08.09.05
● PPG is the proud owner of a
special GMT800 series truck
that marks a major milestone
in its partnership with
General Motors. On Jan. 17,
the one millionth GMT800
series truck rolled off the
assembly line in Oshawa,
Ontario, Canada where PPG
is supplies surfacers, leadfree
electrocoat primer,
waterborne basecoats and
clearcoats.
Richard Zahren, vice president
of PPG’s automotive
coatings business, was onsite
to watch the truck come
off line at the 3.1-million-sq.-
ft. facility, which is PPG’s single
largest automotive coatings
customer site, producing
more than 1,300 trucks a
day. PPG has 11 staff members
at the facility to provide
service and support 24 hours a day to match General Motors’ three-shift production schedule.
“GM’s Oshawa plant is a huge and strategically important account for PPG,” said Mr. Zahren.
“The one millionth truck is symbolic of the partnership we have with the GM-Oshawa team. We’re
dedicated to providing continuous improvement with excellent products and services to meet GM’s
high standards.”
GM first started manufacturing trucks in Oshawa in 1918, and since then eight million have rolled
off the line. The current facility opened in 1965. It took a little over three years to make the last one million
trucks compared to the 37 years required to make the first million, according GM.
“That says a lot about the improvements in productivity, quality, efficiency and volume. It also says a
lot about the tremendous support we’ve received from PPG,” said Paul McLaughlin, the facility’s paint
shop area manager.
special GMT800 series truck
that marks a major milestone
in its partnership with
General Motors. On Jan. 17,
the one millionth GMT800
series truck rolled off the
assembly line in Oshawa,
Ontario, Canada where PPG
is supplies surfacers, leadfree
electrocoat primer,
waterborne basecoats and
clearcoats.
Richard Zahren, vice president
of PPG’s automotive
coatings business, was onsite
to watch the truck come
off line at the 3.1-million-sq.-
ft. facility, which is PPG’s single
largest automotive coatings
customer site, producing
more than 1,300 trucks a
day. PPG has 11 staff members
at the facility to provide
service and support 24 hours a day to match General Motors’ three-shift production schedule.
“GM’s Oshawa plant is a huge and strategically important account for PPG,” said Mr. Zahren.
“The one millionth truck is symbolic of the partnership we have with the GM-Oshawa team. We’re
dedicated to providing continuous improvement with excellent products and services to meet GM’s
high standards.”
GM first started manufacturing trucks in Oshawa in 1918, and since then eight million have rolled
off the line. The current facility opened in 1965. It took a little over three years to make the last one million
trucks compared to the 37 years required to make the first million, according GM.
“That says a lot about the improvements in productivity, quality, efficiency and volume. It also says a
lot about the tremendous support we’ve received from PPG,” said Paul McLaughlin, the facility’s paint
shop area manager.