PPG wins 2012 Automotive News PACE Award for B1:B2 wet-on-wet paint system

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PPG Industries was named a 2012 Automotive News PACE Award winner for its Premium B1:B2 Compact Paint System. This marks the eighth time PPG has received the award, which honors automotive suppliers’ innovations in products, manufacturing processes and information technology.

A winner in the manufacturing process category, which recognizes innovations that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry, the Premium B1:B2 Compact Paint System enables automotive manufacturers to reduce the number of steps necessary to paint a vehicle.

It moves the traditional primer application into the topcoat booth, eliminating a dedicated primer booth and related processing, and thereby significantly reducing energy use and cycle times. The B1 layer provides the primary primer function for chip and durability benefits, and the B2 layer provides color and additional durability. The two layers are applied wet-on-wet, reducing the energy and time needed for baking or heated dehydration between layer applications in other paint systems. The B1:B2 process reduces energy use and emissions, improves paint shop efficiency and helps reduce a manufacturer’s footprint for greenfield sites.

“PPG is honored to receive the PACE Award once again, as it highlights the innovative spirit of our company," said Cynthia Niekamp, PPG senior vice president, automotive OEM coatings. "The winning Premium B1:B2 Compact Paint System that we created is evidence of PPG’s dedication to improving customers' processes and products while reducing overall costs and environmental impact.”

The 18th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) awards were sponsored by Ernst & Young, the Transportation Research Center Inc. and Automotive News. The competition was open to suppliers who contribute products, processes, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. Innovations were evaluated by an independent panel of judges in the context of planning, novelty, market impact and competitive posture, based on comprehensive written applications and site visits.