Mazda Kicks Off Launch of Aqua-tech to Overseas Factories

Just recently, Mazda Motor Corp. has launched its Aqua-tech Paint System at Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., (CMA), the company’s car production plant based in Jiangsu, China. The unique technology was initially unveiled at the Ujina Plant No. 1 in Japan, where the system’s installation was completed in 2012. CMA is the company’s second facility and first overseas plant to feature the cutting-edge low-impact paint technology.

Decreasing volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from vehicle body paint shops has been a long-standing issue for the automobile industry, which has conventionally preferred VOC-heavy oil-based paints and thinners. Car manufacturers moved toward water-based paints in a quest to cut VOC emissions, but the energy-intensive evaporative drying process needed for these paints led to increased CO2 emissions.

Mazda’s state-of-the-art Aqua-tech Paint System overcomes this trade-off by concurrently cutting VOC and CO2 emissions, and making more efficient use of energy and paint materials than conventional paint systems.

Even after the successful installation of the Aqua-tech Paint System at Ujina Plant No. 1 in 2012, Mazda continued the development of the technology to boost system usability and performance. The Japanese automaker targets to attain high-quality and efficient vehicle manufacturing at its global production bases by developing technologies such as Aqua-tech in Japan before launching them at overseas plants. Mazda collaborated with CMA for the successful introduction of the Aqua-tech Paint System at Japanese standards, and reduced installation work and paint development in China. The transition was attained right away without the need to stop the line or interrupt vehicle production using conventional oil-based paints. The Aqua-tech Paint System at CMA is utilized for all body colors, and the finish quality is as high as that of cars painted in Japan, even for designer colors such as Soul Red.

According to Kiyotaka Shobuda, Senior Managing Executive Officer, as an automaker, they have an obligation to not only make high-quality cars, but also reduce their impact on the environment. He added that their painting technologies, which have enabled KODO design get recognition worldwide, shows Mazda’s efforts to meet that obligation. “Moving forward, we’ll continue to develop innovative technologies at our parent factories in Japan before introducing them at the same high standards overseas. In this way, we’ll provide customers around the world with high-quality cars and contribute both to preserving the environment and enriching society.”

Mazda will reportedly continue its efforts to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through different technological innovations. It also intends to enrich the lives of people and become not just a popular brand, but one that has a special bond with its customers.