This article will delve into the top automotive paint and coatings brands, examining their offerings and what sets them apart in the market.
Types of Paint Finishes
Several different types of paint finishes can be used on vehicles, each with its characteristics and properties. Some common types of automotive paint finishes include:
Solid Paint
Solid paint is automotive paint made of a single, uniform color without any additional effect or finish. It is the most basic and common type of automotive paint and is often used as a base coat for more complex finishes.
Metallic Paint
Metallic paint is a type of automotive paint that contains small flakes of metal, which give it a shimmering, iridescent appearance. The size and color of the metallic flakes can vary, resulting in a wide range of different looks. Metallic paints are popular for their unique appearance but can be harder to repair and touch up than other types of finishes.
Pearlescent Paint
Pearlescent paint is a type of automotive paint with small, iridescent particles that give it a pearly, shimmering appearance. Like metallic paint, the size and color of the iridescent particles can vary, resulting in different looks. In addition, pearlescent paints are known for their ability to change color and appear to shift in different lighting conditions.
Matte Finish
Matte finish is a paint finish with a flat, non-reflective appearance. It is often used to create a modern, minimalist look on vehicles and is more prone to scratching and staining than other types of finishes. Matte finishes require more careful maintenance and are more difficult to repair and touch up than gloss or satin finishes.
Paint and Coating Manufacturers
Based on the latest research, the automotive industry is one of the largest industries in the world, with a yearly revenue of more than $2.5 trillion (1). The paint and coatings industry is a subset of this industry, with an annual revenue of around $160 billion (2). Automotive paint and coating brands are everywhere, from large multinational corporations to small local businesses. However, some automotive paint and coatings brands stand out from the crowd. These are the ones that have been around for a long time and have a reputation for quality products.
Sherwin-Williams Corporation
Sherwin-Williams is an American multinational company engaged in developing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling paints, coatings, and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The company was founded in 1866 by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio (3).
The company offers its customers all types of automotive paints and coatings (5–6). Throughout its history, Sherwin-Williams has focused on innovation and customer satisfaction. As a result, it has developed many new products and technologies and acquired numerous other companies to expand its reach and capabilities. Today, Sherwin-Williams is operational in more than 120 countries and has over 5,000 stores globally (7).
PPG Industries, Inc.
PPG Industries, Inc. is a global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. The company was founded in 1883 by John Pitcairn and Capt. John B. The company diversified over the years and changed its name to PPG Industries in 1968 (8).
Over the years, PPG has diversified and expanded its product offerings through acquisitions and partnerships. Today, the company’s products are used in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and packaging.
- It offers a range of coatings and paints for automotive refinishing, including basecoats, clearcoats, and primers (10).
- It also provides coatings and paints for producing new vehicles by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
- It offers a range of specialty coatings for the automotive industry, including coatings for plastic and metal parts and corrosion-resistant coatings.
Akzo Nobel N.V.
AkzoNobel is a Dutch multinational company that produces paints, coatings, and specialty chemicals. The company was founded in 1646 and had a long history of innovation in the coatings and chemicals industry.
The company owns many brands, including Sikkens, Albastine, Cetol, Bruguer, Dulux, and myriad others (11). The company has its headquarters in the Netherlands and is in more than 150 countries (12).
Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.
Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational company that produces and sells paint, coatings, and related products. The company has a long history dating back to 1879 when it was founded as the first paint manufacturer in Japan. The company was initially named Komyosha but later on, got renamed. As of now, the company is headquartered in Osaka (15).
Nippon Paint is a major supplier of vehicle coatings in the automobile industry. The company produces a range of coatings for automotive use, including clear coats, basecoats, and top coats, as well as specialty coatings for specific applications such as corrosion protection and scratch resistance. Nippon Paint’s coatings are used by a variety of automobile manufacturers around the world (16).
In addition to its coatings business, Nippon Paint also provides a range of services to the automobile industry, including color development and testing, technical support, and training. Furthermore, the company works closely with car manufacturers to develop new coating technologies and optimize their use in the production process. Nippon Paint also has a strong presence in the aftermarket, offering various products and services for repairing and refinishing vehicles.
BASF
BASF, established in 1865, is a large multinational chemical company based in Germany. It is one of the largest chemical companies in the world and is a significant producer of a wide range of chemical products, including paints and coatings (17). The company has a strong presence in the automotive industry, offering various products for use in vehicle production, maintenance, and repair. These products include coatings for automotive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) applications, refinish coatings for vehicle repair and maintenance, and functional coatings for various automotive components.
In addition to its automotive coatings products, BASF offers a range of products for other industries, including construction, agriculture, and personal care.
Glasurit
Max Winkelmann established a lacquers and paints company in 1888, later renamed Glasurit in 1898. In 1965 BASF, the German chemical company, acquired Glasurit, and since then, it has been part of it (19). Today, the Glasurit brand is known for producing high-quality paints that professional refinishers and body shops use to repair and repaint vehicles.
In addition to traditional liquid paints, Glasurit offers a line of waterborne paints that are more environmentally friendly and meet stricter emissions regulations.
Glasurit paints are used by many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to paint new vehicles and are also used in repairing and refinishing vehicles by professional body shops. The brand is known for its wide range of colors and high-quality finishes and is available in nearly all countries (20–21).
R-M
R-M was established in 1919 in Detroit by Fred Rinshed and Herbert Mason. However, similar to the previous one, it was also acquired by the BASF. The brand has a long history of producing high-quality automotive paints and coatings for the automotive industry. R-M paints are known for their durability, color accuracy, and ease of use and are used by professional body shops and car enthusiasts worldwide. Some of the products offered by R-M include basecoats, clearcoats, primers, and special effect paints.
NEXA AUTOCOLOR
Nexa Autocolor is a brand of automotive paint and refinishing products. The company was established more than 95 years ago; however, it went under cover of PPG Industries, Inc. and became its subsidiary. The company has a presence in more than 147 countries, and its products are widely used in the automotive industry by professional body shops and individuals. The company is also renowned for its high quality and good color match, making it a popular choice for car repair and refinishing work (23).
Cromax
Cromax is a brand of automotive refinish paint and is a subsidiary of Axalta Coating Systems, a global manufacturer of coatings products for various industries. Dupont Refinish knew the company; however, in 2013, its name changed to Cromax. The company has a long history dating back to the early 19th century. It has developed a wide range of products for the automotive industry, including paints for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket (24–25).
Cromax paints are known for their high quality and durability and are used by body shops and collision repair centers worldwide. They are formulated to meet the specific needs of the automotive repair industry and are designed to provide a durable, long-lasting finish on vehicles.
Axalta
Axalta Coating Systems is a global company that produces coatings and refinishing products for the automotive, industrial, and transportation markets. The company was established in 1866 and had a long coatings industry history. Today, the company has a presence in more than 140 countries. It is a leading supplier of coatings for the automotive industry, offering a wide range of products for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and collision repair centers. In addition to its automotive coatings, Axalta also produces coatings for the aerospace, industrial, and architectural markets (26–27–28).
Kansai
Kansai Paint Co., Ltd, established in 1918, is a Japanese company specializing in producing paints and coatings for various industries, including automotive, construction, and marine. The company has its headquarters in Osaka. Over the years, Kansai has grown and expanded its operations. As a result, it is now one of the leading paints and coatings producers in Japan and around the world (29).
The company is dedicated to research and development and is constantly working to improve the performance and sustainability of products. In addition to its core paint and coating business, Kansai is also involved in many related industries, including adhesives, sealants, and building materials.
MaxMeyer
Maymeyer is one of the leading European brands specializing in coatings and refinishing. The company was established in 1895; however, in 1997, PPG Industries acquired it (31). The company offers a variety of products for use on cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles, including basecoats, clearcoats, and primers. Professional auto body shops and car enthusiasts use MaxMeyer coatings. They are known for their durability, color accuracy, and easy application (32).
Eastwood
Eastwood is a company that specializes in automotive restoration and modification products. It was founded in 1978 by automotive expert Curt, who started the company in his garage in Pennsylvania. The company initially focused on supplying hard-to-find tools and auto body repair and restoration products.
In the 1980s, Eastwood began to expand its product offerings to include paints, coatings, and other auto body products. Today, the company offers a wide range of automotive repairing and restoration products, including paints, coatings, welding equipment, and tools. Eastwood is known for its high-quality products and commitment to helping car enthusiasts and professionals restore and modify vehicles (33).
Asian Paints
Asian Paints Ltd is India’s largest originator of paints and coatings, and PPG is headquartered in Pittsburgh, USA. In 2012, Asian Paints and PPG Inc founded PPG Asian Paints as a joint venture of 50:50. The goal of the venture is to provide the right coating supplier to balance the requirements of a vehicle with enhanced fuel economy, lowered emissions, improved durability, and pleasant colors while achieving the cost and worldwide capability targets (34).
The portfolio of PPG Asian Paints gives innovative technologies for all types of coatings on the vehicle, including pretreatment, electrocoat, basecoat, sealants, clearcoat, adhesives, primer, liquid applied sound deadeners, along with specialty products. The built-in chemistries of products are designed to bear lightweight materials such as carbon fibres, aluminum, magnesium, and mixed metal vehicles. In addition, the coatings of PPG Asia Paints are long-lasting, fast-curing, and scratch-resistant. It strongly follows VOC legislation policies and produces sustainable technologies to offer solvent-based and waterborne coatings. From minor scratches to large dents, the innovative brands cater to every budget without conceding on eminence or sustainability. AQUABASE PLUS, ENVIROBASE HP, 2K NEXA AUTOCOLOR, DELTRON, BILUX, ACS, ENZA, ASPA SUPREME, and ASPA are the significant product offerings in this segment.
Jotun
Jotun started its journey in 1926 from Sandefjord, Norway, and has been serving homes, architecture, design, infrastructure, light industry, shipping, and refining facilities for a long time. Jotun develops powder-coating solutions to meet automated production requirements. As a result, Jotun automobile solutions advance the industry by lowering carbon footprint and improving operational efficiency (35).
Besides, their premium coatings are long-lasting, with excellent corrosion and organic resistance. It provides a range of efficient powder finishes with high-quality protection for aluminum alloy, diamond cut, or machined wheels. Moreover, their solutions offer outstanding performance, insulation, and protection against dynamic temperature conditions.
