“On-the-job training by dedi-
cated instructors from overseas
will help to ensure that the skills
of our employees will fulfil our
customers’ high requirements. And by in-
troducing water-based paint in the body/
paint repair process for the first time in
Sri Lanka, we will contribute towards
keeping the environment clean and green
for future generations.”
PPG Asian Paints is a joint venture of
PPG Industries, the U.S.-based leading
global paint company, and Asian Paints,
a leading manufacturer and supplier of
coatings in Asia.
Axalta Announces North
American Automotive Color
of the Year 2016
Axalta Coating Systems has announcd
its North American Automotive Color of
the Year for 2016: Brilliant Blue. The announcement came in advance of the 2016
North American International Auto Show
(NAIAS) where Axalta is the Presenting
Sponsor of the NAIAS Charity Preview.
The event kicked-off Axalta’s yearlong
Brilliant Blue celebration.
“The start of the New Year is a per-
fect time to introduce Brilliant Blue,” said
Nancy Lockhart, Axalta color marketing
manager. “This new beginning is charged
by optimism and fresh thoughts and
Axalta’s new hue represents positive en-
ergy and vibrance.”
Brilliant Blue is a mid-shade blue that
has both depth and vividness with slight
turquoise highlights. It is made with
Axalta’s high chroma Vermeera technol-
ogy using a multi-layer process to achieve
both an intense blue color and a unique
sparkle effect.
Axalta color experts selected Brilliant
Blue for a number of reasons. According
to Axalta’s Global Automotive 2015
Color Popularity Report, blue increased
in popularity to a total of eight percent of
2015 light vehicle sales in North America
due to increased use on sport utility and
compact utility vehicles. From a world-wide view, blue remained steady while
other rich colors declined and white,
black and gray increased in popularity.
The annual report, now in its 63rd con-
secutive year, highlights automotive color
choices around the world. The full report
can be found here.
Historically, Axalta color trend research shows blue has been a top choice
in North America. Blue was the number
one color from 1957-1959 (pastel blues)
and was the leader in 1988 (darker green
shade blues). Recently, industry professionals expressed an interest in the color
during automotive events around the
country including the 2015 SEMA show
in Las Vegas.
Brilliant Blue is Axalta’s second North
American Automotive Color of the Year,
following the inaugural Radiant Red.
PPG Foundation Donates
$10,000 to Bowling Green
for Educational Event
The PPG Industries Foundation recently
donated $10,000 to Bowling Green State
University (BGSU) in Bowling Green,
Ohio, to support the Northwest Ohio
Center for Excellence in STEM Education
(NWO) “STEM in the Park” event.
The grant was made on behalf of PPG
Industries’ architectural coatings plant in
nearby Huron.
“We appreciate the PPG Industries
Foundation’s support for our efforts to
inspire the next generation’s pursuit of
education and careers related to science
and technology through STEM in the
Park,” said Emilio Duran, founder and
director of STEM in the Park. “For six
years, our free and family-focused event
has offered a variety of opportunities for
children of all ages to engage in fun ac-
tivities that teach science, technology, en-
gineering and math concepts while they
entertain, and we look forward to having
PPG’s support in 2016.”
Scheduled for Sept. 24 on the BGSU
campus, the next STEM in the Park
event will feature interactive displays and
hands-on science- and technology-related
activities such as giant bubbles, edible
DNA, and demonstrations by the Toledo
Zoo and Imagination Station. In addition
to participating in inquiry-based learning
fun created by area universities, commu-
nity partners and local businesses, attend-
ees can meet teachers, university faculty
and community resource providers to ex-
plore science and technology careers.
“Engaging in the communities where
we live and work is part of PPG’s heritage,” said Dave Kuhn, plant manager at
the PPG Architectural Coatings facility in
Huron. “Events such as STEM in the Park
help to not only educate but also excite
future manufacturers and innovators. It’s
a great fit for PPG and our foundation.”
The PPG Industries Foundation aims
to create brighter, more colorful communities where PPG has a presence in the
United States. By investing in educational opportunities, we help grow today’s
skilled workforce and develop tomorrow’s innovators in industries related to
coatings and specialty materials. Plus,
we empower PPG employees to make an
impact for causes that are important to
them by supporting their volunteer efforts and charitable giving. Learn more at
www.ppgcommunities.com.
Benjamin Moore Celebrates
Successful Community
Outreach Initiatives
Benjamin Moore recently celebrated
three architectural scholars in New York
City. Benjamin Moore invests in the future of architecture and design by supporting rising talent. Benjamin Moore, in
partnership with the AIA’s The Architects
Foundation, recently honored its first
recipients of the Diversity Advancement
Scholarship Program. Each received
a scholarship or $5,000 toward their
Bachelor of Architecture Degree.
In order to give back this holiday season, Benjamin Moore raised over 1,600
pounds of canned and boxed food from
the Montvale, Clifton and Flanders locations to help restock Paterson’s Oasis
food pantry. Paterson’s Oasis is an organization that helps to feed, clothe and
educate women and children in need.
The company also supported
young innovators’ STEM success with
Students2Science. Benjamin Moore said
it is “proud to support Students2Science
which is inspiring, motivating and educating students to pursue careers in
Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math(STEM).” Recently, VP Product
Development Glenn Cooper, who
heads the NJ paint maker’s industry-leading team of scientists, visited S2S’s
