PPG Industries' automotive refinish operations in China recently relocated to a plant in Songjiang, Shanghai. PPG executives, together with nearly 200 guests from leading automotive aftermarket companies, automotive manufacturers, automotive dealers, PPG suppliers, PPG authorized distributors and partner schools, attended the relocation ceremony.
In their welcoming remarks, both Charles Bunch, PPG chairman and CEO, and Mike Horton, PPG president, Asia Pacific, spoke of PPG's commitment to the Chinese market and expressed their confidence in the market's growth potential, particularly in the automotive refinish sector.
"Since its entry into China in the 1980s, PPG's automotive refinish business has built an extensive service network and strong brand awareness with a large base of loyal customers," said Pauline Yuen, PPG vice president, refinish coatings and light industrial coatings, Asia. "The purpose of the relocation was to fulfill growing demand from local customers. At the new site, with improved facilities and our talented people, we will continue to provide cutting-edge products and superior service to Chinese customers."
The ceremony also marked the inauguration of a Shanghai training center for PPG's automotive refinish business. "Talent development has been part of our strategic focus for the global market, as skilled technicians are better able to use our refinish coatings products to full effect," said James Yang, PPG general manager of automotive refinish and light industrial coatings, China. "In addition, we wish to promote the overall growth of the spray finishing industry in China by continually investing in talent development programs."
PPG has built training centers for automotive spray finishing in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu, providing training for thousands of technicians from automotive manufacturers, auto service center and car dealers. The new Shanghai training center covers 3,000 square meters and includes state-of-the-art equipment to offer enhanced training for automotive refinish technicians.