At this year's SEMA Show, PPG made headlines by securing a Guinness World Records title for the world's largest simultaneous paint-stirring event.
More than 275 attendees participated in the demonstration, which was designed to showcase the labour-intensive nature of manual paint mixing still prevalent in collision repair facilities—and to introduce PPG's answer to that challenge.
The company used the record-breaking moment to unveil the SEM MIX'N'SHAKE automated stirring system, a technology aimed at streamlining workflows in body shops. According to PPG, the system can produce a fully blended automotive paint mixture in under one minute, eliminating the need for manual stirring while improving consistency and reducing material waste.
PPG claims the automation can help shops reclaim approximately 6% of productive working hours each year by removing repetitive manual tasks. The system also promises cleaner workspaces and cost savings—up to 10% reductions in consumables like stirring sticks and mixing cups—while minimizing rework caused by inconsistent paint mixing.
After the Guinness-certified count was verified on-site, attendees watched the new system operate autonomously, providing a side-by-side comparison with the manual effort they'd just performed. The paint from the challenge will be donated to Dixie Technical College in St. George, Utah, for use in automotive and collision repair training programs.
"This event highlighted a real challenge our customers face every day," said Rodolfo Ramirez, PPG's vice president of Automotive Refinish Coatings for the Americas. "We wanted to make the case for automation—not just conceptually, but visibly."
The Mix'n'Shake system integrates with PPG's LINQ digital platform and works alongside other automated solutions, including the company's MOONWALK mixing system. Together, these tools are part of PPG's push to modernize body shop operations through connected, automated technologies.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the collision repair industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the African automotive sector forward.
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