Breaking the light

The paint of a car is both a blessing and a curse for a photographer. The color, condition, and how the body interacts with the environment – all factors that determine whether a shot succeeds or not. But what makes a good paint job? Time for a visit to SWISSVAX!

Of course, a well-maintained car paint job is important not only for photographers. It applies to anyone with a certain connection to cars. Car care holds a special value. Only the best for your beloved vehicle. After all, you pay attention to the quality of your own care products – whether it's soap, scrub, or body lotion. And if you're looking for something special, Swiss manufacturer SWISSVAX is the right place for you.

Today, I meet CEO Markus Herzberg. A person who dedicates himself to his craft with passion – and of course, he’s also a petrolhead. With the slogan "Care for your Dream," he emphasizes that it doesn’t matter whether you own a hypercar or a compact car. What’s important is the passion and the fulfillment in driving, caring for, and maintaining your own vehicle.

Markus, how does a perfect paint job feel?

Good question! Most people always ask how a perfect paint job looks. But just as important is how it feels. The tactile sensation is a key property. A perfect paint job feels primarily smooth – like silk or velvet. It’s best to gently stroke it with the back of your hand! The reason for this is a good polish and wax: This combination creates a smooth, soft surface.

What is behind "Swiss"?

The company was founded in 1930. There were no good car care, polish, and wax products in Switzerland. Luxury cars already had streaked, holographic, and scratched paint after just a few years.

The descendants of Claudius Anwander and Georg Weidmann were absolute car enthusiasts. At their time, they produced ship paints for Switzerland, giving them access to raw materials and extensive, profession-related experience with national environmental restrictions.

So, they knew how paints and surfaces need to be maintained and sealed. What was their first product?

They found the recipe for the Mystery Wax in an old recipe book. That’s how it all began, and we still offer it today.

Unchanged until today?

Some of the old formulas have been adjusted to make them more environmentally friendly. Today, there are some ingredients that weren’t known back then, and they’re simply more ecological.

And now you deliver worldwide?

We started with production and distribution within Switzerland, and at first, it was just a hobby. But demand grew, and now we deliver to over 40 countries. Renowned OEMs from the luxury sector have been our customers for years.

And production?

...will always remain in Switzerland! We are a manufactory where each wax is hand-cooked and bottled. This is the only way we can offer the quality that our customers are accustomed to.

Why does a well-maintained paint job shine?

As with photography, light plays an important role for us as well. A well-polished paint job provides maximum light refraction. With Carnauba wax, we enhance this even further.

What makes Carnauba wax so special?

Carnauba is the hardest, purest, clearest, and also the most expensive natural wax in the world. This highest quality is classified as rare Grade-One Carnauba and is used for cosmetics as well as for our Swissvax waxes. The level of gloss increases the more Carnauba wax is in a formula. While conventional car polishes or car waxes contain around 3% to 7% Carnauba wax, Swissvax formulas contain 30% to 76% of the most valuable Carnauba wax. It is also considered health-safe and free from fragrances – good for allergy sufferers.

Is Carnauba wax the USP of SWISSVAX?

Not entirely. The SWISSVAX secret of exceptionally durable Carnauba formulas lies in the mixture of Carnauba wax with other waxes, fruit oils, and the multi-hour manufacturing process in our manufactory – exclusively hand-made and bottled dose by dose. The high-quality and complex formulas are simply not suitable for industrial production.

What benefits do the other ingredients bring?

Our waxes, made using biological raw materials, leave no white residue on rubber or bodywork edges. Our polishes don’t create dust and are free of silicone and solvents.

What do the perfect water droplets on the paint look like?

Round! The droplet doesn’t appear large, doesn’t expand, and retains almost its round shape on the surface. Hydrophobicity (also known as the lotus flower effect) is an important property of car coatings, such as with our waxes. The droplets then roll off the paint very quickly. It has something organic, alive about it. Like brushing the back of your hand over the paint.

Applied by hand?

With our very natural waxes, this is possible and also makes sense. It’s the best way to melt the wax with body temperature. You can also quickly tell if you’ve done a good job with preparation and polishing. By touching the car with your hand, I can "feel" my car much better and establish a completely different kind of connection. The tactile sense is one of, if not the most important sense we have. And it’s the hardest to deceive.

Matte paints are trendy. Why do you especially recommend using wax for them?

Matte paints are special and also very sensitive. For example, you should not use conventional polishes, waxes, insect removers, or insect sponges. If small scratches appear, you cannot polish matte paint – otherwise, it would start to shine again. To maintain their appearance, matte paints require special products. Under the name “Opaque,” we have developed something exclusively for matte finishes and matte wraps. With the right wax, saturation and the shadow effect on the car can be improved. The shapes of the car come out much better. It provides the same care effect as glossy paints and the same hydrophobicity and dirt resistance, but without making the paint shine.

How often do you think paint care is necessary?

Many people think that car care means polishing the paint every weekend. That’s not true. Well-maintained cars – with deep cleaning, polishing, and waxing – can easily be cleaned in 20-30 minutes every two weeks. That’s enough!

 

Not only cars have painted surfaces. Are your products available for other areas?
 
We have special lines for motorcycles, boats, yachts, even private jets and helicopters. We also offer them for various interior materials such as leather, plastics, carbon, wood, textiles, etc.

 

When was the last time you polished and waxed your car?


 

I am fortunate enough to rely on the expertise and experience of my colleague Pascal. But I also enjoy doing it regularly myself – the last time was my 911 before the winter break. Sometimes I just go to our preparation hall for a few hours and work on one of my cars. From time to time, I just need to work more with my hands and feel something. That’s how new ideas for product development come to me.

 

“In reality, we own nothing. We buy ourselves the privilege of using things for a limited time. In the end, someone else will own those things.”

Photography & Interview: Max