Still Green and Going Strong

Premier Collision was one of the very first collision repair centers in the Tulsa area to “go green” with PPG waterborne paint.

Premier Collision owner Ralph Higinbotham and Paint Technician Chris Bloyed are extremely pleased with the PPG Waterborne Paint System by PPG, which the shop began using in 2009 to improve air quality and the environment.

“It’s always good to do something positive for the environment, especially when it doesn’t mean having to sacrifice quality or productivity,” says Ralph Higinbotham, owner of Premier Collision in Broken Arrow. Premier is a trusted collision repair shop well known for its expertise and integrity. Nearly six years ago, Higinbotham and Premier made the decision to switch from urethane paints to a new waterborne system developed by PPG that offered an effective solution for lowering volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and thus improve air quality and the environment. Premier was one of the first shops in Oklahoma and the first in the Tulsa area to convert to the new PPG system.

VOCs are organic, carbon-based chemicals that evaporate at room temperature and have a direct effect on air quality.  They cause air pollution and may be harmful to your health. The VOC content of paint is generally indicated on the container, and paint manufacturers utilize a classification system that describes the VOC content from minimal to very high. Higinbotham says, “Traditionally, emulsions that use water as a solvent, such as industry-leading PPG products, have a zero, minimum, or low VOC rating. Oil-based paints generally have a medium, high or very high rating. With future generation technology available today, PPG created a waterborne breakthrough.”

The impact of Premier’s conversion to the PPG system is noteworthy. Consider this: if a shop that mixes an average of one gallon of solvent-borne basecoat per week were to convert to waterborne basecoat, that shop alone could prevent over 300 pounds of VOCs from being emitted into the air we breathe. This is the equivalent to taking more than 1,000 vehicles off the road annually. Higinbotham says that Premier Collision uses an average of four gallons per week, the equivalent of taking 4,000 vehicles off the road annually.

The Envirobase® High Performance basecoat product has modified traditional thinking, and its advanced techniques are producing substantial eco-friendly results. Mil thickness of paint is a determining factor of success or failure. The thinner the application, the longer the finish will last. With the waterborne painting system, mil thickness is half of what it is with urethane paints. More than 70 percent of the world’s auto manufacturers are using the waterborne paint system today.

Oliver Reiff has been the leader of Premier’s upholstery and window tinting department for 12 years. “After the collision repairs and painting are done,” says Oliver, “I do the rest.” InstallerNet is an online provider that recommends leading service providers to consumers by suggesting local companies that will install aftermarket products. Premier provides sound system installations for InstallerNet as well as leather seats and leather kits, matching or custom seat covers, and increasingly-popular seat heaters. They also provide window tinting.

For more information, contact

Premier Collision Center, Inc.

www.premiercollisionok.com 

About Author Duane Blankenship

Blankenship graduated from the University of Oklahoma and has enjoyed a lifetime career in advertising. He started his own advertising business in 1993 and enjoys creating graphic art and writing. Hobbies include hunting, fishing and pencil drawings. Duane and his wife, Janice, have been married over 50 years and are active in their church and community. He has been a contributing writer for Value News/Values Magazine since 2005.