PPG Showcases Cutting‑Edge Paints, Coatings & Specialty Solutions to Boost Productivity and Drive Sustainable Growth
PPG hosted a distinguished gathering of analysts, investors, and key industry stakeholders at its state‑of‑the‑art Coatings Innovation Center located in Allison Park, Pennsylvania. This event served as a platform for the company to introduce a remarkable portfolio of newly developed, sustainably oriented coatings and specialty products—all designed with a unified focus: empowering customers to optimize productivity, reduce operational costs, and support PPG’s broader goal of accelerating organic growth.
Leadership Perspective
Tim Knavish, PPG’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, opened the event with a compelling message. “I’m proud to show how our innovations in chemistry and process applications solve our customers’ greatest needs and improve their productivity,” he stated. He emphasized that PPG doesn’t just view new products as technical achievements; rather, they represent strategic tools to drive organic growth and expand margins. “We will continue to leverage these innovations as a strategic advantage,” Knavish added, “securing both operational strength for our customers and margin enhancement for PPG.”
Featured Innovations
The centerpiece of the Innovation Center showcase was a series of targeted product solutions. Each one combines scientific engineering, application efficiency, and real‑world customer value. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of what PPG spotlighted:
1. Precision Application System
PPG unveiled its groundbreaking Precision Application system for automotive OEMs—an overspray‑free coating technology already recognized with industry awards. By virtually eliminating overspray, the system significantly reduces material waste, energy use, and cycle times. Automotive manufacturers benefit from both cost reductions and faster throughput.
2. PPG CORASEAL™ & CORASHIELD® 4‑Wet Advantage Coatings
PPG demonstrated its CORASEAL™ and CORASHIELD® 4‑Wet Advantage coatings—sustainable solutions designed for both waterborne and solvent basecoat auto systems. These coatings reduce energy consumption and emissions during the curing process, contributing to enhanced sustainability without sacrificing performance.
3. Low‑Temperature Expanded‑Bake Electrodeposition Coating
This award‑winning technology allows for efficient curing at lower temperatures. The system delivers superior corrosion resistance with reduced energy usage and shorter bake cycles. It’s a direct answer to manufacturers seeking to reduce operational costs and increase production line efficiency.
4. PPG STEELGUARD™ 951 Fire‑Protection Coating
STEELGUARD™ 951 is a product that exemplifies how specialty coatings can offer operational and logistical advantages. It’s designed for steelwork, delivering robust fire protection while providing flexibility and ease of application. In turn, contractors and steel fabricators experience reduced installation times and improved site safety.
5. PPG NUTRISHIELD® MAX Metal‑Packaging Coatings
PPG’s NUTRISHIELD® MAX represents a significant advancement for the food‑packaging industry. These coatings deliver non‑BPA liners tailored for acidic, salty, and otherwise aggressive food products. In addition to ensuring safe food‑contact compliance, they enhance manufacturing efficiency and production yields for metal packaging converters.
6. Advanced Architectural Coatings Portfolio
PPG highlighted its expanding waterborne portfolio for architectural applications. In over 15 countries, these environmentally friendly paints hold top market positions—ranging from #1 to #2—backed by strong brand recognition in sustainability and performance.
7. Marine Coatings: PPG SIGMAGLIDE® 2390
In maritime applications, PPG emphasized SIGMAGLIDE® 2390, an antifouling coating designed to prevent algae and barnacle buildup. This coating promotes better vessel efficiency, reduces fuel consumption, improves maintenance cycles, and supports maritime operators’ sustainability efforts.
8. PPG LINQ™ Digital Ecosystem for Refinish Shops
LINQ™ is a proprietary digital ecosystem tailored for automotive refinish operations. By integrating chemistry and workflow automation, LINQ™ improves process efficiency, profitability, and environmental performance in aftermarket body shops.
9. Powder Coatings Platform
PPG’s powder coatings platform spans diverse industries—automotive, industrial equipment, architectural metal, and consumer goods. Throughout the showcase, the company demonstrated powder formulations that deliver exceptional aesthetic finish, durability, and operational versatility.
Strategic Themes and Value Drivers
Through the showcase, PPG emphasized several overarching themes that underscore the company’s strategic direction and serve as critical value drivers:
A. Manufacturing Efficiency & Cost Reduction
A consistent thread across each innovation is a sharp focus on reducing energy consumption, cutting cycle times, and improving throughput. Whether via low‐temperature curing or overspray elimination, PPG’s solutions align with customer pressures to manufacture more efficiently—lowering total cost of ownership and enhancing competitiveness.
B. Sustainability & Emissions Reduction
Environmental considerations were prominent in the showcase. Multiple products—including 4‑Wet Advantage coatings, waterborne architectural systems, and marine coatings—underscore PPG’s commitment to lowering VOC emissions, reducing greenhouse gas impact, and producing coatings that align with stricter global regulatory standards and corporate sustainability goals.
C. Digitalization and Process Innovation
The LINQ™ digital ecosystem marks PPG’s forward leap into data‑driven workflows. By optimizing refinish paint operations with analytics and integrated chemistry control, PPG enables shops to reduce rework, accelerate cycle times, and raise both efficiency and profitability.
D. Tailored Solutions for Specific End‑Markets
Each showcased innovation was engineered with a precise vertical in mind—automotive OEMs, marine fleets, steel fabricators, food-packaging converters, architects, and powder‑coating users. This vertical focus enhances customer relevance and supports PPG’s ability to support end‑user value in real terms.
E. Organic Growth and Margin Expansion
PPG’s emphasis on product innovation is directly aligned with management targets for mid‑single‑digit organic sales growth and margin expansion. By driving differential solutions, PPG seeks to enhance its competitive moat—and deepen customer partnerships over time.
Client-Centric Impact
Each innovation on display directly addresses distinct customer needs across multiple industries:
- Automotive OEMs benefit from faster lines, lower energy usage (via Precision Application and expanded‑bake e-coat), and stronger sustainability credentials.
- Refinish shops invest in LINQ™ to improve productivity, reduce paint usage, and boost profitability.
- Steel fabricators appreciate the time savings and application flexibility that STEELGUARD™ 951 brings to fire‑proofing projects.
- Food & beverage manufacturers gain access to high-performance, non‑BPA internal coatings compatible with aggressive food products, boosting package safety and production yields.
- Marine operators enjoy fleet‑wide cost reductions through improved vessel performance enabled by SIGMAGLIDE® 2390.
- Homeowners and contractors experience environmentally sound paints that deliver both performance and peace of mind.
By tying innovation to measurable operational outcomes—cost savings, reduced energy usage, faster cycles, and profitability—PPG reinforces its positioning as a customer‑value partner.
The Role of Sustainable Advantage
The event put special emphasis on “sustainably advantaged” coatings. These are technologies that offer performance on par with—or exceeding—traditional solutions, but with lower environmental footprints. As regulatory standards tighten globally and customers place increasing value on sustainability, these products give PPG a strategic edge.
For example:
- The four‑Wet Advantage coatings offer reduced emissions compared to solvent‑borne finishes.
- Waterborne architectural coatings align with customer and homeowner demand for low‑VOC, environmentally responsible paints.
- SIGMAGLIDE® marine coating helps smoother hull performance, which in turn lowers fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions per nautical mile.
These product lines position PPG as not only a technical leader but also a sustainable-choice brand—a growing imperative in modern markets.
Backed By Recognition
Several of these technologies have already earned industry accolades:
- The Precision Application and expanded‑bake e‑coat systems are award recipients, reflecting peer recognition for innovation and environmental impact.
- These honors underscore PPG’s ability to integrate revolutionary thinking into real‑world industrial contexts—an important signal to investors and customers alike.
