Glasurit Celebrates Excellence at WorldSkills France 2025: Ewen Gouédard Wins Gold in Automotive Refinishing

After three days of intense competition, Ewen Gouédard (Brittany) won the gold medal, followed by Juliette Gerard (Bourgogne–Franche-Comté with silver, and Hugo Mays (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) with bronze. David Arzfian (Auvergne–Rhône-Alpes), Elise André (Occitanie), and Matthias Repussard (Pays de la Loire) were also recognized with Medals of Excellence for their outstanding performance.

This year’s WorldSkills France event gathered 800 competitors across 70 trades, supported by over 700 professional judges. A new initiative, Parcours+, enabled fifty competitors with disabilities to participate in 18 different skills categories and qualify for the French Abilympics Team competing internationally in Helsinki in 2027.

As a long-standing partner of WorldSkills France, Glasurit®, the premium refinish brand of BASF Coatings Services, is committed to promoting training and innovation in automotive refinishing.

"Glasurit's partnership with WorldSkills France is fully in line with our commitment to training and apprenticeships for young people," emphasizes Véronique Barbier, Marketing Manager France & Supply Chain BASF Coatings Services. "It's a formative and rewarding experience, enabling them to acquire cutting-edge skills for their future profession."

Glasurit also leads the way in sustainable innovation with its 100 Line, the first basecoat system on the market with VOC levels below 250 g/L—40% lower than the EU solvent limit—surpassing global environmental standards. The new 100 Line Extreme ensures this low-VOC performance even under the most demanding climate conditions.

The 2025 finals once again showcased the excellence, determination, and environmental awareness driving the next generation of automotive refinishers. Next stop: Shanghai 2026, where new challenges and international recognition await.