Expansion Management

PPG Creating North American Architectural Coatings HQ in Pennsylvania

Sept. 23, 2013

The newly expanded coatings business, along with additions to the technology center will add 300 new jobs.

PPG Industries, Inc., (IW 500/81) Pittsburgh’s second largest manufacturing company, announced today that it will establish its North American Architectural Coatings headquarters in Butler County, Penn. The company will also expand its existing technology center in Allegheny County, adding more than 300 new jobs in both counties.

“Our plans to establish a central headquarters and R&D center for the company’s North American Architectural Coatings Business in Pennsylvania are an important step in creating our newly expanded coatings business,” Charles E. Bunch, PPG chairman and CEO said. “PPG has called Pennsylvania home to its global headquarters for 130 years and this further strengthens our presence in the state and affected counties."

This project is expected to generate an investment in excess of $14 million for infrastructure, equipment and employee training. The company is projected to retain another 2,500 positions throughout the state.

The company will also expand and co-locate its North American Architectural Coatings research and development activities, laboratory equipment and personnel that are presently located at the company’s Springdale, Allegheny County, and Strongsville, Ohio locations to Harmar Township, Allegheny County. The Technology Center in Harmar Township currently includes PPG’s glass and fiber glass business and research and development activities.

In April 2013, PPG acquired the AkzoNobel North American Decorative Coatings business. The purpose of this project is to consolidate AkzoNobel North American headquarters and U.S. lab facilities with PPG’s Architectural Coatings business in order to improve collaboration between employees and save travel time and expenses. PPG’s operations in Canada and Puerto Rico are not affected by this consolidation.

The company received a funding offer from the Department of Community and Economic Development including a $1,250,000 Pennsylvania First Program grant, $618,000 in Job Creation Tax Credits and a $42,750 Guaranteed Free Training grant which will be used to train its new workforce. A $2 million loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to be repaid within 15 years was also included.