PPG Invests to Double Its Powder Coatings Production Capacity in Mexico

Photo Credit: Thinkstock

PPG (Pittsburgh, PA) announces it is investing $11 million to double the production capacity of its powder coatings plant in San Juan del Rio, Mexico. The expansion project is expected to be completed by mid-2023 and will enable the plant to meet the expected future demand for powder coatings in Mexico.

“With this investment, the plant will have new, state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, enhancing production practices and process flow,” says Guillermo Peña, PPG director, Industrial Coatings, Mexico. “It will further improve the plant's productivity and benefit our customers with improved service levels and faster response.”

The project involves the installation of new production lines, upgrades to existing equipment and increased application capabilities. The increase in production also enables PPG to locally manufacture new powder coatings products currently supplied from the U.S., including the following:

• Envirocron High Transfer Efficiency (HTE) powder coatings for complex, difficult-to-coat surfaces
• Envirocron Extreme Protection Edge powder coatings for improved edge corrosion performance in one coat
• Envirocron HeatSense low-temperature-cure powder coatings for wood-based substrates and metals
• CORAFLON Platinum powder coating for architectural aluminum extrusions

“This expansion reaffirms PPG's confidence in Mexico and the strategic role of the San Juan del Rio site for the powder coatings business,” says Kevin Braun, PPG vice president, global Industrial Coatings. “Powder coating technology is becoming a more functional and profitable option for many customers due to its superior protection, sustainable qualities and higher transfer efficiency compared to liquid coating technology.”

Powder coatings are a sustainable product offering with low VOC emissions, enhanced durability, high transfer efficiency and the ability to be reclaimed or reused during application. They are an important part of the company’s commitment to achieve 40 percent of sales from products and processes that have improved sustainability by 2025.

The expansion plan for PPG’s San Juan del Rio powder plant, which meets the key IATF-16949 quality certification, is the latest in a series of actions that underline PPG’s commitment to investing in further growth for powder coatings. Earlier in 2022, PPG acquired Arsonsisi’s powder coatings manufacturing business, and in 2020, PPG purchased Alpha Coating Technologies, a manufacturer of powder coatings for light industrial applications and heat-sensitive substrates.