Standox has announced that as of the end of 2012 it has removed all leaded pigments from its entire Standofleet commercial vehicle paint system.

“Standox car refinishing systems have been formulated without leaded pigments for some time,” says Jodie Henly, Standox Brand Manager. “This final step of discontinuing lead-containing pigments for our CV systems is consistent with our commitment to offering products which are not only of a high quality but also are environmentally responsible.”

In order to provide suitable alternatives to end-users, the brand’s Standofleet mixing bases have been converted to lead-free formulas. To support this conversion three different filler colours will ensure the best top-coat opacity with the same, or in some cases thinner, coating thicknesses. Standowin software automatically identifies the suitable filler colour and displays the instruction “Filler Colour 1” (white), “Filler Colour 2” (grey), or “Filler Colour 3” (black) to alert refinishers. With these new fillers, Standox recommends the use of Standofleet Epoxy Surfacer 5:1, an efficient primer from the range. It is chromate free with good corrosion protection and outstanding holdout on vertical surfaces. It also has a certificate for welding.

“The new lead-free formulas for both Standohyd and Standofleet paint systems have been phased in smoothly with no disruption to bodyshops,” adds Henly. “These formulas retain the high quality and durability that Standox is known for, and refinishers will continue to get the same excellent results they are accustomed to.”

For more information on Standofleet and other Standox products and services, contact your local distributor or visit www.standox.co.uk.