It looks like The Carlyle Group L.P. has completed its acquisition of DuPont Performance Coatings for $4.9 billion dollars. They announced that the company is being renamed Axalta Coating Systems.

It also seems that although they will keep some of the brand names the manufacture of the paint will be moved from Dupont’s Factories to Brazil and China.

Charlie Shaver, the company’s Chairman and CEO added, “We look forward to this exciting next chapter for Axalta Coating Systems. Our global scale with 35 plants and seven technology centers around the world, combined with Carlyle’s industrial focus and global network, position us well for the future.”

They will also be keeping their 42 training centers.

Supported global brands include Standox®, Spies Hecker®, Cromax®and Imron®. Alesta® Powder Coatings, NAP-GARD® FBE Powder Coatings and ABCITE® Powder Coatings.

So, what does this all mean to us as end users and shop owners?

For the short term you can expect the product in the market will have the same quality as you once expected but since this new company is not saying they will continue making all of the paint lines that DuPont once made you can expect changes in your shop.

Personally I use to like shooting Centari because it was quick and got cars out the door that weren’t paying a lot for change overs but in reality there are a number of manufacturers that I find provide an as good or better product.

The fact that the largest paint supplier in the World just sold out…

Well that is something that must bring caution in our work place.

The cost of paint has skyrocketed and although there is some value in new technologies it is costing us all a ton of money to change over to products that comply with EPA regulations.

I can’t really say that this will end up hurting the industry. Maybe other manufacturers will step up their game and start supplying larger lines for less money.

Yeah that will happen and gas prices will go back to $1.50 a gallon like they were 5 years ago.

So, all I can say is Heads Up and you better start testing other product lines now.