Autolacken

Autolacken is a term used in the automotive industry to denote the coatings and painting processes applied to motor vehicles. Derived from auto- (car) and Lack, the German word for lacquer or paint, it is used in European contexts to describe both the materials (the lacquers and primers) and the techniques employed to finish a car body.

In modern practice, autolacken encompasses a layered system: an electrocoat primer (E-coat) for corrosion protection, a primer or filler for surface build, a color basecoat for the visible finish, and a clearcoat for gloss and protection. Coatings may be waterborne or solvent-borne, with a trend toward low-VOC formulations and UV-curable options. The basecoat is selected for color accuracy and depth, while the clearcoat provides gloss, depth, and abrasion resistance.

Application is typically performed in controlled booths by robotic spray systems, supplemented by surface pretreatment, sanding, and masking. The workflow includes surface pretreatment (degreasing, phosphating), primer application with drying, basecoat application in multiple passes, and clearcoat application, followed by curing in ovens or infrared dryers. Quality control checks color match, film thickness, and defect inspection.

Environmental and safety considerations drive regulatory standards for autolacken, with emphasis on reducing volatile organic compounds, recycling paint booth air, and proper handling of solvents and waste. Advancements include waterborne bases, reduced-solvent systems, and improved recycling of coating materials.

Historically, automotive painting evolved from manual spray work to automated processes in the mid-20th century, significantly improving consistency and efficiency. The term autolacken remains common in German-speaking contexts and is sometimes used more broadly to refer to automotive coatings worldwide.