Ever since Henry Ford in 1909 offered the Model T in “any color you want – as long as it’s black,” paint has been an important consideration for manufacturers. Ford opted to limit consumer choices in order to support the efficient production of as many vehicles as possible. Cost and production efficiency were paramount as Ford tried to get the newly invented automobile to as many consumers as possible.
Painting has come a long ways since the first cars rolled off of the assembly line. In this century, it’s not only necessary to respond to the customers’ desire for a rainbow of color options but also keep costs low for manufacturers and reduce the environmental impact as much as possible. Fortunately for everyone, the technology has evolved to make all of these requirements achievable.