Kerry Pianoforte, Editor 12.12.22
Road and bridge coatings include primarily traffic marking paint but also other coatings used to protect transportation infrastructure such as bridges and airport structures. These coatings are used in a myriad of protective and specialty applications, including: oil and gas pipelines; road and bridge coatings; electrical equipment, such as motor windings and housings, transformers, and telecommunications equipment; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment; various metal products such as motorcycles, gasoline pumps, and play- ground equipment.
According to data from market research firm, The Freedonia Group, demand for other specialty coatings is forecast to grow 3.5% per year to 2.9 million metric tons in 2024.
Gains in road and bridge coatings demand will benefit from increased road building activity worldwide and from a growing focus on traffic safety in the developing world through greater use of effective road markings.
Traffic marking paints are primarily used for the delineation of lanes and passageways on highways, streets and roads and are also used to mark crosswalks, stop bars and legends, parking lots, safety zones and work areas, as well as to provide driver and pedestrian information.
In this demanding market, traffic coatings must be formulated to withstand some harsh conditions including the stress of vehicle traffic and exposure to salt and other deicing agents, as well as vandalism and graffiti.
For oil and gas pipelines, coatings are used to protect pipe interiors and exteriors from corrosion, environmental conditions, and high temperatures. Pipeline coatings can also serve additional functions, such as improving flow efficiency and buoyancy control. In the near term, demand for oil and gas pipeline coatings will be negatively impacted by stagnant oil prices, which are expected to restrict maintenance spending by oil and gas producers.
PPG entered the traffic coating market with its acquisition of Ennis-Flint. Ennis-Flint is a global leader in pavement markings and traffic safety solutions with a wide range of products, including traffic paint, hot-applied and preformed thermoplastics, raised pavement markers and intelligent transportation systems. The company has approximately 1,000 employees globally, with a network of manufacturing facilities within the United States, Europe, South America, Australia and Asia. Ennis-Flint’s full year of 2020 revenue is expected to be approximately $600 million, with mid-teen percentage EBITDA margins.
“The acquisition of Ennis-Flint will further expand our product offering and opportunities in rapidly developing and high-growth mobility technology solutions,” Michael McGarry, PPG chairman and chief executive officer said in a press release when the acquisition was announced. “The company is well known for its high-quality products, tech- nical expertise and innovative systems. The addition of Ennis-Flint’s products further enhances our existing mobil- ity technologies in support of increased automotive occupant safety through driver-assisted and autonomous driving systems. We look forward to the Ennis-Flint team joining PPG and working together to further expand the company’s product distribution on a global scale.”
PPG’s Traffic Solutions business manufactures and supplies a broad, global portfolio of pavement-marking and traffic safety products, including paint, thermoplastics and other advanced technologies to customers in government, military, contracting, commercial infrastructure, engineering and architecture.
“It also partners with PPG’s mobility team to identify opportunities to supply innovative coatings that support infra- structure needs to enable autonomous driving and enhance future autonomous, connected, electric and shared vehicle solutions,” said Ed Baiden, PPG global general manager, Traffic Solutions. “The business was formed in 2021 following PPG’s December 2020 acquisition of Ennis-Flint.”
PPG’s purpose to protect and beautify the world drives its approach to developing sustainable solutions and offering unique technologies to customers in a wide range of markets and geographic locations.
“PPG’s near-term 2025 goal is to have 40% of our sales come from sustainably advantaged products,” said Baiden. “In 2021, we reached 38%. Within the Traffic Solutions business specifically, specifiers and governmental customers see the importance of choosing more sustainable solutions to support the United Nations’ pledge to cut CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and reach net zero by 2050.”
According to Baiden, the types of additives and raw materials that PPG uses to formulate a product are dependent on the product attributes, performance requirements, geo- graphic location and more.
“In general, we define a sustainably advantaged product as one that will decrease energy use, emissions, and/or positively contribute to energy conservation, food, water, health, or infrastructure and cities, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We have a stringent assessment process that helps us evaluate the attributes of each product we manufacture. Examples include: use of raw materials which contain biodegradable resources, recycling and reuse of solvents, scraps etc. to minimize waste generation, and reduction or elimination of use of elements like heavy metals, volatile organic solvents (VOC), etc.”
The ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions is a one of those most important attributes when it comes to traffic marking coatings. “Traffic Solutions customers are looking for reliable, durable, long-lasting solutions that meet their individual specifications, enhance the safety of drivers and pedestrians, and support them to increase productivity,” said Baiden. “Outside of product performance, they also value knowledgeable, consistent customer and technical service that demonstrates a true partnership.
“Furthermore, research, development and influence on legislation and regulation are extremely important to our customers. They are looking to us, as an industry leader, to enhance our existing product portfolio, help drive regulations to ensure the safety of workers and the use of our solutions and develop new mobility technologies that will further the adoption of autonomous and electric vehicles. Our solutions play a critical role in helping autonomous vehicles ‘see’ roads by allowing road markings and infra- structure to be better detected by sensory systems.”
In addition to continually advancing its current products, PPG’s Traffic Solutions business introduced two new products recently: ThermoDrop pelletized thermoplastic and HPS-8 integrated multipolymer.
• Compared to granular thermoplastic, ThermoDrop is a pelletized premium, pre-melted, homogenous and fully encapsulated pavement marking product which melts quicker, helps increase productivity, and significantly re- duces dust. This product’s sustainability is made possible through the use of beads that are made of 100% recycled glass. The ThermoDrop coating offers quantifiable environmental benefits to our customers based on its cleanliness when transferred to kettles and handliners used to apply the product. Further, this product’s safety and health risks are minimal due to minimal dusting during application. The ThermoDrop product makes it possible for our customers to reduce their environmental impact via an estimated 35–45% reduction in fuel costs, 30-40% reduction in labor costs, and 30% increase in productivity and profitability.
• HPS-8 is a 100% solid integrated multipolymer compound containing pigments, glass beads, binder and filler which becomes liquid when heated. The product offers faster application than permanent tape with enhanced performance, abrasion resistance and durability.
PPG formed a mobility focus team in 2017 to develop mobility technologies and innovative technical solutions that provide increased functionality and solve new and unique requirements for electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles. Mobility-related products developed by PPG include battery-specific coatings that deliver enhanced safety and performance, autonomous vehicle coatings that im- prove vehicle and infrastructure visibility, and interior coatings that increase surface functionality and durability.
According to data from market research firm, The Freedonia Group, demand for other specialty coatings is forecast to grow 3.5% per year to 2.9 million metric tons in 2024.
Gains in road and bridge coatings demand will benefit from increased road building activity worldwide and from a growing focus on traffic safety in the developing world through greater use of effective road markings.
Traffic marking paints are primarily used for the delineation of lanes and passageways on highways, streets and roads and are also used to mark crosswalks, stop bars and legends, parking lots, safety zones and work areas, as well as to provide driver and pedestrian information.
In this demanding market, traffic coatings must be formulated to withstand some harsh conditions including the stress of vehicle traffic and exposure to salt and other deicing agents, as well as vandalism and graffiti.
For oil and gas pipelines, coatings are used to protect pipe interiors and exteriors from corrosion, environmental conditions, and high temperatures. Pipeline coatings can also serve additional functions, such as improving flow efficiency and buoyancy control. In the near term, demand for oil and gas pipeline coatings will be negatively impacted by stagnant oil prices, which are expected to restrict maintenance spending by oil and gas producers.
PPG entered the traffic coating market with its acquisition of Ennis-Flint. Ennis-Flint is a global leader in pavement markings and traffic safety solutions with a wide range of products, including traffic paint, hot-applied and preformed thermoplastics, raised pavement markers and intelligent transportation systems. The company has approximately 1,000 employees globally, with a network of manufacturing facilities within the United States, Europe, South America, Australia and Asia. Ennis-Flint’s full year of 2020 revenue is expected to be approximately $600 million, with mid-teen percentage EBITDA margins.
“The acquisition of Ennis-Flint will further expand our product offering and opportunities in rapidly developing and high-growth mobility technology solutions,” Michael McGarry, PPG chairman and chief executive officer said in a press release when the acquisition was announced. “The company is well known for its high-quality products, tech- nical expertise and innovative systems. The addition of Ennis-Flint’s products further enhances our existing mobil- ity technologies in support of increased automotive occupant safety through driver-assisted and autonomous driving systems. We look forward to the Ennis-Flint team joining PPG and working together to further expand the company’s product distribution on a global scale.”
PPG’s Traffic Solutions business manufactures and supplies a broad, global portfolio of pavement-marking and traffic safety products, including paint, thermoplastics and other advanced technologies to customers in government, military, contracting, commercial infrastructure, engineering and architecture.
“It also partners with PPG’s mobility team to identify opportunities to supply innovative coatings that support infra- structure needs to enable autonomous driving and enhance future autonomous, connected, electric and shared vehicle solutions,” said Ed Baiden, PPG global general manager, Traffic Solutions. “The business was formed in 2021 following PPG’s December 2020 acquisition of Ennis-Flint.”
PPG’s purpose to protect and beautify the world drives its approach to developing sustainable solutions and offering unique technologies to customers in a wide range of markets and geographic locations.
“PPG’s near-term 2025 goal is to have 40% of our sales come from sustainably advantaged products,” said Baiden. “In 2021, we reached 38%. Within the Traffic Solutions business specifically, specifiers and governmental customers see the importance of choosing more sustainable solutions to support the United Nations’ pledge to cut CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and reach net zero by 2050.”
According to Baiden, the types of additives and raw materials that PPG uses to formulate a product are dependent on the product attributes, performance requirements, geo- graphic location and more.
“In general, we define a sustainably advantaged product as one that will decrease energy use, emissions, and/or positively contribute to energy conservation, food, water, health, or infrastructure and cities, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We have a stringent assessment process that helps us evaluate the attributes of each product we manufacture. Examples include: use of raw materials which contain biodegradable resources, recycling and reuse of solvents, scraps etc. to minimize waste generation, and reduction or elimination of use of elements like heavy metals, volatile organic solvents (VOC), etc.”
The ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions is a one of those most important attributes when it comes to traffic marking coatings. “Traffic Solutions customers are looking for reliable, durable, long-lasting solutions that meet their individual specifications, enhance the safety of drivers and pedestrians, and support them to increase productivity,” said Baiden. “Outside of product performance, they also value knowledgeable, consistent customer and technical service that demonstrates a true partnership.
“Furthermore, research, development and influence on legislation and regulation are extremely important to our customers. They are looking to us, as an industry leader, to enhance our existing product portfolio, help drive regulations to ensure the safety of workers and the use of our solutions and develop new mobility technologies that will further the adoption of autonomous and electric vehicles. Our solutions play a critical role in helping autonomous vehicles ‘see’ roads by allowing road markings and infra- structure to be better detected by sensory systems.”
In addition to continually advancing its current products, PPG’s Traffic Solutions business introduced two new products recently: ThermoDrop pelletized thermoplastic and HPS-8 integrated multipolymer.
• Compared to granular thermoplastic, ThermoDrop is a pelletized premium, pre-melted, homogenous and fully encapsulated pavement marking product which melts quicker, helps increase productivity, and significantly re- duces dust. This product’s sustainability is made possible through the use of beads that are made of 100% recycled glass. The ThermoDrop coating offers quantifiable environmental benefits to our customers based on its cleanliness when transferred to kettles and handliners used to apply the product. Further, this product’s safety and health risks are minimal due to minimal dusting during application. The ThermoDrop product makes it possible for our customers to reduce their environmental impact via an estimated 35–45% reduction in fuel costs, 30-40% reduction in labor costs, and 30% increase in productivity and profitability.
• HPS-8 is a 100% solid integrated multipolymer compound containing pigments, glass beads, binder and filler which becomes liquid when heated. The product offers faster application than permanent tape with enhanced performance, abrasion resistance and durability.
PPG formed a mobility focus team in 2017 to develop mobility technologies and innovative technical solutions that provide increased functionality and solve new and unique requirements for electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles. Mobility-related products developed by PPG include battery-specific coatings that deliver enhanced safety and performance, autonomous vehicle coatings that im- prove vehicle and infrastructure visibility, and interior coatings that increase surface functionality and durability.
