PPG Launches 'Green' ZIRCOBOND Pretreatment

TROY, Mich., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG)
has announced the launch of a new, environmentally-responsible automotive
pretreatment technology at CAMI Automotive's production facility in Ingersoll,
Ont., Canada. CAMI, an independently incorporated joint venture of Suzuki
Motor Corporation and General Motors of Canada Ltd., began processing vehicles
with Zircobond pretreatment in early January and moved to full-scale
production Jan. 14.
Metal pretreatment cleans and provides corrosion protection to automotive
body surfaces. However, traditional zinc-phosphate pretreatment processes
generate sludge containing heavy metals such as nickel, zinc and manganese,
making them subject to environmental regulations.
As a result, PPG has devloped Zircobond pretreatment, an alternative
pretreatment based on zirconium chemistry and a proprietary blend of
additives. Zircobond pretreatment cuts sludge byproduct from the pretreatment
process by at least 80 percent compared to zinc-phosphate-based products, and
it can be used in existing pretreatment lines.
Additionally, estimates show that facilities using Zircobond pretreatment
can realize annual savings of up to several hundred thousand dollars on
energy, maintenance and labor costs. Savings potential is even greater in
greenfield applications, where fewer process stages could generate as much as
several million dollars in savings on new facility capital investments.
The commercial launch of Zircobond pretreatment is a significant step for
PPG, CAMI and an automotive industry striving to be more "green." According
to GM global process pretreatment lead Kevin Cunningham, "Continued leadership
in the use of environmentally-friendly technologies is imperative at General
Motors. PPG has developed an innovative pretreatment coating material that
offers advantages including energy savings, water conservation and a smaller
footprint. GM is aggressively pursuing global implementation opportunities,
and we are pleased to partner with PPG in the development of new Zircobond
pretreatment technology."
According to Robert L. White, PPG global director of SPS product
management for substrate protection systems, "In Zircobond pretreatment, PPG
has created an environmentally-responsible solution that addresses regulatory
concerns and delivers economic incentives to pretreatment customers while
continuing to meet the automotive industry's stringent coatings performance
requirements."
About PPG
Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals,
optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company has
operations in more than 60 countries. PPG shares are traded on the New York
Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.
Zircobond is a trademark of PPG Industries.
SOURCE PPG Industries

Rich Moyle of PPG Industries, +1-248-641-2000, moyle@ppg.com