PPG Aerospace Unit to Offer Groco Coatings and Products

The contract took effect in February.

The Groco products will be distributed from the PPG Aerospace global network of 16 application support centers, enabling PPG Aerospace to provide aerospace customers around the world with on-site representation and technical service. Under the agreement, the PPG Total Service Solutions team will be responsible for global sales support and technical service for product application and removal.

"Our agreement with Groco Specialty Coatings helps expand the products and services that we are able to offer aerospace manufacturers," said David Morris, vice president, PPG Aerospace.

"Through this agreement we can provide customers with specific TRANSSEAL® temporary protective coatings and products to meet their needs as well as turn-key outsourcing programs for coatings and chemical management," said Scott A. Follett, global director, PPG Total Service Solutions.

The products covered in the distribution agreement include a temporary protective coating that is applied to aluminum aircraft parts to provide superior protection against nicks, scratches and abrasions during shipping and assembly; an environmentally safe gel remover for the temporary coating; and waterborne, low VOC (volatile organic compound) spray dot inks used for marking the location of rivets and fasteners on aircraft parts.

According to Morris, the Groco products offer an environmentally friendly way to help aerospace manufacturers reduce part damage and rework.

Located in Dallas, Groco Specialty Coatings manufactures performance industrial coatings for the automotive, aircraft and other OEM industries.

PPG Aerospace is the aerospace coatings, sealants and transparencies business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace - PRC-DeSoto is a leading global supplier of aerospace coatings, aerospace sealants, and packaging and application systems. It produces aerospace sealants and packaging and application systems at Glendale, Calif., U.S.A.; aerospace sealants and coatings at Mojave, Calif., U.S.A., and Shildon, England; and aerospace coatings at Gonfreville, France. PPG Aerospace - Transparencies is the world's largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies, manufactured at its Huntsville, Ala., U.S.A., plant and by PPG Aerospace, Ampaspace, a PPG Industries subsidiary, at Casaletto Vaprio, Italy, near Milan.

PPG Total Service Solutions -- based in Troy, Mich. -- is a leader in providing manufacturers with a cost-effective structured management program that assists in the implementation of a global standard for service. Pittsburgh-based PPG is the world's leading manufacturer of transportation coatings and a global supplier of industrial and packaging coatings, and a leading North American producer of architectural coatings. In addition, PPG manufactures flat and fabricated glass, continuous-strand fiber glass and chemicals. Sales were US$8.8 billion in 2003.