Center Square Motors Transitions to Water-Based Paint

When vehicles come off the manufacturing line, they have been painted with a water-based paint.  has taken the initiative to switch their body shop to water-based paint, which will be mandated for all body shops beginning in March of 2012.

Chuck Dietch, owner of Center Square Motors, said the water-based paint is greener and less damaging to the ozone layer. They also have a better ability to match the original color of the vehicle because they are using the same paints that the manufacturers are using.

The water-based paints are very different from the oil-based paints that the body shop in Blue Bell was previously using. The employees had to be trained on the new paints and the body shop had to be outfitted for the new style of paint.

Dietch said the painters love the new water-based paints, but said there was definitely a learning curve.

The two painters at Center Square Motors attended training classes on the new paints.

Dietch said, “We’re the first in this area [with water-based paints] that I know of.”