Brazil. PPG announces that it has completed the expansion of its powder coatings plant in Sumaré, Brazil.
The $2.7 million (13 million Brazilian reais) project increased the facility's production capacity by 40%. The unit is expected to reach full capacity this month.
The plant has been equipped with new, state-of-the-art and highly automated equipment, allowing for better process control and quality and less preparation time for color matching and production.
Additional investments in on-site automation are planned, including integration of connectivity devices and process synchronization technology.
The investment aims to meet the growing demand for powder coatings from local manufacturers of household appliances, agricultural machinery, transportation and other industries for products such as steel furniture, storage structures, gym equipment and electrical panels and transformers.
The expansion is part of PPG's latest global investment to upgrade five powder coating manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Latin America announced earlier this year to meet growing customer demand for products with sustainable advantages.
"Powder coatings are one of the fastest growing coating technologies in the world and PPG is committed to meeting growing global demand by investing in R+D, facility expansions and acquisitions to develop our production capacity and expand our global footprint," said Marizeth Carvalho, PPG General Manager, Latin America South and Global Business Director. Powder Coatings.
"A key factor driving the rapid adoption of powder coatings is the growing interest in more sustainable solutions," added Carvalho.
Powder coatings do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are fully recoverable. This means that dust that is not deposited on a substrate during application can be reused in the paint system, reducing waste and contributing to the achievement of sustainability goals for PPG and its customers.
