In response to market demand for fast drying products, AkzoNobel has launched Sikkens Autoclear Rapid Air AS, an ambient cure clearcoat with flexible and fast dust-free drying times. The product is formulated to boost express repairs, helping bodyshops cut energy costs and take on more dedicated fast repairs.

AkzoNobel believes Autoclear Rapid provides a great solution for increasing bodyshop business flexibility through a separate express repair work stream. With fast dust free times at all temperatures, Autoclear Rapid Air AS is an ideal clearcoat for cost effectively accelerating the express repair process and enabling repairers to increase both their variety and volume of work.

Frank Delaney, VR Sikkens Sales Manager says, “Autoclear Rapid Air AS delivers the kind of speeds bodyshops have been looking for, making it easier for them to benefit from separate work flows. It has good drying performance, both at room temperature and in the spraybooth, which means painters are quicker to move to the next job.” He adds, “What’s more, because Autoclear Rapid Air AS has superb ambient curing properties, there is the option of air-drying repairs. This frees up spraybooths and reduces energy use.”

Frank also explains that increased drying flexibility is not the only way in which Autoclear Rapid Air AS can help cut costs for busy bodyshops. He comments, “The dust-free times for this anti-scratch clearcoat are impressively short. At ambient temperature, just five minutes is needed; at 40ºC, three minutes are required; while at 60ºC the time is cut to two minutes. That means less polishing, saving bodyshops precious man hours and reducing costs even further.”

Developed as part of the “Creating Together” campaign, Autoclear Rapid Air AS is highly resistant to abrasions and has a long pot-life of up to four hours at room temperature, meaning less waste compared to other clearcoats and less mixing time.

Autoclear Rapid Air AS is also designed to complement Sikkens Autosurfacer Rapid primer to provide a high quality effective solution for rapid repair techniques.