PLAINFIELD, IN --- An Indianapolis area body shop chain, Church Brothers Collision Repair, recently received a special award from Indiana recognizing the company's efforts to prevent pollution. 

Church Brothers was the first major collision repair business in Indiana to fully convert its paint refinishing system to a waterborne paint system. The conversion took place in all six of the company's locations in central Indiana. This conversion to a more environmentally friendly waterborne paint reduced the company's volatile organic compound emissions during its refinishing operations by more than 25 percent. 

In recognition of this accomplishment, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management presented Church Brothers with an award during the 2009 Indiana Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence program held last month. 

The award ceremony took place during the annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Trade Show, held at Primo's West in Plainfield on Sept. 16. Ted McClintic, president of Church Brothers Collision Repair, accepted the award. 

"We are pleased and very honored that the 'waterborne project' undertaken by our small business has been recognized at such a high level," McClintic said. "We hope all repair shops will get energized from our initiative and do their part to reduce our emissions." 

The waterborne basecoat not only provides better coverage with less material sprayed on a given panel; it also reduces the amount of hazardous waste generated and creates a safer work environment for shop employees, McClintic said.