The world of marine painting is set to change dramatically with International Paints’ latest innovation: a Virtual Reality (VR) Paint Booth designed to train painters more effectively while significantly reducing waste and exposure to hazardous chemicals. Unveiled to the Kiwi audiences at this year’s Auckland Boat Show, this advanced system is poised to revolutionise how professionals in the marine industry perfect their craft.
A new era for spray painting training
Traditionally, training in spray painting has relied solely on real-world experience, which comes with substantial costs, inefficiencies, and environmental concerns. International Paints’ VR Paint Booth changes the game by offering a hyper-realistic simulation that allows painters to hone their technique without using actual paint.
“The idea behind it is that training usually involves a lot of wastage and unnecessary exposure to chemicals,” explains a representative from International Paints. “With this technology, you can reset at the push of a button, refine your technique, and spend all day practising without ever stepping into a real spray booth.”
The VR system tracks every movement of the spray gun, monitoring key metrics such as the painter’s distance from the surface, paint application thickness, and speed. Whether training a novice or refining the skills of an experienced professional, the system offers real-time feedback that helps optimise technique and improve efficiency.
Advanced analytics for expert precision
One of the most remarkable features of the VR Paint Booth is its ability to quantify what has long been considered an intuitive skill. Painters can now see precise measurements of their performance, including whether their spray gun is tilted incorrectly, if their tracking is inconsistent, or if they are applying too much or too little paint.
“Even expert painters don’t always know what they don’t know,” the International Paints representative continues. “This technology highlights inefficiencies in technique and allows users to make real adjustments, much like how professional athletes refine their movements using performance analysis.”
The system even incorporates visual indicators: a green overlay represents an ideal coat, while red highlights areas with excessive application, helping trainees and experts alike to correct their approach in real-time.
Customised training for marine applications
Designed for versatility, the VR Paint Booth can be adapted to various industries, including automotive and aerospace. However, International Paints has tailored it specifically for the marine sector. Users can load 3D models of boats to practise on specific hull shapes and complex surfaces, making the training as realistic as possible.
“Imagine you’re tasked with painting a superyacht,” the representative says. “With this system, a team can train on the exact contours of the vessel before touching real paint, reducing the risk of costly errors and minimising waste.”
Beyond individual training, the system is also designed for team exercises, allowing companies to simulate large-scale painting operations and fine-tune their workflows. “We can even set up competitions between painters to see who achieves the best coverage with the least waste,” he adds.
Industry-wide impact and future developments
International Paints is not selling the VR Paint Booth as a standalone product; instead, they are deploying it as part of a global initiative to train their client base. A roadshow is planned to bring the system to key customers, providing hands-on demonstrations and skill-building workshops.
“The reception so far has been fantastic,” the representative notes. “The immersive experience is unlike anything most painters have encountered before. Many users take off the VR headset and are genuinely surprised to find themselves back in the real world.”
With units deployed in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, International Paints is spearheading a new standard in marine painting. The potential cost savings and environmental benefits are significant—less wasted paint, fewer chemicals in the air, and a more skilled workforce.
“We’re taking what was once a black art and turning it into a measurable science,” the representative concludes. “This is the future of marine painting.”
The future is virtual
With increasing pressure on marine businesses to improve efficiency and reduce waste, tools like the VR Paint Booth are set to become invaluable. As this technology becomes more widely adopted, it could redefine how marine painting is taught and executed, ensuring higher standards, lower costs, and a safer work environment.
For New Zealand’s boatbuilders and marine painters, this could be the next big step toward smarter, more sustainable operations.
