With 35 years of successful partnership under their belt, the future is theirs

BASF Coatings with its R-M® automotive refinish brand and Citroën:
With 35 years of successful partnership under their belt, the future is theirs

Münster. The partnership between BASF Coatings, with its R-M® automotive refinish brand, and French carmaker Citroën has flourished for more than 35 years. Since the carmaker’s approval of the brand’s products in 1970, R-M has managed to use its pioneer spirit, clever product and application range, as well as a comprehensive service concept to expand a well-oiled partnership with Citroën. The two companies will also be working toward meeting objectives together in the future: expanding and developing body shops, uniform standards, and just as important, the expansion and consequently increase in business activities relating to accident claims settlement.

In 1970, the mixing machines that we all take for granted today were something of a revolution, since they allowed more than 10,000 colors of paint to be mixed in the Citroën network with just a minimal inventory. They also provided a clever refinish system for used cars, allowing for a quick refinish job without any need for sanding. Along with the used car fair “Citroën Eurocasion”, it equipped Citroën with the right dynamics for this new and profitable business unit.

Since the 1980s the cooperation between R-M and Citroën has also included Belgium, where these days, 77 percent of the bodyshops work with the R-M® brand. Ten years later it went to Spain, Citroën’s second largest sales market, where R-M® was commissioned to expand the “Pinto” project. In 1992, in the south of Madrid, a unique vehicle repair center for all authorized Citroën dealers opened. Today, 40 vehicles are refinished there every day with the help of a training program for painters and the application techniques offered by R-M®. In the years that followed, R-M® became established in Italy, the UK, and Austria. These days, cooperation also extends to Eastern Europe.

Starting in 2007 the limits for solvents emissions will be enforced all over Europe. For this reason R-M® is doing technical training on the changeover to the ONYX HD Line of waterborne basecoats at Citroën sites. The introduction of this product line is quite advanced within the Western European networks, with a market share of more than 50 percent, and now the changeover is making quick progress in the East as well. In Slovenia the changeover took place at the Ljubljana branch in March 2005, and the other body shops are expected to follow by the end of 2006.

Web Site R-M : www.rmpaint.com

R-M Automotive Refinish : an important part of BASF Coatings

Under the R-M brand, BASF markets a comprehensive range of automotive refinishing paint systems, focusing on eco-efficient waterborne basecoats and high-solids paints. By using these systems all legal solvent-reduction requirements can be complied with anywhere in the world, and with regard to appearance and resistance, the products meet the same quality standards as solvent-borne paints. In this area, the company offers a wide variety of services to support its customers. R-M Automotive Refinish is approved by most of the leading car manufacturers for aftermarket repair and chosen by the world’s most prestigious car companies for its color expertise.

BASF: A major international player in coatings

BASF Coatings AG belongs to the global Coatings division of the BASF Group. In 2005, the Coatings division achieved world sales of about €2.2 billion. The Coatings division develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints, and also the processes needed to apply them. In this business, eco-efficient water-based, powder and high-solids coatings as well as radiation-curable systems play a special part. In Brazil, the company has been successful in the decorative paints market for years and holds the leading position. BASF has a major, global presence in the Coatings sector, with significant market positions in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia/Pacific region, for example with affiliates in Australia, China, India, Japan, and the Philippines. The Internet address of BASF Coatings is www.basf-coatings.com

Contact Information

Dr. Michael Golek

BASF Coatings AG

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