Surventis, NST sign formal agreement to develop automated painting applications
Surventis, formerly BASF Coatings, and NST have signed a strategic cooperation agreement that the companies say supports the development of automated painting applications in the automotive refinish industry.
The agreement formalizes a collaboration already established through joint testing, technical exchange, and customer projects, according to a Surventis press release.
According to its website, NST manufactures automotive tools and equipment and is one of China’s top 10 auto maintenance industry enterprises. It states that NST was founded in 2005 and has since served around 100 car brands and their dealer networks.
The companies said Surventis and NST have worked together to evaluate the use of Surventis coating systems on NST robotic platforms. Joint testing confirmed compatibility of solutions and “helped optimize key application parameters for reliable and repeatable results,” the release states.
“The cooperation is already reflected in customer projects,” the release adds. “Several body shops, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, are using Surventis coating materials together with NST robotic systems in daily operations. These projects provide practical experience and support the continued development of automated painting processes.”
Surventis says the collaboration combines its expertise in coating technologies and application processes with NST’s experience in robotic painting systems and automation.
“Through joint testing and customer applications with NST, we have demonstrated that Surventis coating systems can be successfully integrated into automated paint processes,” said Chen Liu, Surventis global technology refinish coatings vice president, in the release. “These activities have provided valuable insights into optimizing application performance and supporting consistent, high-quality results. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and helping customers advance their automation initiatives.”
The release adds that the agreement provides a framework for further testing, technical validation, and future development activities.
“Our collaboration with Surventis is built on a shared belief that the future of automotive refinishing lies in the combination of advanced coating technology and intelligent automation,” said Ke Dong Bi, NST Board chairman, in the release. “By bringing together Surventis’ process expertise and coating innovations with NST’s robotics and intelligent control technologies, we can help body shops improve efficiency, consistency and quality while accelerating the adoption of next-generation painting solutions. This agreement provides a strong foundation for continued innovation and customer-focused development in the automotive refinish industry.”
In July, Surventis launched as an independent company, completing its carve-out from BASF as a corporate brand.
With around €3.9 billion in annual sales and around 10,700 employees, a press release from the company states that Surventis is one of the world’s leading suppliers of automotive coatings and surface treatment solutions.
BASF reached an agreement with global investment firm Carlyle, in partnership with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), in October to sell its Coatings Division. It announced at the time that, upon closing of the transaction, Coatings would operate as a standalone entity.
BASF said that it would hold a 40% equity stake and receive pre-tax cash proceeds of €5.8 billion at closing, slated for Q2 2026. The enterprise value of the transaction was listed as €7.7 billion.
Images
Featured image: Surventis and NST representatives pose for a photo at their strategic cooperation agreement signing ceremony held on Aug. 13. 2026. (Provided by Surventis)