Turnkey color solutions conquer the automotive industry

Automotive manufacturers are interested in ways to offer a wider range of color schemes for their cars. Plastics (including artificial leather) and leather contribute a large share of the interior elements that could have varying colors. Unfortunately, the current manufacturing practices in the plastics and leather industries were designed for large color batches.
The revolutionary turnkey color solutions developed by CPS COLOR are the first tool that allows plastics and leather manufacturers to break the color barrier and provide small color batches in a cost-effective way.

The traditional coloring processes in the plastics and leather industries are labor-intensive and hard to manage. The color must be adjusted for every batch by testing a pigment mix, adjusting it, and testing again until it is released for production. The CPS COLOR turnkey color solutions for the plastics and leather industries (Auricolor and Maestro, respectively) are different. They are based on standardised colorants and controlled dispensing, much like the technology used by paint retailers to produce customer-specific paints. Auricolor and Maestro produce exactly the desired color in one step by using colorants that are fully controlled for color and color strength. The process takes minutes rather than hours and yields completely reproducible results.

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Controlled processes, predictable high-quality results
With the traditional 'trial and error' coloring processes, suppliers of leather and artificial leather are never sure how long it will take to create a usable pigment mix. This forces them to keep a high level of intermediate stocks for rapid delivery. The unpredictability also makes it hard to achieve a full utilisation of their coating lines. And for leather finishers the variance in pigment mixes may make it necessary to coat a hide two or three times before the shade is within specifications, while every additional treatment affects the leather's characteristics.

The fully controlled and predictable processes of the turnkey colour solutions by CPS COLOR eliminate the need for intermediate stocks, thus freeing invested capital, and make it easier to manage the coating line to full utilisation. And because every hide is coated correctly the first time, the natural look and feel of the leather, valued so much by car buyers, is protected as much as possible.

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Environmental benefits
In designing its systems for the leather and plastics industries CPS COLOR applied its extensive technological knowledge to realize a minimal impact on the environment. The colorant system for leather, Maestro, is completely waterbased and contains no volatile organic components, alkyl phenol ethoxylate or glycol, so that it does not release any volatile components into the car interior.

In the system for plastics, Auricolor, the standardised colorants are based on a commonly used phtalate-holding plasticiser. Anticipating future environmental restrictions CPS COLOR also developed a phtalate-free alternative.

Turnkey color solutions: the competitive edge
Turnkey color solutions give automotive leather producers and plastics processors complete control of the tinting process. This directly translates into increased efficiency, more stable product characteristics, and a reduction of resources used and waste produced. In view of the importance of color for consumers, turnkey color solutions create a powerful competitive advantage for car manufacturers and their suppliers.

CPS COLOR
CPS COLOR is a leading supplier of advanced tinting systems. It offers all the components of a complete tinting system: colourants, dispensing and mixing equipment, technical support, software, colour communication aids and consultancy. CPS COLOR actively pursues opportunities to expand the potential of tinting systems into new markets and new applications. Its tinting systems are sold to paint, leather and plastic manufacturers worldwide.

CPS COLOR is controlled by the Industri Kapital 2000 Fund.
Key figures: sales €110 m (estimate 2002), 315 employees

Internet: http://www.cpscolor.com
Daphne Beek, Communications Manager
Tel. +31 (0)46 457 0100, daphne.beek@cpscolor.com
Erik van Beusekom, Sales Manager
Tel. +31 (0)46 457 0100, erik.vanbeusekom@cpscolor.com