Advanced Manufacturing
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PPG Industries
Contact: Jack Maurer, +1 412.434.2181
PPG Industries' Transformation to a Global Coatings Leader Mirrors Pittsburgh's Own Economic Renaissance
Synopsis
From what began in 1883 as a plate glass factory with one product line and a few hundred employees, PPG Industries today is a global enterprise with operations in every part of the world - including every G20 country - producing thousands of products and employing thousands of people. Like Pittsburgh, the city it has called home for more than 125 years, PPG has continually reinvented itself to meet changing economic dynamics by expanding its geography and focusing on innovation.
Overview
From what began in 1883 as a plate glass factory with one product line and a few hundred employees, PPG Industries today is a global enterprise with operations in every part of the world - including every G20 country - producing thousands of products and employing thousands of people. Like Pittsburgh, the city it has called home for more than 125 years, PPG has continually reinvented itself to meet changing economic dynamics by expanding its geography and focusing on innovation.
Through organic growth, acquisitions and innovation, PPG has evolved from a North American-centric manufacturer to the leading global coatings and specialty products company. Today, the coatings and specialty materials segments represent about 80 percent of the company's portfolio versus 51 percent 12 years ago. In addition, the United States now accounts for only 43 percent of PPG's nearly $16 billion in sales versus two-thirds of sales in 1997. Over that same time, Asia has grown from 3 percent of the company to about 12 percent. In Europe, PPG has dramatically increased its presence by acquiring SigmaKalon, a Netherlands-based worldwide coatings producer.
PPG's history of innovation has also fueled its transformation. Notable inventions include coatings that protect cars from rust, paints that contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), optical products that lighten and darken automatically, and transparent armor for military applications. What's more, virtually all of PPG's R+D activity occurs in Western Pennsylvania facilities in Allison Park, Springdale, Monroeville and Harmar Township.
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