PPG has expanded its automotive refinish portfolio with the launch of a new fast-drying clearcoat designed to cut energy use and speed up repair times for body shops across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

 

The new PPG Deltron D8178 Rapid Low Energy clearcoat joins the company’s flagship PPG Deltron range, introducing advanced drying technology that significantly reduces both drying times and energy consumption compared with traditional baking processes.

 

Designed to work in a wide variety of workshop setups, the clearcoat allows technicians to select from multiple drying options depending on operational needs: Five minutes at 50°C; 10 minutes at 40°C; 15 minutes at 20°C dust-free, polishable after 45 minutes.

 

The product’s air-dry mode at 20°C can deliver up to 60% energy savings compared with standard clearcoats baked for 20 minutes at 60°C.

 

For body shops and repair centres, the faster processes translate into shorter turnaround times, more efficient use of painters’ working hours and improved productivity — while also helping operations meet sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption.

 

“Our new clearcoats help body shops to achieve extremely positive results in terms of performance, efficiency and consistent high-quality finishes,” said Juan Navarro. 

 

“This has been verified over a period of testing during which 21 body shops across seven countries performed hundreds of repairs. It is also rewarding to empower painters with greater control over their workflow. This improves the experience for their customers and is achieved without any compromise on productivity.”

 

According to PPG, the D8178 clearcoat delivers premium finish quality and consistent performance, helping streamline repair and refinish operations while giving painters greater confidence in the final result.