Surface World April 2019 Surface World April 2019 | Page 62

PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
Repair headlights quickly and cost-effectively
You won’t be surprised to
know that over the last few
years drivers in the UK are
keeping their cars for longer.
And of course, driving an older
car means more things are
likely to wear out, degrade or
go wrong. One of these is the
performance of headlights.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun or just wear and
tear results in scratched, discoloured or dulled
glass. Not only can this make a vehicle look
pretty shabby but it also means the lights don’t
work as well. When the glass suffers from
these problems it can’t defuse the light,
making it harder for the driver to see.
This type of defect can mean MOT failure,
and all the hassle that entails.
Repair or replace?
The most obvious way to sort out these
problems would, of course, be to replace the
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whole headlight. Depending on the make
of car that could mean your customers
have to pay out hundreds or even thousands
of pounds.
A second option is to polish or repair the
headlights to get them through the MOT.
Of course, this needs to be done with
exceptional attention to detail, which can
be very time consuming for both your
workshop and your customers. The process
often involves many steps, which can be
tedious, especially when you’re looking to
keep down key-to-key times. All this time
adds up, making the process surprisingly
expensive, especially when you factor in
the number of products and processes that
can be involved – such as mixing and
applying adhesive primers.
At last, a cost-
effective solution
The good news is that AkzoNobel has
recently launched Autoclear Lights, an
innovative new headlight repair solution.
Not only does it take far less time than
the alternatives, but it’s also cheaper for
customers. Sikkens Autoclear Lights is so
easy to use because it comes in a single
aerosol can - no mixing or adhesive primer
required. All you need to do is activate and
shake the aerosol and away you go.
A simple three-stage process
1. Carefully prepare the damaged or
discoloured headlight, using the
recommended sanding and
degreasing process.
2. Apply a single layer of Autoclear Lights
to give a smooth, clear surface.
3. Cure the headlight for just 30 minutes
at 60°C or 7 hours at an ambient
temperature of 20°C.
Thanks to fewer preparation steps, Autoclear
Lights is quicker and cheaper than similar
products on the market. Your bodyshop will
spend far less time on the job as they only
need to apply one layer. That’s it - no
adhesives, no primers. The end result?
A far more streamlined process that saves
you time – and your customers money.
Visit: www.akzonobel.com
read online: www.surfaceworld.com