Safe and Sound Glass from PPG Offers Passengers More Comfort and Security

Safe and Sound glass is the platform for many of PPG's enhanced glazing technologies.



PPG, together with General Motors, will demonstrate the unique properties of Enhanced Technology Glass (ETG) during a press conference in the PPG booth at 3:00 p.m.on April 14.



"Safe and Sound glass can be found on vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu -- the 2008 North American Car of the Year," said Pete Dishart, PPG global product manager. "Safe and Sound glass is being specified by OEMs because it provides their customers with a quieter vehicle and protection from both intrusion and harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.".



Composed of two pieces of glass laminated with a plastic interlayer, Safe and Sound glass is designed for window locations where tempered glass is typically used, such as doors and roofs. Unlike standard tempered glass, if broken, a Safe and Sound window will remain intact, keeping the vehicle more secure from smash-and-grab theft. Because the glass absorbs sound energy, Safe and Sound windows also help create a quieter cabin environment by reducing road and wind noise. In addition, Safe and Sound windows block more than 98 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays.



Safe and Sound glass has become a technolgy platform for expansion of glazing technologies such as Sungate infrared-reflective (IRR) glass from PPG and Enhanced Technology Glass from General Motors (www.gm.com).



ETG, specified by General Motors and manufactured by PPG, is standard equipment on all GM full-size passenger vans. "GM's 12- and 15-passenger vans contain ETG because it helps protect passengers during a crash," said Steve Matsil, vehicle chief engineer, GM Medium Duty Commercial Truck and Full-size Vans. "This specialty glass is located in the rearmost side window position next to the fourth- and fifth-row passengers, to help mitigate the risk of ejection." This marks the first ever use of this glazing technology in a vehicle.



The Sungate IRR coating, initially developed for windshields, can now be applied to all window locations using the Safe and Sound glass platform. This year, Ford Motor Co. became the world's first car manufacturer to feature a panoramic glass roof using Sungate IRR technology, for its Mustang GT and the V-6 Mustang. Sungate coated glass reflects the sun's infrared (heat) energy away from the vehicle, keeping the interior cooler, reducing air conditioning workload, increasing fuel efficiency and reducing greenhouse emissions. Recent testing by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (www.nrel.gov) showed that the Sungate infra-red reflective coating, when used on windshields, can increase vehicle fuel efficiency by up to 4 percent.



About PPG



Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG's sales in 2007 were $11.2 billion. SigmaKalon, a worldwide coatings producer based in Uithoorn, Netherlands, that PPG acquired Jan. 2, 2008, had 2007 sales of $2.9 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.



Safe and Sound and Sungate are trademarks of PPG Industries.