Solventborne Painting of a Steel Autobody: A Manufacturing Cost Analysis of Conventional and UV Bake Curing

The painting of today's automobile incurs both economic as well as environmental costs. Using an approach called Technical Cost Modeling, this paper assesses the cost of painting a steel vehicle using a conventional solventborne painting technique and a UV cure alternative.

The UV cure approach is found to have a cost advantage due primarily to decreased material, energy, and investment components. The cost of both systems is examined as a function of changing production volumes (and corresponding production rates) as well as first pass capability, with volume being found to be the more significant contributor.

While the UV cure approach needs to be demonstrated at prototype and high volumes, it offers the potential not only for improved cost, but also significantly decreased environmental impact in the form of reduced volatile organic compound (VOC) solvent emissions.