Ford's new paint technique saves money, energy and the environment

You might not think much of it, but painting a vehicle can be a very dirty, polluting and energy consuming process.

Ford announced yesterday that they had delivered some 200 E-Series trucks to U-Haul which are painted in a new, more environmentally friendly process which reduces greenhouse gasses by 15 percent and cuts production costs at the same time. U-Haul rents the trucks to customers who need a vehicle to move large items.


The U-Haul fleet will be monitored closely and important durability data will be gathered by Ford.

How does this new painting process work? In a nutshell, an advanced chemical formulation of high-solids and solvent-borne paint is applied in an innovative three-wet application process that requires a smaller, cheaper and cleaner paint shop than traditional paint facilities.

The composition of the new paint resists running and sagging during application, and Ford testing has revealed that it also provides better protection against chipping and scratching that traditional paint.

"Painting vehicles has traditionally been one of the auto industry's biggest environmental challenges," said Mary Ellen Rosenberger, paint manager of Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant.

"Ford has found the solution. It's environmentally sound. It's cost-efficient. And it produces beautifully painted vehicles with long-term durability."