ShanghaiApril 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From April 22 to 24, the 8th MF High-Aesthetic, High-Performance Coating Summit was held in Changzhou, Jiangsu. As one of the most influential industry events in the domestic coating field, this summit brought together representatives from numerous automotive OEMs, parts and components, and three-electric-system companies to explore pathways for upgrading coating processes in terms of efficiency, environmental protection, and aesthetics. As a strategic partner of this summit, Nippon Paint deeply participated in multiple sessions, including roundtable forums, official interviews, and technical workshops. Focusing on two main themes—the surge in personalized consumer demand and the innovation of automotive manufacturing processes—the company highlighted the forward-looking layout and implementation results of two spray-free coating technologies: In-Mold Coating (IMC) and Out-Mold Decoration (OMD), exploring pathways to upgrade product competitiveness with both high performance and high aesthetics alongside industry partners.
The automotive manufacturing industry is at a crossroads of profound process transformation. With the accelerated iteration of next-generation mobility tools, vehicle production is evolving from traditional assembly line models to modular assembly paradigms. Components need to complete surface decoration and functional coating integration before entering final assembly, posing new challenges for upstream materials and processes. Meanwhile, consumer expectations for vehicle appearance have far surpassed traditional standards of “uniform color and glossy paint.” High-sparkle metallic textures, smooth mirror finishes, and biomimetic textures that combine tactile feel with aerodynamic functionality are becoming focal points for the new generation of users. In response to the efficiency demands of modular production and the aesthetic upgrades driven by personalized consumption, Nippon Paint has proactively laid out spray-free coating technology tracks, driving its own transformation from an automotive paint supplier to an automotive interior and exterior solutions service provider.
During the summit, Nippon Paint highlighted the mature application of In-Mold Coating (IMC) technology. This technology integrates injection molding and coating into one process, using the mold to complete part forming and surface decoration in a single step. This process innovation directly brings significant cost reduction and environmental benefits to the production end: by eliminating the painting workshop and drying process, production line investment and energy consumption are greatly reduced, and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions are nearly zero. In actual manufacturing, the coating forms simultaneously with the injection molding process, with almost no overspray waste. The finished product straight out of the mold with a smooth surface avoids traditional issues like particles and orange peel from the source. A stable yield rate of over 95% virtually eliminates rework, sanding, and material waste. Beyond balancing efficiency and green production, IMC technology also offers OEMs unprecedented design freedom. A single injection molding can present rich colors and complex textures, even blending different gloss levels and finishes on the same part surface. Combined with self-healing scratch resistance and weather durability exceeding 10 years, the long-term appearance quality of the product is fully ensured. Currently, Nippon Paint has achieved mass production application of IMC technology on the A-pillar component of the Lexus LM500h, making it one of the few suppliers globally capable of implementing this technology.
Wu Yangjie (first from right), Interior Industry Supervisor and IMC Project Director of Nippon Paint China Industrial Coatings Business Group Automotive Paint Division, shares the mature application of In-Mold Coating (IMC) technology at a roundtable forum
Wu Yangjie (first from left) demonstrates and explains the Lexus LM500h A-pillar IMC mass-produced part at the Nippon Paint booth
To address the personalized customization needs of small batches and diverse varieties, Nippon Paint also showcased the unique value of the Out-Mold Decoration (OMD) process. It uses high pressure to tightly wrap a pre-printed textured film onto the workpiece surface, like applying a pre-customized, high-aesthetic “skin” to the part, enabling biomimetic wood grain, carbon fiber, and other rich patterns on complex curved surfaces without additional mold opening. Faced with the increasing use of shark skin textures, golf ball surfaces, and other biomimetic textures in vehicles to reduce wind resistance and save energy, the fine undulating structures of these textures, while serving functional purposes, impose higher demands on coating precision. Traditional spraying often struggles to achieve uniform coverage on edges and concave areas. However, the OMD process, with its film’s conformal wrapping capability, can perfectly reproduce every detail. Additionally, compared to traditional in-mold decoration processes, OMD offers more flexible and efficient color and pattern changes, making it particularly suitable for rapid production scheduling of limited-edition models and parallel delivery of diverse appearances. Moreover, the entire process involves no spraying, achieving zero volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the source. Notably, Nippon Paint’s exploration in this field extends beyond material supply, reaching forward into film development and backward into forming equipment and process training. It collaborates with upstream and downstream partners to build a one-stop solution covering “film materials, equipment, technical training, and services.” This practice of leveraging technology as a link to drive full-chain synergy is paving the way for the domestic OMD process to transition from sporadic trials to large-scale application.
Nippon Paint exhibits various texture and pattern effects of the Out-Mold Decoration (OMD) process at the event
From responding to consumer aesthetic demands to embracing manufacturing efficiency transformations, Nippon Paint is leveraging spray-free coating technology as a fulcrum, continuously increasing investment in color aesthetics, product processes, and supporting services. Looking ahead to the ongoing upgrade of automotive manufacturing, Nippon Paint will continue to collaborate with industry chain partners, driving cutting-edge coating concepts from technical validation to large-scale implementation, injecting more innovative momentum into the high-quality development of China’s automotive industry.