Pioneer Stories: Pioneering the next generation of matt coatings for the world’s leading car makers

Of the up to 13 million passenger cars produced every year in Europe, historically almost all come with a glossy clear coat. Yet many customers and manufacturers are beginning to turn their attention to matt coatings. What’s behind this trend, and is there more to it than simple aesthetics?

Beckers has long offered matt clear coatings, but only on smaller exterior parts such as skid plates and trims. What our customers were seeking was a matt clear coat that could fulfill their specifications for both body and plastic in one product.

Typically, a matt finish requires less repainting in comparison to a high gloss car. This can help reduce energy consumption during the production process. As well as sustainability gains, there are also potential cost savings.

The challenge, however, is to find the right formulation.

Shifting Focus

Beckers used to have a military portfolio, which included a matt varnish intended primarily for military ambulances. After selling off this part of the business in 2015, we kept hold of the matt paint we had developed, as one of the major automotive manufacturers we work with had indicated they may want to use it on regular passenger cars as they saw a design trend emerging.

At the time, the manufacturer ran tests on several matt paints on the market, including the Beckers TM 151. Our product stood out. A key advantage of the Beckers formula was that the same product met the requirements for both plastic and body.

Meanwhile, another manufacturer came to us with a request to work with them on a new range of sportier models – with a matt finish. It was the first time since 2003 that Beckers had worked specifically on body, as well as plastic details, and it required new competencies, licenses and refinement of our processes.

Now Trending

Beckers is now a supplier of matt lacquer that – unique in the market – is formulated both for body and component parts.

Today, matt paint is offered on sportier models, but the trend is clear: more and more "regular" cars are getting the option of matt finish. Now, designers have a new opportunity both for fully matt design or parts with matt finish.

So far, matt remains quite niche, but in China for example cars are already sold in more shades and in both matt and glossy designs. Small sporty cars and large SUVs can also be selected with a matt finish, although manufacturers will usually charge extra for this.

The global market is growing with several major manufacturers announcing plans to expand the existing range to include matt options, as well as incorporating them into new products.

As car makers rally to find sustainable solutions that match consumer demand, a new generation of matt finish paint formulas are emerging – and Beckers is at the forefront of the technology and the trend.