Ford to dealers: No more black, red paint due to Japan crisis

[JTD]

Remember that famous line from Henry Ford about how customers can order a Model T in any color they want as long as it's black? Well, Ford Motor is telling dealers not to order cars in "tuxedo black" or three shades of red. Reason: the pigment may be unavailable because of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami crisis, Bloomberg News reports.

The colors in question are found on the Ford F-150 and Super Duty pickups, the Explorer, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sport-utility vehicles and the Taurus, Focus and Lincoln MKS sedans, Todd Nissen, a spokesman, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

"There's a potential we could see some shortages of this pigment," Nissen said. "At this point, we have adequate inventory on the ground to meet customer demand. We're working to find alternative suppliers."

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by JTD

Remember that famous line from Henry Ford about how customers can order a Model T in any color they want as long as it's black? Well, Ford Motor is telling dealers not to order cars in "tuxedo black" or three shades of red. Reason: the pigment may be unavailable because of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami crisis, Bloomberg News reports.

The colors in question are found on the Ford F-150 and Super Duty pickups, the Explorer, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sport-utility vehicles and the Taurus, Focus and Lincoln MKS sedans, Todd Nissen, a spokesman, said in an interview with Bloomberg.

"There's a potential we could see some shortages of this pigment," Nissan said. "At this point, we have adequate inventory on the ground to meet customer demand. We're working to find alternative suppliers."

There are plenty of alternate suppliers for these "special pigments", quite a few even located within the confines of North America.


Bill S.

[Excaliber]

Now if Ford can just work out a contract for securing the product at a decent price AND quantity (don't forget the quantity aspect)!

[Mark IV]

I have a friend who sells pigments to paint manufacturers and some pigments are rather special and only available from limited suppliers. As the demand is not enough for numerous manufacturers, it is possible that this could delay paint availability for Ford and other OEMs.

Obiligoty pun: This problem is only a pigment of their imagination!

[Excaliber]

A guy that sells pigments to paint manufacturers? Weird job, but of course someone has to do it.

Now I'm wondering who knows someone that sells coat hangers? Someone has to do that.

[Mark IV]

" No Wire Hangers Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


"Yes, mommy..............."

His pigment jobs pays quite nicely, although he does travel a lot. I have gone to England twice on USAIR miles I bought from him. Ran into him at the Philly airport on my back from the UK and did the private club thing. He then got the stew to put me in first class with him as he knows them all and they like his jokes. Pigments allow him to buy Mustangs and Shelbys to play with.....

[slider701]

And the other part of the equation is that it is not just the Ford assembly plant that needs the paint, the tier 1 suppliers that are supplying the body parts need the paint also.

There is a very rigorous process the suppliers have to follow to paint a part (such as a fascia, rocker panel, spoiler, or other trim) and have it match the factory paint (which is all waterborne). The paint has to match under a X-Rite machine for color and flop. As a former body design and release engineer for Ford I can tell you that trying to get the supplier and the plant in agreement was always a challenge (mainly because even if the supplier's part was 100% dead-nuts on to the official color sample the plant was always the true "master")

It is much more complicated than most people comprehend.

[Chaplin]

I should have been a pigment salesman.

[Ralphy]

I was once a pigment donor when I was hard up for cash.

Ralphy

[Excaliber]

So many pigs, so little time,,,, the horror....

[saltshaker]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

A guy that sells pigments to paint manufacturers? Weird job, but of course someone has to do it.

Now I'm wondering who knows someone that sells coat hangers? Someone has to do that.

I'm in the garment ind and know a few people who sell hangers!
Jon

[Rick Parker]

Ernie you looking for a supplier of cut rate welding rod?

[sharpe 1]

good to know where the american auto industry is. GOOD OLD AMERICAN KNOW HOW. What happened??????????

[Excaliber]

Nah,,, I ran out of bailing wire and 'dem hangers is hard to beat for cinching stuff down.

[scaffold]

bought some paint last week. $125 for 16 oz. of candy apple red and $125 for 16 oz. of clear coat

[Excaliber]

Hmmmm, I wonder how much that pigment cost for the clear cloat?

[Ralphy]

Our school color was clear. No officer I'm not naked, I'm in the band.
Officer, " Why were you speeding?"