Don Paradis, Business Development Manager at Opti-Coat, LLC is one of the key voices behind the evolution of Optimum’s latest standout innovation, the Hyper Shine Ceramic Coating. In this Q and A, we will dive into the coating’s development, real world performance, application process, and the growing popularity it is earning among enthusiasts and professionals alike. Whether you are curious about what sets Hyper Shine apart or looking to understand the science behind Optimum and some of their products, Don offers an inside look you won’t want to miss.

Development

Q: What inspired the creation of Hyper Shine and how does it fit into Optimum’s lineup of ceramic products?

A: Optimum Hyper Shine is based our professional coating, Opti-Coat Ultra Shine. Our consumer ceramic coating Optimum Gloss-Coat has been on the market for many years. It is easy to use, durable and our customers are happy with the results, so we did not have a goal in mind of replacing it or upgrading it. However, when we developed Opti-Coat Ultra Shine we saw that with ease of application, super slickness, gloss, and filling ability would greatly benefit the DIY consumer market.

Q: Can you share a bit about the R&D process behind Hyper Shine? What challenges did your team face and overcome during this process?

A: Optimum Hyper Shine started development as Opti-Coat Ultra Shine. We made the coating for the professional installer market. We’ve always specialized in creating highly durable Silicon Carbide (SiC) based ceramic coatings. Our professional customer base asked us for a lower cost entry level ceramic coating based on Silicon Dioxide (Si02) with enhanced gloss, slickness, and the ability to fill minor paint imperfections.

This coating allowed our Pro customers to offer ceramic coating packages with more flexibility. We had the very high end of the market covered in the professionally installed coating space, but this new coating offered our customers a new option to create packages and options at lower prices, easier installation and less involved vehicle preparation.

R&D at Optimum is based on Doctor G’s decades of experience as a PhD Chemist. With his knowledge and experience he can go into his lab and quickly create novel solutions to meet our customers’ needs. He often tweaks and improves formulas when ideas strike him. We listen very closely to customer feedback. I discussed what our customers were looking for with Doctor G and he was able to quickly develop a new formula drawing on his vast experience in coating and paint technology. The very first test sample he created went into testing and was the final release of Opti-Coat Ultra Shine, with a slightly modified version later becoming Optimum Hyper Shine.

Performance

Q: What makes Hyper Shine stand out from other coatings on the market or even from other Optimum coatings in the past?

A: Optimum Hyper Shine and Opti-Coat Ultra Shine are Si02 / SiC hybrid formulas. They are our slickest and glossiest coatings, and they are the easiest to apply. They may be the easiest to apply coatings on the market. They also can fill in minor paint imperfections without the need for customers to machine polish their paint. Our customers tell us these coatings are easier to install than wax. Consumers need a coating they can apply without being concerned about working time, high spots, extensive vehicle preparation, or advanced paint correction. If you are working on your car in your garage or driveway, it should be a fun and stress-free experience. Coatings like Hyper Shine give people that experience.

Q: Hyper Shine is known to balance ease of use with durability and gloss. What makes that possible?

A: We didn’t originally set out to make it easy to install. It was developed as a professionally installed coating where application ease is not a top priority. We were seeking to develop a coating with amazing gloss and slickness to slot in the lineup below our SiC coatings. It was a fortunate by-product that the formula that Doctor G developed happened to be incredibly easy to install. It has a very long working time and it is not susceptible to high spots. Between these traits and the ability to fill minor paint imperfects we decided that this would make an ideal coating for consumer DIY application.

Q: In terms of performance, what kind of protection and longevity can users realistically expect from Hyper Shine under proper application and maintenance (including average environmental factors)?

A: The reason Optimum Hyper Shine was developed as an Si02 / SiC hybrid was to combine slickness and gloss with high durability. Si02 coatings typically have a lifespan of 1-2 years whereas SiC has a 10+ year life expectancy in real world conditions. Adding SiC to the Si02 formula of Hyper Shine has allowed us to give a real-world durability rating of 3+ years to this coating. When we rate our coating durability in years, we mean daily driven vehicles in everyday conditions and parked outside. Our durability ratings are also stated without adding any type of toppers or refreshers to the coating. If a vehicle is well cared for or garage kept or if toppers like Opti-Coat Hyper Seal are applied regularly, the coating can last the life of the paint.

Optimum Gloss-Coat is also a Si02 / SiC hybrid. It too has a 3+ year real-world durability rating. Where Hyper Shine exceeds Gloss-Coat is slickness, gloss and shine, ease of application, and the ability to fill light swirls and scratches. Gloss-Coat was always known as an easy to install and glossy coating, Hyper Shine exceeds it in application ease.

Application & Tips

Q: Do you have any application tips or best practices to help installers achieve the best possible results with Hyper Shine?

A: Hyper Shine couldn’t be easier to install. It has such a long working time and it is not prone to high spots that we’ll typically apply it to the entire vehicle before lightly leveling with a towel. It is much like applying wax. Apply it to the foam applicator, apply to the vehicle surfaces, let it sit for 5 – 15 minutes, then lightly buff off the excess with a microfiber towel.

Q: What are the most common mistakes detailers make when applying ceramic coatings, and how can they avoid them?

A: Optimum Hyper Shine is less prone to any installation mistakes because it requires less prep work and it is very easy to install. In general, most mistakes are made during prep work such as skipping steps and not making sure the paint is perfectly clean and in the best condition for the coating to crosslink.

This is less of a concern with Hyper Shine because it requires less prep work. Prep can be as simple as a thorough wash with Optimum Touchless Decon Wash followed by an application of Optimum Paint Prep. Prep can also be more extensive including claying, iron removal, mineral deposit removal and polishing. Hyper Shine is designed to be able to bond to the paint and retain durability with less extensive prep work.

Since Hyper Shine can fill in light swirls and scratches, polishing the paint or performing paint correction is less important. It is ideal to polish paint before applying ceramic coatings but with Hyper Shine this is less of a necessity. There is less chance of error for the DIY consumer, and less equipment and supplies are needed in order to install a durable 3+ year ceramic coating.

Popularity

Q: Hyper Shine has quickly become a favorite among both professionals and enthusiasts, why do you think that is?

A: Optimum Hyper Shine has overtaken Gloss-Coat as our most popular consumer ceramic coating by a wide margin and Ultra Shine has become one of our best-selling professional ceramic coatings.

I think professionals and enthusiasts love Hyper Shine and Ultra Shine for its off the charts gloss, slickness, and ease of use. When the at-home DIY detailer sees the result or a customer picks up their vehicle from a professional installer, there is a real WOW factor beyond what is achievable with most coatings. These coatings make the vehicle glow and for a consumer that isn’t polishing their vehicle, there aren’t too many products out there that can make a car look so good with so little work.

Source: YouTube

Source: YouTube