Ford Award-Winning Technology Improves Paint Quality, Cuts Emissions

    WASHINGTON, May 17 New paint facility control technology
developed by Ford Motor Company that reduces emissions and improves
vehicle paint quality, has won the Society of Automotive Engineers first
"Environmental Excellence in Transportation Award."

    "This new technology allows us to improve paint quality during production
while slashing the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC)," said Al Ver,
vice president, Advance Manufacturing Engineering.  "This is a clear
demonstration of our belief that increased consumer satisfaction, shareholder
value and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive."

    The centerpiece of Ford's new technology is the improvement of airflow
stability within production paint shop operations through increased efficiency
of paint application equipment.  By increasing efficiencies along with
automatic air balance control techniques, Ford cut emissions of VOCs by
24 percent.  Over a four-year period, VOCs were cut by as much as 50 percent
in Ford's Wayne Assembly Plant.

    In ceremonies yesterday in Washington, DC, Ford's paint facility control
technology won top honors in the "Process Innovations" category.

    "Our new airflow management technology improves the spraying conditions
and moves airflow control from an art to science," said Ernest Tong, the lead
engineer on the Ford project team, who accepted the award.  "These new
technologies will be beneficial for all types of paint, including waterborne
and powders."

    The new paint control technology uses acoustic sensors and proprietary
intelligent control algorithms to automatically control the airflow in
automotive paint booths.  Special filters are used to optimally tailor the
airflow around the vehicle as it is being painted.

    Using the airflow control technology, Ford engineers are able to increase
the average hood paint thickness and reduce the variations that would normally
occur when paint is applied to vehicle body components.

    The SAE also cited a special paint sludge treatment system Ford developed
to eliminate sludge build-up in the paint booth exhaust system.  Combined with
the more efficient air control, the sludge treatment system has eliminated an
average of over 1,000 tons of paint sludge per plant that would normally be
sent to landfills each year.

    Ford has also taken a leading role in recycling sludge into useful
components for asphalt and composite telephone pole arms.

    "Overall, our consistent painting technology has allowed us to improve
product quality, create a healthier work environment, reduce energy usage and
help clean the environment," said Ver.  "We have an aggressive plan to
replicate this new technology where feasible in all our plants."

    Besides Tong, other members of Ford's Paint Booth Air-flow Management team
included:  Yu-ning Liu, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development (AMTD);
Tom Pastick and Glen Logan, Vehicle Operations; and Bob Spink, Philip Paint
Services.