By Dawn Schuett

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

BYRON -- At Strain's Body Shop, there's something in the paint that makes this business a trendsetter among auto repair shops in the region.

Co-owners Keith Augustin and Darin Knudson made the switch in January from petroleum-based automotive paint to water-based paint with no volatile organic compounds, becoming one of the first collision repair facilities in the Rochester area to make the eco-friendly change.

"It's safer for us and safer for the environment," Knudson said, adding that the plastic containers the paint comes in are even recyclable. Another green modification at the shop in Byron has been the installation of energy efficient lighting.

With multiple paint brands on the market, Strain's Body Shop uses the Nexa Autocolor Aquabase Plus brand distributed by PPG Industries of Pittsburgh, Pa.

"What we're using is the best out there," Knudson said.

More commercial shops across the country have made the change to water-based paint with those in California taking the lead to comply with regulations designed to prevent pollution by auto body and paint shops. Most auto manufacturers already use it and it's been in Europe for at least 15 years, Knudson said.

Minnesota will probably adopt its own regulations within the next few years for the industry, and that's one of the reasons why Rossi Auto Body, 524 Fourth St. S.E. in Rochester, converted to water-based paint two months ago. Owner Mike Rossi said he spent about a year on the conversion and close to $100,000 updating equipment for the new system.

"At some point, we'll be forced to switch over anyway, so we might as well be ahead of the curve," Rossi said.

With the shop situated near the recreational trail along the Zumbro River, passersby have previously complained about the smell of paint, according to Rossi. Water-based paint doesn't have a strong odor, so that's another benefit of it in addition to reducing waste and being better for the environment and employees' health, he said.

Rossi Auto Body also uses Aquabase Plus products. The water-based paint is durable, longer lasting and results in better color matching compared to solvent-based paint, Rossi said.

Another area shop, L & L Street Rods & Sport Trucks in Kasson, which specializes in restoration, switched to water-based paint before Strain's Body Shop and Rossi Auto Body.

When customers walk into a collision repair shop, their first expectation is that their battered vehicle will be refinished to perfection. They may not care that the paint is environmentally friendly, Knudson said, but "we're hoping that they will."

Dawn Schuett is a Farmington freelance writer.

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