23 September 2004

Charles Darwin University spray painting students will be testing their eye for detail and workplace skills during a paint matching competition this Saturday to secure a place in the national finals next month.

Grant Mauger, University's Panel and Paint Coordinator

The students, who are apprentices undertaking Certificate Three in Vehicle Paint Trades, will compete to produce a matched ‘recipe’ for two given vehicle paint colours within a specific time frame.

“It sounds easy but it really is a difficult task given that there are about 60 vehicle paint tinters which can combine into an amazingly wide spectrum,” explained Grant Mauger, who recently joined the University as Coordinator of Vehicle Paint and Vehicle Body courses in the School of Trades.

The two challenges are to produce a spray paint sample against a solid colour within a 50 minute time frame and another sample against a pearl - or iridescent - colour within 60 minutes. Both samples will be judged against a master colour swatch.

“Competitors will be judged on how they achieve their colour, their safety practices while they are doing the job, cleanliness and organisation of their work area and minimising wastage of paint.

“Given the reflective qualities of pearl colour paints, judging will also include how well entries match the master swatch from an angled viewpoint as well as front on.”

The competitions major sponsor, PPG Auto Paints, will provide the paint and present Saturday’s winner with a Sata digital spray gun worth around $1,000. The NT winner will then represent the Territory in the Australasian competition held in Adelaide between 7 - 9 October with the chance of winning major prizes.

“It’s a healthy professional competition amongst the students and it gives one of them the chance to showcase their skills nationally against other state representatives,” Mr Mauger said.

Mr Mauger, who joined Charles Darwin University earlier this year, said he has been enjoying the challenge of helping his students achieve in a high quality environment.

“Working to build good relationships with course participants and employers to ensure Charles Darwin University helps train apprentices and students to national standards has been a rewarding challenge,” Mr Mauger said.