PPG acquires Colombian
coatings company
PPG Industries, through its subsidiary
PPG Colombia, has purchased the coatings businesses of Colpisa Colombiana de
Pinturas, a privately-owned Colombian
coatings company, and its affiliates, including Colpisa Ecuador. The transaction
is expected to close no later than the end
of the first quarter 2012.
Colpisa, based in Itagüi, near Medellin,
was founded in 1973 and manufactures
and distributes coatings for automotive
OEM and refinish, industrial and architectural coatings customers in Colombia
and Ecuador. Colpisa operates a coatings
manufacturing facility in Colombia and
employs approximately 400 people. The
company has been a technology licensee
of PPG automotive OEM coatings since
1996 and a distributor of PPG automotive
refinish products since 2004.
“By acquiring Colpisa, PPG builds on a
successful relationship and gains the op-
portunity to expand our coatings presence
in Colombia to directly serve and grow
with automotive manufacturers,” said Tim
Knavish, PPG vice president, automotive
OEM coatings, Americas. “PPG intends to
build upon Colpisa’s strong manufacturing
and distribution practices as the Colombian
economy expands and more automobiles
are built and sold in the region.”
According to Knavish, PPG would be-
come the only major global coatings sup-
plier with a direct automotive OEM
manufacturing presence in Colombia.
PPG currently has no manufacturing sites
in Colombia or Ecuador, but does supply
protective and marine coatings to the re-
gion, in addition to its technology and dis-
tribution relationship with Colpisa.
“As an automotive refinish coatings
leader, we are pleased to add Colpisa’s au-
tomotive refinish business to our global
portfolio,” said John Outcalt, PPG vice
president, global automotive refinish.
“This acquisition is further evidence of
PPG’s commitment to grow our coatings
presence in Latin America.”
According to Outcalt, by acquiring
Colpisa, PPG will become one of the
leading providers of a full line of auto-
motive refinish products in Colombia
with the ability to grow and serve local
customers through an established distri-
bution network.
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Hempel signs contract
with Vale
Hempel recently signed a contract with
Brazilian mining giant Vale, one of the
world’s largest iron ore producers, to
supply coatings for a five-vessel conversion project. The Hempel fouling release
coating Hempasil X3, will help Vale reduce its vessel maintenance costs, fuel
consumption and green house gas and
biocide emissions.
Danish-based Hempel will supply
150,000 liters of its third generation fouling release, Hempasil X3, or advanced tin-free antifoulings for Vale’s forthcoming
five-vessel conversion project.
Five of Vale’s very large crude carriers
(VLCCs) will be converted to very large
ore carriers (VLOCs) at the Yulian Shipyard and at the Huraung Dan Dong Shipyard in China.
Hempel has been working closely
with Vale, who plans to extend its fleet
of ships to 50 by the end of 2013. “The
shipping industry is facing increasing
pressure from governments and legisla-
tive authorities to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions,” said Torben Rasmussen,
group product manager, Hempel A/S. “In
response, many shipowners have set
their own environmental targets in an ef-
fort to reduce CO2 emissions. But, find-
ing effective ways to meet these targets
can be a challenge, and that’s where
Hempel’s complete fouling control con-
cept can help.”
“Minimizing maintenance, as well as
maintaining a smooth hull during the en-
tire service period is vital for the efficient
operation of our vessels, and we believe
the Hempasil X3 system will help us to
achieve this,” said Nelson Coelho, general
manager, Vale. “We’re also confident that
28 | Coatings World
www.coatingsworld.com
October 2011
