HIGHLAND, MI – The LaFontaine Automotive Group, headquartered in Highland, MI, announced that it has converted from using a solvent-based system for vehicle paint repairs to using Envirobase High Performance waterborne basecoat by PPG Industries' automotive refinish business. The transition is part of an overall initiative to sell, service and repair vehicles in an environmentally-friendly way, according to LaFontaine. The company is one of the first in Michigan to move to a waterborne system.

 

“This decision was the right thing to do,” said Todd McCallum, Fixed Operations Director for LaFontaine. “We’re very conscious of the need to safeguard our environment. We’re going for gold-level LEED* certification and doing all we can to be genuinely ‘green.’ We’re very pleased to be working with PPG to make this change.”

 

Automotive collision centers in California and Canada are making the transition to using waterborne basecoats in anticipation of new air quality regulations requiring the use of waterborne basecoat to reduce VOC atmospheric emissions and improve air quality. To date, Michigan has no plans for more stringent VOC regulations; LaFontaine is making the change on its own initiative.

 

The company operates a new, $15-million flagship collision facility in Highland, MI, and another collision center in Dexter, MI. The switch to waterborne coatings at both locations coincides with the grand opening of the Highland center, which features General Motors vehicles and opened June 2.