Spies Hecker is celebrating a special milestone this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of its Permahyd waterborne basecoat. Spies Hecker was one of the first paint manufacturers to successfully develop a complete, VOC-compliant paint system with its Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 which was first introduced in 1994.

Spies Hecker is marking the occasion with a specially developed anniversary logo, which bodyshops will find on the cans. The colour of the tins has also been given a makeover with a new pale blue label. Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 is part of Spies Hecker’s Classic System whose main aim is to ensure ease of use and a perfect result. Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 and Permahyd Hi-TEC Basecoat 480 continue to form the backbone of the Spies Hecker car product range.

Joachim Hinz, Brand Manager Spies Hecker EMEA, says, “With its pioneering, environmentally-responsible technology, Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 led the way 20 years ago. In 1994, its efficient application and good performance were ahead of its time and considered somewhat of a revolution for the refinish market. Over the years, thousands of new colour formulas were developed while technical innovations and customer feedback has led to product improvements. Today, Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 has an established place in the market as a dependable waterborne paint system. It is approved by leading car manufacturers and relied on by refinishers in 76 countries every day.”

One of the key characteristics of the Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 is its high level of efficiency. The paint can be applied in only 1.5 spray passes in a single work step and can be coated wet-on-wet. The two application components of the basecoat, the mixing tint and Permahyd VE Water 6000,  make handling very easy. The system also boasts great hiding power and is economical in use. “With over 53,000 colour formulas and comprehensive colour tools, excellent colour accuracy is one of the outstanding qualities of the mixing tints,” Joachim Hinz explains. “In application, the best gloss levels and depth can be obtained by combining Permahyd Basecoat 280/285 with any of the Permasolid HS clearcoats.”