Four companies have been named as finalists in the Bodywork Equipment And Paint category of the Equip Auto Paris 2022 International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation.
The finalists are Anest Iwata France (WS400 & LS400 Series 2), Italcan (CMC Cabine Spirit), RestorFX (Polymimetic and Surface Regeneration), and Telwin (Battery Puller). The companies join 26 other shortlisted innovations across a total of seven categories, which will be judged by a panel of nearly 100 journalists representing 18 countries.
“As a contest acknowledged all over the world as a marker of quality, the International Grands Prix for Automotive Innovation once again met with a lot of interest from Equip Auto exhibitors. The 96 judges, from France and abroad, were thus asked to examine 107 entries and shortlisted 30 of them in the race for the 2022 title,” Equip Auto Paris said.
The seven category winners will be announced on 10 October following a second vote by the panel. The awards will be presented at the Equip Auto Paris gala evening on 19 October.
ANEST IWATA WS400 & LS400 SERIES 2
Equip Auto says the WS400 & LS400 Series 2 is a premium range of spray guns with a digital pressure gauge integrated into the gun handle. The range consists of WS400 for wet-on-wet basecoats, LS400 for basecoats and WS400 for clearcoats, with each available in several ranges of nozzles. The chrome body with black PVD treatment allows high resistance, while a new air valve optimises airflow for better application performance. The DPG-1 integrated digital pressure gauge, billed as being unique in the world, can be detached in one second and provides excellent precision.
ITALCAN CMC CABINE SPIRIT
According to Equip Auto, the Cabine Spirit is a “revolutionary sanding, painting, and drying system” offering 100 per cent electric sanding and painting in the same spray booth preparation area. Thanks to its flexibility it is perfectly suited to all types of processing. The Cabine Spirit is equipped with automatic suction for manual and pneumatic sanding to ensure high performance and accurate finishes.
RESTORFX POLYMIMETIC SURFACE REGENERATION
Equip Auto says RestorFX is a polymimetic surface regeneration technology that “redefines” automotive reconditioning with a paintless solution (PCR: Paintless Clearcoat Repair), offering significant speed and cost benefits with excellent results. RestorFX is not a wax or cosmetic product, but a technical and chemical process for the deep reconditioning of paint clear coat by chemical fusion and self-curing, giving vehicles “a brand-new look”.
TELWIN BATTERY PULLER
According to Equip Auto, the Battery Puller is a new ‘LiPo4’ lithium battery-powered cordless spotter that is suitable for all steel sheet straightening operations. The Battery Puller has a built-in mass and develops the power of a conventional spotter (2800 amps), weighing 2.3 kilograms. The Battery Puller is operated by built-in digital control, with the spot-welding time based on the work to be done. Special accessories can also be used such as for welding slotted washers.