Students in the JVS Collision Repair Program, from left: Zachary Leverknight (Firelands), Robert Haponek (Firelands), Jamie Adams (Firelands), Chris Toman (Amherst).

August 2, 2010 -- Noxious paint fumes and agitating paint cans are conspicuously absent in the Lorain County JVS Collision Repair Program Lab.

The lack of traditional smells and sounds of a collision repair shop doesn't mean that JVS instructor Gary Carruthers isn't keeping his students busy-it means he's joined a growing industry trend.

Carruthers recently began teaching his students the art of using waterborne environmentally friendly paints. Paint manufacturer PPG's Cleveland headquarters donated their NEXA Autocolor Aquabase Plus paint system to the school.

"We are one of the first career-technical schools in the state of Ohio to teach a waterborne paint system," stated Carruthers. "As a matter of fact, we use this paint exclusively on all work we do for outside customers."

"Paint is dangerous," continued Carruthers. "Waterborne paints are better for the environment, better for the health of my students, and better for collision repair technicians."

"Using a waterborne system significantly reduces the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere," continued Carruthers. "VOCs are chemical compounds used in paint coatings and cleaning products. The emissions from VOCs negatively affect the environment."

"Other energy-saving advantages include not having to agitate the paint which means we save electricity, and cleaning up our paint guns, equipment and shop with soap and water," stated Carruthers. "The chemical cleaners needed for the cleanup for solvent based paints aren't necessary. We even recycle the water we use to clean our equipment."

"The most significant advantage to teaching this paint system is that my students will be well prepared to succeed in the world of work as many employers are transitioning to waterborne systems," continued Carruthers. "This transition is happening in anticipation of new government air quality regulations being mandated for collision repair shops in Ohio, as they have already been mandated in California and Canada."

Senior student Jamie Adams, of Firelands High School, is quick to tell you why she prefers using the waterbased paints, "The paint is much easier to spray, dries quicker which increases productivity and makes mistakes easier to fix. It's also easier to match paint to a vehicle's original finish. Add these benefits to the fact that it's healthier for me as a technician and better for the atmosphere-there is no downside. I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn this new technology at the JVS."