FrameCoat Coating by PPG Wins R&D 100 Award

    PITTSBURGH--Oct. 16, 2002--PPG Industries tonight will receive a R&D 100 Award for lead-free FrameCoat electrodeposition coating, a breakthrough primer for automotive and light-truck chassis components.
    It marks the seventh time in as many years that a PPG technology has been named one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in new products and processes worldwide by R&D magazine. Entries were judged by a panel of industry specialists. The award will be presented to PPG officials at ceremonies at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom, Chicago.
    "We're very proud of this achievement. It serves as testimony to our leadership in developing new coatings products and solutions for the transportation industry," said Michael A. Ludlow, senior vice president, OEM coatings.
    Traditionally, automotive and light truck chassis components were coated with hot wax, providing corrosion protection for one to three years. In the electrodeposition process, automakers dip vehicle bodies in baths of electrically charged coatings. FrameCoat coating meets original equipment manufacturers' requirements for 10-year corrosion protection. The coating cures at low temperatures, has exceptional corrosion resistance in a lead-free formulation, possesses superior edge coverage characteristics and is formulated specifically for hot-rolled steel applications. FrameCoat coating is free of hazardous air pollutants and is very low in volatile organic compounds.
    Development of FrameCoat coating came about through "top-notch R&D work, close collaboration with customers, and an ongoing commitment to PPG's mission and values of dedication to customers, continuous improvement and environmental stewardship," said J. Rich Alexander, PPG vice president, industrial coatings. "We're extremely pleased with the R&D 100 recognition. PPG's history is full of R&D innovations, and we'll continue relying upon our core R&D capability to bring new products to market."
    PPG's prior R&D 100 award-winning technologies are: Enviro-Prime 2000 lead-free electrodeposition coatings (2000), the Power-Prime coating system (1999), the Sungate antenna windshield and an automotive powder clear coat (1998), a "relative humidity adaptive application process" (1997), and Bairocade gas barrier coatings (1996).
    FrameCoat coating this year also received a PACE Award -- Premier Automotive Contribution to Excellence Award -- sponsored by Automotive News magazine and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young to honor automotive suppliers for product innovation and management excellence.
    Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global manufacturer of coatings, glass, fiber glass and chemicals, with 120 manufacturing locations and equity affiliates in 24 countries. Sales in 2001 were US$8.2 billion.