Sustainable Innovation: PPG's Investments in the Global Powder Coating Segment

The exponential growth of powder finishing in industries such as architectural, automotive, appliances, metal furniture, and general industrial can be attributed to several factors.

Today's powder coatings offer a wide range of finishes, from matte to mirror-like, as well as textures and bonded metallic looks. They also provide smoothness, glossiness and color richness that were once exclusive to liquid coatings. Coupled with durability, wear-, corrosion- and scratch-resistant that extend asset life and longevity, powder’s value proposition is hard to beat.

One of the main drivers behind the rise of powder coatings as the fastest-growing finishing technology is the widespread adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices. This is partly due to the interest in environmental stewardship and the need to comply with stricter environmental regulations, particularly regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone. Powder coatings are generally formulated without solvents that release VOCs during the curing process.

The electrostatic process used in powder coating involves spraying charged paint particles onto a grounded part. This process has a high materialization rate so less coating is required for coverage. In fact, most powders are formulated to offer excellent durability and protection in a single coat. Finally, powder overspray can be reclaimed and recycled resulting in less waste during the painting process and a smaller environmental footprint.

PPG Invests in Powder Growth

With a core business strategy centered around environmental stewardship, PPG is working to achieve 50% of sales from sustainably advantaged solutions by 2030. Sustainably advantaged products are identified using PPG's internal methodology that validates product attributes and their contribution towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Growing the company’s powder business has been central to these efforts since 2019 with PPG’s investment in cutting-edge powder coatings and increasing global production to meet growing customer demand for sustainably advantaged products.

Each year, PPG invests $456 MM on average into research and development. This commitment has resulted in several groundbreaking solutions in recent years, including the PRIMERON^® powder primer series for strong corrosion resistance, ENVIROCRON^® Lum retroreflective powder for improved visibility in low light conditions, ENVIRCRON^® HEATSENSE low-cure powder for heat-sensitive substrates, and CORAFLON^® Platinum powder that offers FGIA/AAMA 2605 performance for architectural applications but significantly improved transfer efficiency than standard FEVE powder.

Beyond building its legacy as a pioneer in powder innovation, PPG has expanded its production capacity and reach to improve access to powder solutions for customers worldwide.

In 2021, PPG acquired German coatings maker Wörwag, followed by Arsonsisi’s powder business in 2022, a transaction that included a metallic bonding powder manufacturing plant in Verbania, Italy. In 2023, PPG invested nearly $60 million to expand and improve plants in the U.S. and Latin America, enhancing overall production capacity and additional production capabilities for bonded metallic powders, and improving processing times with automatic packaging and enhancing batch capabilities.

Most recently, PPG announced a strategic partnership with SARO/Siccardi, the largest distributor of powder coatings in Italy.

The collaboration aims to enhance PPG's distribution network and customer service in Italy. By leveraging SARO/Siccardi's extensive sector knowledge and strong presence that spans 30 years, PPG will provide customers with better access to high-quality powder products and optimal finishing solutions.

Under the partnership, PPG and SARO/Siccardi will work closely with customers to gain a better understanding of their unique requirements and provide tailored solutions, technical support and competitive pricing.

“We are confident that this partnership will elevate our services to meet the growing demand for powder coatings,” said Justin Epler, PPG general manager, Industrial Coatings, EMEA.

This partnership will also allow SARO/Siccardi to utilize PPG's warehouses, laboratories, and manufacturing facilities in Italy, improving response times and customer service, including real-time order tracking, for hundreds of customers across various industrial segments.

It's a significant step for both companies in meeting the growing demand for sustainable and efficient powder coating solutions for a wide range of products manufactured and finished in Europe.

PPG continues to grow its powder business throughout Europe, the second largest market for the technology behind Asia-Pacific.

The SARO partnership is the latest example of PPG’s leadership as a global powder provider and technology pioneer.

Learn more about PPG powder coatings >