NEW EXPRESS SCRATCH REPAIR FROM SHERWIN-WILLIAMS AUTOMOTIVE FINISHES CORP. PROVIDES DEALERSHIPS AND SHOPS WITH NEW PROFIT OPPORTUNITIES

November, 2008

Warrensville Heights, Ohio – Thanks to the new Express Scratch Repair (ESR) technology from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp. (SWAFC), dealerships and collision repair shops have a new source of revenue - those small scratches, dents and dings from minor accidents that car owners don’t usually have repaired.

This is a great opportunity for the dealership or shop to get brand new business! Because of the perceived hassle (and assumed high cost), many drivers presently don’t have these minor incidents repaired, but now with ESR, their vehicles can be repaired fast and at an affordable price – and without their insurance company getting involved – while it provides the repair facility a new source of income.

Express Scratch Repair allows the dealership or collision shop to repair minor damages, faster – usually in less than one day – and creates excellent add-on business opportunities. ESR is quick and affordable, so when customers come in with other repairs or damage, they can receive an instant estimate on-site – for a same day repair – which can decrease a lease turn-in penalty or simply renew a sense of pride to the vehicle owner that his or her car looks great again.

So how does the shop or dealership make the repair fast and affordable – and for less than the usual deductible? ESR uses the patented SWAFC HP Process™ with its proprietary Air-Bake technology. This removes the need for baking to achieve a fast cure time. Instead, simple repairs can cure outside the booth at ambient (70-75°F) room temperatures, allowing for same-day repairs.

HP Process, which has received numerous certifications from OEM manufacturers, uses high-quality primers, basecoats and urethane clearcoats that produce a high quality finish - from start to finish. In fact, the HPC15 Clearcoat only needs an ambient temperature (70˚-75˚) to achieve a 15-minute cure that can be sanded, polished or even delivered to the customer. This eliminates the downtime associated with temperature ramp up or cool down time.

“ESR and the HP Process is a win-win for all concerned; shops can paint more cars, add additional minor repairs and even reduce their carbon footprint,” said Nick Bartoszek, SWAFC Director - Global Product Management. “That’s why the process is aptly named HP – higher productivity, higher performance and higher profit - all resulting in a healthy planet.”

Because high-temperature baking isn’t required, any underutilized, properly ventilated spray area can be converted into an ESR area to service such painting jobs as bolt-on bumpers, superficial scrapes, door dings and more. The coating allows such jobs to move quickly out the door and keep the job flow moving. It’s also ideal for dealerships looking to quickly touch-up trade-in models for quick resale.

ESR, using the HP Process, has four simple steps;
· Step 1 – Assess the customer’s vehicle to determine if the damage qualifies or an Express Scratch Repair, then complete an instant estimate (this is usually an attractive option, because if the vehicle is already on-site for other work, this often means no additional wait time to the owner)
· Step 2 - Properly prep the minor repair area before painting
· Step 3 – Use the SWAFC patent-pending HP Process to repair the damage
· Step 4 – Deliver a car – usually that same day – that looks 100 percent improved

By increasing the potential for these new, and more rapid, jobs turned around new ESR makes fixing minor damages fast and affordable. And that means more profit – and from a brand new source - to dealerships and shop owners.

For more information about the new Express Scratch Repair, HP Process or other SWAFC products, visit www.sherwin-automotive.com or call 1-800-SWULTRA (1-800-798-5872).

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The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866, is one of the world's leading companies in the manufacture, distribution and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Sherwin-Williams Company, manufactures and distributes a complete line of advanced technology paint and coating systems for automotive and fleet refinishing industries.