European Packaging Coatings Innovation Center Opens

PPG Inaugurates Expanded Packaging Coatings Innovation Centre in Europe PPG announced the official opening of its expanded European Packaging Coatings Innovation Centre in Bodelshausen, Germany. The site's new expanded analytical and research and development (R&D) capabilities will enhance and accelerate packaging coatings product development across a diverse range of end markets. Most importantly, the facility will focus on strengthening the company's global leadership position in bisphenol-free coatings for consumer packaging. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. PPG's European Packaging Coatings Innovation Centre serves as a central location for product development and customer support in the company's Europe, Middle East and Africa region. This expansion ensures the laboratory remains at the forefront of research and development capabilities. It features a new research laboratory housing four global development centres - closures, personal care, powder (paint) and food development. Added predictive testing and analysis equipment further accelerates product development capacity. PPG Technical Director and Regulatory Affairs, Packaging Coatings, Europe, Middle East and Africa Global Director Charles Turner said, "Bodelshausen has a critical mass of development capabilities that will increase our speed to market for new products at a time when our customers need us more than ever. Having our resources focused in one location means we can maximize synergies between our development teams and enhance our flexibility and productivity." The Bodelshausen facility, acquired by PPG in 1999, is also a significant production site for the company's packaging paints business in Europe. A recently completed production investment project at the site added equipment that doubles production capacity for white topcoats used on the exterior surfaces of personal care, food and closures and closure packaging while reducing energy consumption. PPG Europe, Middle East and Africa Packaging Coatings General Manager Alessandro Borzino said, "The investments in Bodelshausen demonstrate our long-term commitment to delivering new and forward-looking technologies to exceed our customers' expectations. Through our commitment to innovation, quality and high-performance solutions, we provide increasing value for brand owners and operational advantages for converters." PPG also recently announced plans to expand packaging coatings capacity in Tiel, Netherlands, Cieszyn, Poland and Delaware, Ohio. Borzino said, "These investments reflect the remarkable and growing global consumer demand for infinitely recyclable aluminium and steel cans and the innovative PPG packaging coatings that make them applicable." Source