Investments in China
October 2013 www.coatingsworld.com Coatings World | 51
Asian growth plans. We wish Sherwin-Williams all future success as the new owners of Pulanna,” said Mark Webster, managing director of BDA.
Axalta Coating Systems will invest more than $50 million
to construct a new facility to manufacture and supply up to
25,000 metric tons of paint to automobile manufacturers that
are expanding into south and central China. The plant will be
dedicated to production of the company’s waterborne coatings
that meet both manufacturer and regulatory environmental
standards. Pending final government approvals, construction of
the new facility is expected to break ground in the second half
of 2013 with production beginning the first quarter of 2015.
“The new facility will be close to customers in the Shanghai
area and have easy access to major transportation routes reach-
ing into western and southern areas of the country,” said Charles
Shaver, chairman and CEO of Axalta Coating Systems.“This
additional facility will complement the manufacturing capac-
ity of Axalta’s flagship OEM coatings manufacturing plant in
Changchun that is already accelerating production to meet ex-
traordinary growth in automotive production in China.”
The waterborne coatings that will be produced at the new
facility will be used in two of the consolidated manufacturing
processes that Axalta has developed for automobile manufacturers to improve productivity and save energy. The specially
formulated primer of Axalta’s 3-Wet water-based system replaces the need for a full oven bake step required after the application of traditional primers, enabling manufacturers to replace
larger ovens which are expensive to build and costly to operate.
Products manufactured at the new facility will also be used with
Axalta’s EcoConcept production system, a proprietary technology that combines the primer and basecoat, enabling manufacturers to replace multiple bake steps with only one.
PPG Hosts Asia Pacific Sustainability and CSR Forum in Shanghai
Under the theme “Innovation, Sustainability and Color,” PPG Industries hosted
its Asia Pacific Sustainability and Corporate Social
Responsibility Forum and
a celebration of the company’s 130th anniversary in
Shanghai. PPG executives
from all over Asia Pacific,
officials from the Development Research Center of
State Council, China Ministry
of Commerce, China Ministry of Environmental Protection, World Resources Institute, China
Association of Enterprises with Foreign
Investment, Shanghai Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, Association of International Chemical Manufacturers, Tsinghua University and local
government, and representatives from
leading local media attended the forum
to exchange ideas on corporate social responsibility, environment protection and
sustainable development.
“Sustainable development is a crucial
issue for both companies and the society
at large, in order to preserve a healthy and
balanced relationship between the environ-
ment, economic growth and humanity,”
said Mike Horton, PPG president, Asia-
Pacific region. “This forum aims to provide
a platform for experts from all lines of work
to exchange ideas on sustainable develop
ment approaches for business and society.”
Horton and other senior executives
from PPG discussed the company’s expe-
riences and achievements in environmen-
tal protection, employee care and social
responsibility fulfillment. They showcased
PPG’s successes in areas such as sustainable
plant operations, the development and
promotion of “green” products and creat-
ing a healthy corporate culture. They also
touched on PPG’s CSR initiatives such as
volunteer activities, caring for the commu-
nity and disadvantaged groups, and sup-
porting education and disaster relief. In the
discussion session, attendees exchanged
views on sustainable growth strategies and
healthy development for society.
After the forum, PPG hosted a cel-
ebration for the company’s 130th anniver-
sary in business, during which members
of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
entertained guests with a performance.
Sustainable business practices have
been part of PPG’s strategy and culture
since its early days of opera-
tion. Over the last decade,
PPG has transformed from
being a diversified, mul-
tibusiness manufacturer
to being the world’s lead-
ing coatings and specialty
products company in part
because of its sustainable
development strategy.
In the 2012 PPG Corpo-
rate Sustainability Report
published in April 2013, the company
launched its new sustainability vision,
values and goals. Leading up to 2020,
PPG will strive to reduce environmen-
tal impact, improve employees’ safety,
health and well-being, and encourage
and report employee charitable dona-
tions and volunteerism.
“Sustainable development is never a
short-term endeavor,” said John Richter,
PPG vice president of operations, coatings, Asia Pacific. “PPG is committed to
sustainable growth strategies and never
stops exploring better ways for corporate
and social development. We hope our efforts can encourage more enterprises to
actively fulfill their social responsibilities
and contribute to the development of a
sustainable society.”
