Tim December, Group Leader, Automotive OEM Coatings, inspects a door panel with team members Cyndie Stants and Robert Weise at BASF’s Automotive Applications Research Center in Southfield, Michigan.

Integrated Process is a new and truly unique system technology from BASF’s global coatings research team that dramatically streamlines automotive production-line coating by eliminating the traditional primer application stage.

Innovative coatings developed by BASF’s Automotive OEM Coatings business for the Integrated Process use new formulations that eliminate the need for conventional primers while performing the main functions of the primers, including absorption of damaging ultraviolet radiation, protection against stone chipping and providing a base for a superior finish.

“For automotive manufacturers, the benefits of our Integrated Process technology can be summed up as ‘total cost reduction,’” said Tim December, Group Leader, Automotive OEM Coatings, in Southfield, Michigan. “By eliminating the traditional primer stage, we can help reduce the associated costs of labor, material, energy and throughput time.”

According to December, other benefits of Integrated Process from the perspective of automotive manufacturers include a simpler process (eliminating cleaning, sanding and dust extraction) and a much shorter paint line.

“In addition to its many cost-saving and ecological benefits, Integrated Process delivers a quality, customer-pleasing finish—as proven by thousands of high-quality cars on the road today,” December said.