The €3 million investment allows PPG to increase operational efficiency, sustainability and flexibility.
PPG has recently announced the beginning of an expanded automotive OEM clearcoat production in its German facility at Erlenbach.
The project, that required an investment of almost €3 million, nearly doubles the site’s capacity
for premium clearcoats and employs advanced manufacturing technology in order to improve operational efficiency, sustainability and flexibility compared to conventional processes.
PPG acquired the Erlenbach site from Hemmelrath in 2019 specifically to enhance its automotive coatings offering and add formulating and manufacturing capability. The facility uses a fully automated, innovative and highly sustainable production process that boasts shorter and faster manufacturing times and flexible manufacturing of multiple batch sizes of up to 25 metric tons.
“This is an important investment that ensures we will continue to meet the growing regional demand for our premium clearcoats, which offer the world-class finish with superior appearance and durability that our customers demand. Using advanced manufacturing technology also gives us increased flexibility to produce different products in multiple batch sizes in the most sustainable way,” stated Roald Johannsen, PPG vice president for EMEA automotive OEM coatings. “This investment makes our Erlenbach facility a center of excellence for clearcoats, using best-in-class technologies to deliver superior scratch- and chemical-resistant coatings that are highly durable. It will further strengthen our position as a leading manufacturer of the most advanced and innovative clearcoats that are capable of meeting or exceeding the most demanding OEM quality and performance specifications.”