BASF Supports Young Spray Coaters as a WorldSkills Sponsor

BASF Corporation’s coating division is a global sponsor through 2019 of the WorldSkills Competition, put on by WorldSkills International to support automotive refinish spray painters and young talent.

The 2017 competition took place in the Middle East for the first time, held October 14-19 in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. About 1,200 young people demonstrated their skills in 51 individual competitions.

“As a sponsor of the WorldSkills Competition, BASF Automotive Refinish wants to encourage young talent to consider refinish painting as a profession,” says Marvin Gilfillan, BASF vice president of business management for the Automotive Refinish group. “We’re focusing on promoting the next generation of automotive refinishers.”

During the competition, participants exclusively used products from the comprehensive portfolio of BASF’s Glasurit and R-M refinish brands, depending on the country, as well as from the RODIM range of paint-related products. 

"Our commitment emphasizes the significance and viability of a career as an automotive refinisher,” Gilfillan says.

The competition, which also included the international R-M Best Painter Contest, illustrates the diverse nature of the occupation, which calls for both craftsmanship, and sustainable thinking and efficiency.

To qualify for the finals at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, where 76 national WorldSkills associations were represented, the candidates had to win the national competition of their respective countries. About 100,000 visitors were expected to attend the competition, including 10,000 international visitors, making the WorldSkills Competition the biggest event ever to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.