Before the paint goes on preparation matters

IONSTAR being used on a panel in Shanghai. The green laser indicates the working area.

An invisible process variable

Sanding, cleaning, masking and handling plastics can contribute to electrostatic charge on a surface. The charge is not readily visible, yet it can cause dust to adhere to a prepared panel. With effect coatings, controlling this surface condition can also support more even metallic laydown and make transitions easier.

IONSTAR neutralises electrostatic charge on surfaces before coating. It operates from compressed air and generates its own energy, so no batteries or charging are required. A Class 2 laser indicates the working area and helps the user control distance and movement.

The correct place in the process

IONSTAR does not replace normal preparation. Cleaning, sanding and masking remain essential. A tack cloth is still used, but before ionization. IONSTAR then follows as the final preparation step directly before coating. If the treated surface is touched or wiped afterwards, it may recharge and should be ionized again.

This clear position in the workflow matters. When an additional tool has no fixed place in the sequence, its use depends too heavily on habit and memory. Making ionization the defined final step turns it into part of a repeatable process.

Why this step mattered in the competition

Competitors in Shanghai worked under time pressure and consistent judging criteria. Every avoidable variable increased uncertainty. Providing an IONSTAR set at each team workstation gave every competitor access to the same method of controlling electrostatic charge before painting.

This does not support any conclusion about individual results or medals. Paint quality depends on the substrate, materials, booth conditions, technique and many other decisions. IONSTAR controls one clearly defined part of preparation. It helps reduce static-related dust attraction and supports a cleaner, more repeatable starting point.

Repeatability without overpromising

IONSTAR cannot prevent every dust inclusion or guarantee perfect paintwork. Airflow, cleanliness, material choice and the painter’s technique remain critical. Its role is narrower: treating an otherwise invisible surface condition immediately before coating.

That defined role is what makes IONSTAR relevant to bodyshops. Avoidable rework consumes productive time and material. Reducing static-related contamination or irregularities can help stabilize the process. The scale of that effect must be assessed under the conditions of each individual bodyshop.

From competition to everyday bodyshop work

Shanghai provided an unusually controlled setting: 24 young professionals, comparable workstations and a tightly defined process. Everyday bodyshop work is less standardised, which makes a fixed routine particularly useful. A bodyshop introducing IONSTAR should define its place in the workflow, train the team correctly and observe the results over a meaningful period.

A demonstration under real operating conditions is the most useful next step. The local IONSTAR distributor can review the application, compressed-air connection and integration into the existing preparation process with the bodyshop.