BASF Coatings Strengthens Paintshop Sustainability Leadership with Award for Overspray Free Application Technology

Dr. Steffen Rohlmann (right), Development Basecoat EMEA, and Sonja Glanemann (center), Global Sustainability Manager, Automotive OEM Coatings, receive the Sustainability Award in Automotive 2026 – Technology: Operations & Supply Chain – for the Overspray Free Application (OFLA) process from Prof. Dr. Uwe Dieter Grebe from TU Wien – Vienna University of Technology, at the award ceremony in Frankfurt. Photo: ATZlive|Uli Regenscheit

(IN BRIEF) BASF Coatings has won the Sustainability Award in Automotive 2026 for its Overspray Free Application process, known as OFLA, which enables more sustainable two-tone vehicle painting without overspray or masking. The award, jointly organised by the ATZ/MTZ Group and Arthur D. Little, recognised OFLA in the Technology: Operations & Supply Chain category for its measurable contribution to improving industrial production processes. Enabled by BASF Coatings’ ColorSharp decor coat paint technology, OFLA uses digitally controlled paint jets to apply contrast colours with sharp paint edges and 100% transfer efficiency. The process reduces overspray, masking waste, energy demand, CO₂ emissions and paint use while maintaining serial production quality. Developed through collaboration with Renault and Dürr, the technology is already in serial production at Renault’s Maubeuge plant, where it has delivered around 25% lower energy consumption, approximately 300 tonnes of annual CO₂ reduction, elimination of about 300 grams of masking-related contaminated waste per vehicle and around 200 grams of paint savings per vehicle.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUDWIGSHAFEN, 27-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — BASF Coatings has received the Sustainability Award in Automotive 2026 for its Overspray Free Application process, a technology designed to make two-tone automotive painting more sustainable, efficient and resource-conscious.

The award was presented in the Technology: Operations & Supply Chain category, which recognises practical technology and process innovations that deliver measurable sustainability benefits in industrial operations and production environments. The Sustainability Award in Automotive is jointly organised by the ATZ/MTZ Group, part of Springer Nature, and management consultancy Arthur D. Little.

BASF Coatings was recognised for its Overspray Free Application, or OFLA, process, which enables overspray-free two-tone painting for vehicles. The process is supported by BASF Coatings’ ColorSharp decor coat paint technology, developed specifically for industrial two-tone painting applications that require sharp, precise paint lines without the need for conventional masking.

OFLA is a wet-on-wet painting process in which the contrast colour is applied using digitally controlled paint jets. This creates a sharply defined paint edge without masking and avoids many of the inefficiencies associated with traditional spray-based two-tone painting. Because the paint is applied only where it is needed, the process achieves 100% transfer efficiency and eliminates overspray.

BASF Coatings’ ColorSharp decor coat paint technology plays a central role in enabling this performance. The paint is engineered with tailored rheology and optimised flow and levelling behaviour, allowing it to support clearly defined jet-applied paint lines while helping prevent defects commonly linked to conventional spray basecoats.

For automotive manufacturers, OFLA can help reduce energy demand and CO₂ emissions, cut waste generated by masking materials and deliver paint savings at process level. At the same time, the technology is designed to maintain the stable serial quality required for industrial automotive production.

Alvin Lao, Head of Global Sustainability, Automotive OEM Coatings at BASF Coatings, said the award demonstrates how process innovation supported by advanced paint technology can significantly improve the sustainability profile of automotive two-tone painting. He noted that the jury’s recognition highlights OFLA as a technology-driven solution that delivers measurable environmental and operational value for automotive manufacturing.

The OFLA process is the result of collaboration across the automotive value chain. BASF Coatings contributed paint innovation and technology, Renault brought OEM manufacturing expertise, and Dürr provided advanced application and automation technology.

The technology has already been implemented in serial production at Renault’s Maubeuge plant. Results from the deployment show an estimated 25% reduction in energy consumption, equal to around 1.7 GWh per year, and approximately 300 tonnes of CO₂ reduction annually. The process also eliminates around 300 grams of masking-related, paint-contaminated waste per vehicle and delivers around 200 grams of paint savings per vehicle by avoiding the second basecoat and clearcoat run typically required in conventional masking-based two-tone painting.

With the award, BASF Coatings further strengthens its position as a technology partner for automotive manufacturers seeking to improve production efficiency while lowering the environmental impact of paintshop operations.

About BASF Coatings 

BASF Coatings is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings as well as applied surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass substrates in a wide range of industries. We create advanced performance solutions and drive performance, design and new applications to meet our partners’ needs all over the world. We share skills, knowledge and resources of interdisciplinary and global teams for the benefit of customers by operating a collaborative network of sites in Europe, South America, Middle East, Africa, North America and Asia Pacific. In 2025, our businesses achieved global sales of about €3.7 billion.

BASF Coatings – Driven by passion and science, we always go beyond the surface. For more information, visit www.basf-coatings.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

About BASF  

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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SOURCE: BASF