OREANDA-NEWS. Once again, PSA Peugeot Citroen has presented awards to its best suppliers. BASF's Coatings division received the award for its CathoGuard (r) 800 cathodic e-coat. This is applied to the vehicle body to protect it from corrosion. The special benefit it offers PSA is its cost savings potential.

By presenting this award, the French automaker is paying tribute not just to the product CathoGuard 800 but also to BASF's commitment. "As the main supplier to PSA, we are very pleased and proud to receive this award. It shows recognition for BASF's power to create innovative high-quality products which save costs and are globally available. The award also confirms the close partnership that exists between BASF and PSA," says Laurent Vaucenat, Global Account Manager Renault/Nissan and PSA at BASF. The BASF Coatings division has already been awarded the title of core supplier by PSA in 2012.

The cathodic e-coat is the first layer of the paint system. CathoGuard 800 is in great demand as an alternative to conventional e-coats that often incorporate tin. CathoGuard 800 also has a low solvent content and saves material due to its high efficiency. In addition, this technology is highly suitable for integrated painting processes that dispense with primer application.

The PSA Group benefits from this innovative technology for the production of 500,000 vehicles per year . Many major automakers have also introduced CathoGuard 800 into their global operations in recent years.

The PSA Group had a number of good reasons for introducing the BASF product. "We have been able to save over 10% in materials and energy by using CathoGuard 800 for cathodic e-coating," says Frederic Delbecque, Account Manager PSA at BASF. "There is less need for rework, owing to uniform application of the corrosion protection layer and its high quality. This accelerates the production process. The perfectly smooth surface meets the requirements of our customers in the automotive sector."