BRAND-NEW
BASF Introduces AUROOM™, a Platform for the Digital Visualization of Automotive Exterior Colours
W
ith AUROOM, BASF’s Coatings
Working together with almost every
reproductions. For our customers, it
division introduces a digital
car manufacturer on the market, BASF
means the colour decision process will
platform which enables OEM
currently produces over 600 colours
become easier, faster and much more
designers to access a database of
in Europe with new colours constantly
effective. They can also use the data for
photo-realistic virtual car colours (Fig. 1).
being designed. This massive portfolio will
their own brand-specific car configurators
BASF’s virtual colours capture all facets
now be scanned by cameras. The huge
so that car buyers can experience
of automotive coatings including
amount of appearance data generated
automotive colours in their entire variety
lightness flop, colour flop and sparkling.
during the scan is processed using a
which supports their buying decision,”
By mapping these colours on car
sophisticated mathematic model while
said Krzysztof Patryk Stolarzewicz, head
models, OEM designers can virtually
BASF’s colorimetric know-how contributes
of Global Strategic Marketing at BASF’s
paint every colour proposal and gain
to ensure its authenticity. OEMs can then
Coatings division.
realistic impressions of colours and
In the start-up phase, BASF’s virtual colour
effects on a complete car already
solution will first be introduced
in an early design phase.
to OEMs in EMEA. In
AUROOM will be a
addition to the
valuable tool for OEM
digital platform, © BASF
designers to speed up and perfect the overall colour design process as
the customers will have the chance to
1
experience
they are no longer
the technology
solely dependent on
at AUROOM’s
physical samples that need to
“analog twin” – a specially
be painted and shipped. AUROOM provides further innovative features like real-time side by side comparison of different colour shades of the same colour group to make the right colour
designed showroom at the Figure 1: AUROOM is a digital platform which enables OEM designers to access a database of photo-realistic virtual car colours.
decision easier.
Color Design Studio Europe in Münster, Germany. To demonstrate the colours and effects in the most authentic way possible, BASF also developed special virtual 3-D car shapes. Like BASF’s iconic
“Automotive coatings are highly
access the comprehensive colour data
dome shape, the virtual shapes simulate
complex colours with texture, colour
at the AUROOM platform and render it
various forms of a car body.
position and surface defining the overall
on different 3D shapes provided by the
In order to assess compatibility of colour
impression. To easily understand the
platform or CAD shapes of their own
with the overall design concept, OEM
impact of these colour parameters
models.
designers can choose shapes of different
on a 3-D shape, the digitized colours
“Digitalization is an important topic,
vehicle segments in AUROOM for colour
enable the user to see this on their
especially in the automotive industry. We
visualization.
individual models” said Mark Gutjahr,
have a lot of experience creating colours
head of Automotive Color Design
in our labs and now we are able to digitize
For further information:
EMEA at BASF’s Coatings division.
them and create photo-realistic digital
www.basf-coatings.com
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N. 54 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 - international PAINT&COATING magazine