Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing - Sept/Oct '23 - 5

NEWS
PPG Invests $44M to
Boost Global Powder
Production
PPG has announced a $44 million investment
to upgrade five powder coating manufacturing
facilities in the US and Latin America. The
projects are part of PPG's strategic efforts
to expand its powder coatings offerings and
increase global production to meet growing
customer demand for sustainably advantaged
products.
Collectively, the investment-$30 million
for US plants and $14 million for facilities in
Latin America-is expected to increase overall
capacity, add production capabilities for bonded
metallic powders, improve processing
times with automated packaging,
and enhance capabilities to produce
small, medium and large batches.
Enhancements and expansions are
already completed or under way at
powder production facilities in Brazil,
Ind., Gainesville, Texas; Greensboro,
N.C.; San Juan del Rio, Mexico; and
Sumaré, Brazil. PPG expects to
complete these total projects by the
fourth quarter of 2023.
Since 2019, PPG says it has focused
on growing its powder coatings capacity and
capabilities, making four strategic acquisitions,
and expanding production and service elements
at seven sites across the globe. A key factor
driving the rapid adoption of powder coatings,
Collectively, the
investment-$30 million
for US plants and $14
million for facilities in Latin
America-is expected to
increase overall capacity.
it states, is the growing interest
in more sustainable solutions.
Powder coatings are generally
formulated without solvents that
release volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and in the application line,
these coatings can be reclaimed and
reused.
" Focusing on powder coatings
is a win-win for PPG and our
customers as we are able to offer
greater access to sustainably advantaged products, " said Marizeth
Carvalho, PPG global director, powder coatings, Industrial Coatings.
" Powder is the fastest growing coatings technology in the world and
PPG's goal is to lead that charge through innovation and production
advancements. "
AkzoNobel Advances
Manufacturing in North America
AkzoNobel is investing in the future by utilising advanced
technologies to create step-change improvements in its
North America industrial operations. It has added a pilot
manufacturing plant in Huron, Ohio and a new regional
research and development (R&D) center in High Point, N.C.
" We are capitalising on data analytics to transform
our manufacturing processes and enabling the flow of
information from the laboratory to the factory floor to our
customers, generating agility to changes in the marketplace
and meeting customer needs, " said John Griffin, North
America regional director. " The new R&D Center serves
our wood coatings business and brings together teams of
researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds to create
new solutions for our customers and immediately send it to
the manufacturing production plant. "
Huron's new pilot plant is one in a network of pilot plants
globally and supports AkzoNobel's Packaging, Marine and
Automotive businesses. The state of Ohio has AkzoNobel's
largest footprint in North America, with locations in Huron,
Strongsville, Springfield and Columbus.
The company's community of North America R&D
Centers supporting the Performance Coatings businesses
includes-in addition to High Point-laboratories in Troy,
Mich.; Strongsville, Ohio; Houston, Texas; Flying Hills, Penn.;
and Lancaster, S.C.
September/October 2023
5
Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing - Sept/Oct '23

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