The results include up to 50% faster process times, up to 60% lower energy consumption and CO₂e emissions, up to 15% lower material usage, and nearly €24,000 in annual benefits for a typical large bodyshop operating two spray booths. In recognition of these outcomes, AkzoNobel was named a winner of the InnoLead's 2026 Impact Awards.
Bodyshops face increasing pressure to reduce repair cycle times, control costs, and meet stricter environmental standards while maintaining flawless finish quality.
Conventional basecoat systems often require multiple application steps, extended spray booth time, and high energy consumption. These requirements can increase process complexity, limit throughput, and create additional operating costs.
At the same time, bodyshops must consistently deliver accurate color matching and high-quality results across a wide range of repair types, from small spot repairs to large panels.
AkzoNobel identified an opportunity to simplify vehicle refinishing while helping bodyshops improve productivity, reduce resource consumption, and maintain finish quality.
“Openness, collaboration, and frugal innovation drive our Hackathon. With Spring, we’re accelerating the Thales I/O Days ideation phase, fostering powerful synergies among our engineers to transform their ideas into groundbreaking digital solutions.” – Marius Moulis, Thales InnerSource Program Office Leader and Thales I/O Days Co-founder
To address these challenges, AkzoNobel launched Autowave Optima, a next-generation waterborne basecoat system designed to improve refinishing performance.
At the core of the system is a one-stop, wet-on-wet application process that achieves full hiding in approximately 1.5 coats due to its high pigmentation. This removes intermediate flash-off steps and enables completion within a single spray booth visit, reducing process complexity and accelerating repair cycles.
The system supports a wide range of repair sizes, from small spot repairs to large panels, providing flexibility across bodyshop operations.
Autowave Optima is also supported by AkzoNobel's digital color ecosystem, enabling faster and more accurate color matching across complex finishes in real-world repair scenarios.
Together, these capabilities replace multi-step, time-intensive refinishing workflows with a streamlined, digitally supported process designed to improve consistency and throughput.
Autowave Optima delivers measurable improvements across productivity, cost efficiency, and sustainability:
Up to 50% reduction in process time, increasing repair throughput
Up to 60% reduction in energy consumption and CO₂e emissions, driven by shorter spray booth occupancy
Up to 15% reduction in material usage, lowering costs and waste
VOC levels of 380 g/L, approximately 10% below regulatory thresholds
These results are based on real-world applications and validated through bodyshop implementations.
In a typical large bodyshop operating two spray booths, the system delivered:
"Coverage is good, speed is faster and end result smoother. Also costs less paint."
"Faster drying and you only need one basecoat gun even if there are several colors in the spray booth."
"We increased the number of repairs performed while saving energy and materials—combining efficiency gains with cost reduction."
Autowave Optima combines process simplification, digital color matching, sustainability, and refinishing performance within a single system.
The initiative enables bodyshops to improve profitability while reducing environmental impact, helping address industry requirements without compromising finish quality.
By integrating products, digital tools, training, and services into a unified system, AkzoNobel has created a scalable approach that can be deployed across global markets, helping bodyshops improve throughput, reduce operating costs, and lower environmental impact.
“Openness, collaboration, and frugal innovation drive our Hackathon. With Spring, we’re accelerating the Thales I/O Days ideation phase, fostering powerful synergies among our engineers to transform their ideas into groundbreaking digital solutions.”
– Marius Moulis, Thales InnerSource Program Office Leader and Thales I/O Days Co-founder
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