MIX AND MATCH EXPAND EXPORT AFRICA SALES WITH THE CHALLENGER REFINISH BRAND
The Challenger refinish system from Axalta is fast gaining acceptance, says Zahid Vawda from Mix & Match Durban. Last year saw the addition of the CL 6500 Vehicle Express hardener coupled to an extensive range of toners which have greatly increased Challenger’s colour matching capability.
“This has quickly gained acceptance across the sub-Saharan area especially,” says Zahid. “We are now able to offer a comprehensive range of fillers, clearcoats and effect additives that are combined with easy-to-use ultra-fast colour retrieval packages in the refinish range.“
The Mix & Match team are upbeat about the development of a fully compliant basecoat range. It forms a total solution to the every-exploding range of global car colours. It is designed for cost conscious body shops that demand colour accuracy from this top European paint maker brand.
World colours expansion
Last year alone saw 509 194 grey colours purchased in new vehicles sold. This on its own is around 26% of the world’s new colours available. Another interesting trend on colour is that approximately 70% of cars sold featured white, black, or grey scale. White is an obvious choice locally with South Africa’s endless days of sunshine. It is also clear and highly visible and you are 12% less likely to have a white car in the collision stakes.
The trend to introduce Xyrillic pearl toners and three-stage metallics has boosted the deep red, blue and dark grey sales of new vehicles in most countries, with close to 20% of these vibrant shades. These often accentuate the vehicle’s body design and stance. These are now a big player in customer choice, and it is in this arena that the low VOC products are becoming a vital part of the colour matching state of repair.
Challenger offers colour tools with professional colour selection that enables fast colour identity in the paint shop. They have an extensive library of around 50 000 colour formulas at your fingertips when you use their colour tools.
Challenger also receives monthly updated vehicle formulas and shades, keeping it a speedy and accurate system. The Acquire RX Spectrophotometer finds accurate colours needed in an effective and accurate way.
Challenger also has a full range of high-performance anti-corrosion refinish primer range of high solid primers. VOC toners deliver excellent coverage along with a fast-recording time in the custom rectification process on all metallics, pearls and liquid Xyrillics. As you would expect the Axalta overall clearcoat package is a top performer with excellent gloss retention and flow characteristics for compete resprays and panel repairs.
Mix & Match have a creative market approach with their Challenger refinish offer, as well as other ranges they carry. Their overnight national delivery and quick response to outstanding orders empower them – as Axalta’s sole importer for the Challenger brand – to provide unparalleled service to body shop professionals throughout Southern Africa.
For more information on the Challenger range, call Zahid on +27 (0)82 786 0904, email: zahid@mixandmatch.co.za. Dealer enquiries from local and sub-Saharan parties are welcome.
