PPG Industries was named a 2012 Automotive News PACE Award winner for its Premium B1:B2 Compact Paint System. The award marks the eighth time PPG has received the award, which honors automotive suppliers’ innovations in products, manufacturing processes and information technology.
The Premium B1:B2 Compact Paint System, a winner in the manufacturing process category that recognizes innovations that have significant market impact and act as "game changers" in the automotive industry, enables automotive manufacturers to reduce the number of steps necessary to paint a vehicle. Specifically, the system moves the traditional primer application into the topcoat booth, thereby eliminating a dedicated primer booth and related processing, and, in the process, significantly reducing energy use and cycle times.
How it works: 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. According to PPG, the B1:B2 process reduces energy use and emissions, improves paint shop efficiency and helps reduce a manufacturer’s footprint for greenfield sites. PPG’s next generation B1:B2 compact process technology was first utilized in a U.S. automotive plant at the BMW assembly plant in Spartanburg, S.C., in 2012.
“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.”
ABOUT THE PACE AWARDS
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.
For details, please visit the Automotive News PACE Awards page.
