Auto painters urged to practise safety protocols

Automotive painters in western Jamaica were recently urged to prioritise safety on the job as Berger Paints Jamaica hosted a hands-on workshop and training session in Montego Bay, St James, highlighting proper protective practices alongside innovation and efficiency in the craft.

A major component of the session focused on maintaining safety standards, with trainers underscoring the importance of personal protective equipment, proper ventilation, and adherence to best practices when handling automotive coatings, an area often overlooked, but critical to long-term health and productivity in the industry.

Participants also sharpened their technical skills through exposure to the PPG Deltron NXT refinish system, a major upgrade to PPG’s premium solvent-borne product lines traditionally distributed by the company. By combining its three premium brands—NEXA Autocolor, PPG Global and Deltron DBC—PPG has developed a technologically advanced solution designed to enhance durability, gloss retention and overall finish quality in automotive painting.

Industry professionals engaged directly with facilitators, gaining insights into proper application techniques, surface preparation, and the science behind achieving optimal results. The training also demonstrated how advancements in automotive refinishing technology are enabling painters to deliver longer-lasting, high-quality finishes while improving workflow efficiency.

“PPG formulated the Deltron NXT line with new technology allowing for the use of less paint to complete jobs. The line has less chemicals and resin while still providing an optimal finish. This places our automotive painters on par with industry standards as this training is done around the Caribbean,” said Talaat Mohammed, technical team lead at Ansa Coatings Limited.

He added that safety remained a central focus of the product’s development.

“We also emphasised the safety aspect, as it is beneficial to the paint-mixer, end-users and their families. The company restructured the line to emphasise safety, environmental friendliness and still giving an edge to users, all backed by 15 years of research,” Mohammed noted.

Berger Paints Jamaica said the initiative forms part of its ongoing commitment to supporting professionals in the automotive sector through education and capacity building. The Montego Bay staging marks the second edition in the training series, following a successful debut in Westmoreland last year.

“This training is extremely important as Deltron NXT is the newest offering of a premium refinish system from our supplier PPG. This system provides beneficial features that aid our end-users in becoming more proficient and profitable,” said Alton McCalla, automotive channel manager at Berger Paints.

“Developing and facilitating the growth of our automotive painters is a key element in building the Jamaican automotive industry. It’s also important for us to partner with our customers on product demonstrations, as it provides product knowledge and pushes automotive painters to the next level,” he added.