A RAL number is a standardized color code for paint so you can have different brands that will match. I asked DSM a while ago about this to have paint manufactured that would match the blue gelcoat of my car. But it's wasn't manufactured according a RAL standard, so I found an excellent paint shop that was able to match the color visually. This usually goes wrong, but they did a great job and I can't see the difference.
For info, here's the correspondence I had with DSM:
QTE
Hi Hans
This 1445 colour was originally matched to a British Standard reference 18E53.
There is no exact equivalent in the RAL series.
Regards
Janet Coleman
Product Development Chemist
____________________________________
DSM Composite Resins******* 1
DSM Composite Resins UK Ltd
Customer Competence Centre
Cromwell Road, Ellesmere Port
Cheshire CH65 4LR. UK
': 00 44 (0)151 350 6351
7: 00 44 (0)151 350 6366
*: janet.coleman@dsm.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: hans.efde@hccnet.nl [mailto:hans.efde@hccnet.nl]
Sent: vrijdag 22 oktober 2010 13:40
To: Compositeresins, DSM
Subject: RAL numbers DSM gelcoats
Dear sir,
I have a British built sportscar with a gelcoat supplied by DSM. It is
built in the color azure blue, 09-1445. I have enclosed a scan of the
brochure I received from the GTM factory. I would like to know if this
color is based on a RAL number. If so, can you inform me about this? Many
thanks.
Kind regards,
Hans Efdé
UNQTE