop’s 

work. 

Targeted customer 

management. 

Sociable people belong to the yellow category. 

They tend to be amiable, humorous 

and optimistic. In talks with such 

customers, it’s useful to illustrate repairs 

and other services with colorful anecdotes. 

The “blue type” is different again. He 

or she tends to be critical and thorough. 

“Present your services without embellishment,” 

Scheelen advises. “The customer 

has to be able to immediately identify 

what’s in it for him. Describe the work 

precisely.” 

Finding the right language. 

Of course, people rarely conform completely 

to a single color type. Most people 

are a blend of all personality types. But 

anyone who studies other people closely 

can train himself to identify the dominant 

traits and those that are less pronounced. 

This takes the strain out of dealing with 

people, and the bodyshop can respond 

more effectively to the customer. This is 

professional customer management that 

builds confidence. 

Red type: – confident and direct. Clearly defined goals. 

Conversation strategy: get to the point without detours. Present neatly 

structured, accurately calculated price quotations. Arguments stressing 

the advantages are particularly important. 

Green type: – diffident and hesitant. Rarely speaks unless spoken to. 

Needs a lot of information to make a decision. 

Conversation strategy: what count here are trust and details. You 

should react understandingly and patiently to his or her reservations. 

Yellow type: – communicative and sociable. Humorous and optimistic. 

Usually takes decisions without deliberation. 

Conversation strategy: create a pleasant atmosphere, explain things 

with imagery. This way you can stimulate his or her enthusiasm. 

Blue type: – conscientious and critical. Inclined to see risks and dislikes 

change. Always looking for the best price/performance ratio. 

Conversation strategy: respond factually and thoughtfully and precisely 

explain how the customer benefits from the work you’ve suggested. 

21


Flying colors in China. 

BMW and Spies Hecker are working together 

in Asia as partners for superlative 

quality in vehicle refinishing. For the first 

BMW China Aftersales Painting Competition, 

the paint manufacturer from Cologne 

supported BMW AG in Shanghai. 

Professional refinishers from over 200 

dealerships in China attended the sevenmonth 

competition. The best twelve were 

selected for the final in Shanghai. “As a 

close partner to the BMW organisation, 

we were delighted to be able to support 

Eggs and 

bunnies galore! 

Swiss Spies Hecker customer Carrosserie 

Hug in Koppingen took on a special 

Easter mission. For local company Kofmel 

Kunststofftechnik AG, it painted 

oversized red Easter eggs and golden 

Easter bunnies – the bunnies alone were 

a metre tall and were used as advertising 

for the smaller chocolate originals. 

The Easter eggs were painted with the industrial 

coating system from Spies Hecker. 

The lettering and ornamentation 

under the clear coat were applied with 

great attention to detail by a graphics artist. 

In time for Passiontide, the two Easter 

symbols looked suitably festive in 

their colors and good enough to eat! 

the competition and introduce trade fair 

visitors to everything to do with professional 

paint application,” stresses Georg 

Tautz, Marketing & Strategy Manager 

Spies Hecker Asia Pacific. 

Li Cheng, Spies Hecker Sales Manager 

China, praised the team’s efforts: “Led by 

our Training Manager Louie Liu, we presented 

ourselves highly professionally to 

the market. I’m very proud of our team’s 

performance.” 

To crown the success of this involvement, 

Worldwide 

the first four places in the competition 

went to refinishers who use Spies Hecker 

products. 

BMW attaches extra importance to waterborne 

base coat for professional refinishes, 

and the new patented technology 

of Permahyd ® Hi-TEC 480, launched in 

China in 2011, is establishing itself increasingly 

on the market. More and more bodyshops 

are using the efficient paint 

system. Spies Hecker is thus setting totally 

new standards in China as well.

Enter the dragon. 

Once upon a time, there was a dragon. Or, to be more precise, 

a dragon tattoo on the left arm of a famous Venezuelan baseball 

player who had played in all the world’s major leagues. And 

this player wanted nothing more than to have his 55 MTI 

powerboat with a top speed of a “mere” 320 km/h adorned 

with a spectacular paint finish. And he wanted the motif to be 

modelled on his tattoo. He found a suitable boatyard, Guardado 

Marine in Miami, where a graphic design was computergenerated, 

showing a multi-colored, fire-spewing dragon. But 

there was one major obstacle the project had to overcome: the 

shortage of time. The boat had to be launched in its terrific new 

outfit before the start of the new baseball season. 

To achieve the desired detail and vibrancy, nothing could be 

left to chance. So the Guardado team chose Spies Hecker Permasolid 

® SpectroFlex Surfacer 5400 and the Permacron ® Base 

Coat Series 293/295. “These products enable us to carry out 

our work – or rather, our artwork – just as we’d imagined it in 

our boldest dreams. The paint material has great coverage and 

dries incredibly fast,” stresses CEO Eduardo Guardado. The 

customer, at any rate, was absolutely knocked out by the finish. 

So everyone lived happily ever after. That is, after seven 

weeks of highly intricate body and paint work. Ten craftsmen 

were involved overall. And the baseball player? He’s now under 

contract in Japan – the land famed for its dragon myths. 

A change of gear. 

When he paints racing bikes, Frank 

Hoste is in his element. The Belgian has 

been the owner of a cycle workshop 

since 1991, before which he was a professional 

road cycle racer for many 

years. Along with numerous victories in 

national and international cycle races, he 

took part in the Tour de France eight 

times and won five stages. One of the 

biggest achievements of his career was 

winning the Green Jersey during the 

1984 Tour. In his shop, he now handles 

frames among other things for the Belgian 

professional cycling team, but also 

for private customers. “For instance, we 

can create a modern and unique design 

for an old bike so that it looks like new,” 

Frank Hoste explains. He uses Spies Hecker 

products because he appreciates 

their simple application and extra quality. 

For Frank Hoste, it’s always an exciting 

challenge to use innovative technology 

and incorporate current trends. For 

example, he combines different effects 

such as matt and gloss or light colors 

with a special carbon fibre look. And 

what is it that he likes about his job? 

“Being creative and innovative. No two 

projects are the same. Cycle jobs are always 

highly individualistic.” Road cycle 

racing is still Frank Hoste’s great passion. 

Which is why he’s only too happy to 

act as a commentator on radio and television 

during the Tour de France. A 

hobby that’s the perfect foil to his work. 

23

Our refinishers aim 

for long partnerships. 

Our partner bodyshops have come to rely on balanced product systems, 

high color accuracy, outstanding finishes and efficient service. 

We help them with their challenging projects. 

Because together we achieve more. 

Spies Hecker – simply closer. 

Spies Hecker GmbH · Horbeller Straße 17 · 50858 Köln · www.spieshecker.de

colorexpert - Spies Hecker

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