EcoTrek painted with Axalta wins at SEMA

Glen Mills, Pennsylvania — November 18, 2013 — Axalta Coating Systemsâ€™ custom waterborne, Beyond Bronze paint on a Ford F-350 truck received favorable attention from attendees and judges at last weekâ€™s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nev. The F-350 was customized with recycled and eco-sensitive materials by the EcoTrek Foundation EcoTrek won Fordâ€™s Outstanding Achievement in Design Award for its stylish customization and eco-friendliness.

EcoTrekâ€™s winning truck, known as an eco-expedition vehicle, is the brainchild of EcoTrek Foundation Executive Director, Tom Holm. The truck is a collaborative effort, with Ford sponsoring the vehicle, the U.S. Navy developing algae-based bio-diesel fuel that powers the truck, and Axalta donating the paint that was applied by students studying collision repair and vehicle refinishing at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LA Trade-Tech).

Axalta and EcoTrek are both pleased with the collaboration and, especially, the chance to give students an opportunity to prepare for careers in the industry.

â€œEcoTrek is about educational outreach. Weâ€™re fortunate that weâ€™re able to take that a step further where we become educators in the classroom environment. Through Axalta, weâ€™ve been able to take our vehicle to LA Trade-Tech for students to paint the truck with this amazing water-based color, utilizing Axaltaâ€™s expertise,â€ says Tom Holm.

EcoTrek is a non-profit organization that conducts research and educational programs to advance the use of renewable fuels and materials.