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Innovative products, services combine for competitive edge in PPG Aerospace


WEBWIRE

SYLMAR, Calif. – Barry Gillespie likes what he sees in the numbers for PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) aerospace business:

• The business’s yearly growth rate is 2.5 times better than the industry average.

• Overall productivity has improved in each of the past three years because of business-process improvement initiatives.

“We have a good foundation to build upon,” said Gillespie, PPG vice president, aerospace.

“Our operating excellence is a big competitive advantage,” he said. “Our innovative product lines – coatings, sealants and transparencies (windows) – are unsurpassed. We also offer complementary packaging and application systems, and chemical management services.

“We have a superb work force, superior technologies, great geographic diversity, and an excellent business strategy that position us for growth.”

Following are additional insights from Gillespie on PPG Aerospace:

- Segments: “We serve the commercial, regional, general aviation (including business jets) and military segments. While the regional market is relatively flat, and the business and military segments are struggling, we expect good growth this year in the commercial market.”

- Color: “Color is very important to our customers. To improve our offerings and competitiveness, we’re using technologies from PPG’s extremely flexible, adaptable automotive refinish coatings business. In addition, our aerospace coatings with ANDARO(R) special-effect pigment originated from a technology borrowed from PPG’s OEM (original equipment manufacturer) coatings business.”

- Productivity: “Our strategy focuses on enabling our customers to increase their productivity and reduce their costs. In addition to helping them be more competitive, it helps us continue to grow. For example, DESOTHANE(R) HD topcoats have more pigment than traditional coatings, so less material needs to be used to cover an aircraft. With a four-hour drying time, airlines are able to get planes back into service more quickly. And AEROCRON(TM) electrocoat chrome-free primer for OEM applications is lightweight. On wide-body aircraft, lightweight coatings and sealants can reduce weight by hundreds of pounds, contributing to fuel savings and extending range.”

- Pre-mixed and frozen sealants also increase customers’ productivity. Rather than customers’ traditional mixing method, PPG Aerospace provides pre-mixed, frozen sealants that dramatically reduce waste. The components are precisely mixed by PPG Aerospace, loaded into ready-to-use applicators, frozen (to delay chemical reactions), and then thawed when the customer needs to use them.

- Transparencies: “We are the only supplier in the world that can provide a structurally loaded window that does not require a heavy frame around it. That’s a big cost and weight savings for the OEMs.

- “OPTICOR(TM) advanced transparency material, a new product by PPG Aerospace, is used on cabin windows for one of the newest, biggest business jets. Our goal is to make it the new standard to replace all the acrylic cockpit and cabin windows on airplanes.”

- The backbone: “Our Application Support Center (ASC) network is the backbone of PPG Aerospace. The 16 centers are strategically situated near aircraft manufacturers and their subcontractors around the globe. They provide extremely valuable customer support in mixing, customizing, packaging and assisting in customers’ application of our sealants and coatings, and assembly of electrochromic cabin windows.”

PPG: BRINGING INNOVATION TO THE SURFACE.(TM)
PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in nearly 70 countries around the world. Sales in 2012 were $15.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

Bringing innovation to the surface and Opticor are trademarks and Alteos and Andaro are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
Aerocron is a trademark and Desothane is a registered trademark of PRC-DeSoto International, Inc.



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