Axalta is hosting its annual North American Trade School Instructor Week at the Axalta Customer Experience Center in Concord, N.C., July 9-13, 2018. During the week, Axalta gives back to the teachers who are critical to producing the next generation of automotive refinish specialists. The busy week includes free application training, product demonstrations and guest speakers. It also serves as a forum for automotive refinish instructors to share best practices, collaborate and network to stay ahead of industry trends and keep their skills sharp.

“Trade school instructors are vital to our industry,” said Troy Weaver, vice president of Axalta Refinish North America. “With a shortage of refinish technicians entering trade schools, it’s more critical than ever to ensure that those who do receive the highest level of education and training possible. We are honored to help train the trainer through a week of learning and development available to any instructor who wishes to participate, regardless of which brand paint they use in their school.”

The agenda for the week includes 20 sessions with eight guest speakers from companies including Mercedes-Benz, 3M, SATA, I-CAR and IWATA. Instructors will spend time in both the classroom and in the paint booth for hands-on refinish training using Axalta’s refinish products. The week also includes a tour of Hendricks Motorsports, a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a networking dinner at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

There is no cost for instructors to participate in the training. Instructors in Canada may register by calling (800) 668-6945.