GM has filed a patent with the European Patent Office for a more efficient two-tone paint process that could streamline production and cut costs. Two-tone finishes have become increasingly popular, with Toyota and Mini models boasting contrasting roofs, and premium automakers such as BMW and Mercedes offering more extensive duo-tone finishes on their top models. GM’s innovation allows a car to be fully painted in the booth first, with the contrasting color applied later using UV-curable paint. This method simplifies the process, improving efficiency without sacrificing quality.
A More Efficient Approach to Two-Tone Painting
Usually, a car is painted in the paint shop by a robot and the finished painted bodies are then baked to cure the paint. They then move on to the next step in the production line, one of which is the application of the contrasting paint color, if this has been ordered. Usually, this entails masking the car so only the body surfaces to be painted are exposed, and then going through another paint process with spray guns to apply the second color.
GM’s newly developed patent aims to simplify this by eliminating the need for masking and spray guns, reducing the labor and time required for this process. Instead, the contrasting color is applied with a special precision applicator directly onto the designated surfaces using UV-curable paint. Since this paint cures instantly under UV light, there’s no need for an additional baking cycle.
Advantages of GM’s UV-Curable Paint Technology
GM’s innovative two-tone painting method offers several key benefits over traditional spray applications:
- Energy Savings – Eliminates additional baking cycles, reducing energy consumption.
- Faster Production – Streamlines the painting process, cutting down manufacturing time.
- Greater Design Flexibility – Allows for multi-color applications and intricate patterns not achievable with spray guns.
- No Masking Required – The precision applicator directly applies contrasting colors without the need for masking, reducing labor and material costs.
A Step Toward Mass Adoption
GM’s patent addresses a growing demand for customizable, multi-tone finishes that were once the reserve of luxury models but have become increasingly common on more affordable cars. As personalization is a key selling point for carmakers, if GM successfully scales this technology for mass production, we expect this patent to hit the mainstream.
