Autoblog

Remember that post about Mazda's environmental efforts with a new paint process? Apparently Ford, who has shares with the Japanese manufacturer, had developed a similar method for their own vehicles. The process includes:

• Reducing VOC emissions and CO2.

• New, more environmentally-friendly chemicals for the paints.

• New three-step application process.

• A patented Fumes-to-Fuel and other waste-management systems.

Continuing reading Ford's press release after the jump…

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 1, 2005 – Using innovative technological solutions, Ford Motor Company today unveiled a clean, efficient and quality-driven “paint shop of the future,” which reduces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions by 10 percent and CO2 by 20 percent. Cost savings are estimated between $7 and $11 per vehicle.

Traditionally, automotive paint operations have represented the industry’s biggest manufacturing-related environmental challenge. Industry-wide, 70 million pounds of paint fumes annually are collected and destroyed by expensive pollution abatement systems around the world before they are emitted into the air.
And 24 million pounds of paint overspray are captured in spray booths, treated and consolidated into nonhazardous sludge that eventually finds its way to landfills

“Painting vehicles is arguably the auto industry’s biggest challenge,” said Mary Ellen Rosenberger, manager, Paint Strategy, Ford Motor Company. “Ford has found the solution. It’s environmentally sound. It’s cost-efficient. And it produces beautifully painted vehicles with long-term durability.”

Ford’s Paint Shop of the Future consists of three major technological solutions: an advanced chemical paint formulation, an innovative three-wet application process and patented waste management technology that converts paint fumes into electricity and recycles paint sludge into car parts.

The new paint shop will be piloted at Ohio Assembly Plant early next year.

Advanced Chemical Formulation
Ford and its suppliers have developed a patented high-solids, solvent-borne paint formulation that produces fewer VOC emissions than do current water-borne and solvent-borne paints. The new formulation contains more color pigment and, therefore, requires less paint to cover a vehicle. Furthermore, it contains new polymers and other additives that prevent running and sagging.

According to Ford internal quality data, solvent-borne paint provides better long-term resistance to chips and scratches than does water-borne paint.

Three Coats of Wet Paint

A patented three-wet paint process allows Ford to eliminate one of the five steps in the paint shop, resulting in a total estimated cost savings of $7 per vehicle. Furthermore, the smaller paint shop consumes less energy, resulting in fewer C02 emissions.

In the new paint shop, the prime-coat application and its related processes are eliminated. Three coats of wet paint are applied one after another without sags, runs and other defects – thanks to the new chemical formulation.

Waste Management

Ford is not only interested in managing waste, but eliminating it. Innovative technology, such as the patented Fumes to Fuel, nonhazardous sludge recycling, and high-transfer efficiency are among the methods Ford is currently using.

A new bell-shaped spray applicator minimizes overspray. As a result more paint adheres to the vehicle. Even with more efficient applicators, there is overspray – which is consolidated into nonhazardous sludge. Ford is installing a recycling system at Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, Mich., that dries the sludge and recycles it into auto parts that help quiet the passenger compartments of cars and trucks. Instead of going to the landfill, the sludge is recycled into a sound-deadening material.

Michigan Truck Plant features a permanent installation of Ford’s patented Fumes-to-Fuel technology, which turns paint fumes into electricity that is returned to the plant power grid. It’s enough electricity to light a typical suburban block of homes. The permanent installation follows a successful pilot of the technology at the Ford Rouge Center in 2004.

VOCs are pulled from the paint air emissions by carbon beads. The clean air is then released from the facility. The scrubbed VOCs are sent to a generator where they are transformed into electricity.

Ford Motor Company, headquartered in Dearborn , Mich. , is one of the world’s largest automakers, with approximately 318,000 employees in 200 markets on six continents. Its automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln , Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Credit, Quality Care and Hertz. Ford Motor Company observed its 100 th anniversary on June 16, 2003 .

[Source: Ford]