With a total investment of $2.1 million in two phases, PPG's new aerospace applications support center will expand the capacity of its aerospace business and offer high-quality products and services to the aerospace industry in China. A grand opening at the facility in Tianjin Aerospace Industrial Park was attended by Tianjin Vice Mayor Mr. Ren Xuefeng as well as officials from Tianjin Municipal Government and the Tianjin Aerospace Industrial Park. PPG officials Charles E. Bunch, chairman and CEO, Viktor Sekmakas, senior vice president, industrial coatings and president, PPG Asia/Pacific, and Paul Bowman, general manager, aerospace, Asia/Pacific, joined the government officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a facility tour.

"The Tianjin aerospace application support center is the newest of 16 ASCs PPG operates around the world, and it will help PPG to better serve the growing aerospace market in China, along with our facility in Suzhou," Bunch said.

With a total investment of $2.1 million, the new ASC-Tianjin will cover 6083.4 square meters, with a gross floor area of 2635.49 square meters, including production workshops and storehouses for hazardous chemicals. When phase two of construction is completed, the facility is expected to have an annual capacity of 200 tons for aerospace coatings and 100 tons for sealants, and an annual turnover of 100 aircraft transparencies. The facility will also offer chemicals management services and provide value-added packaging for materials supplied by customers.

ASC-Tianjin is located in the Free Trade Zone of Tianjin Aerospace Industrial Park, where it will be part of an aviation supply chain that includes the nearby facilities of Airbus, Goodrich, Xi'an Aircraft and Boeing. According to PPG, the area offers the advantages of proximity to many potential customers and favorable tax policies.