Pittsburgh-based PPG announced Thursday that it is opening its China Application Innovation Center (CAIC) in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China.
The facility will be the company’s first cross-business research and development (R&D) center in the region and serve as a bridge between innovation and customer applications for its industrial, packaging, and automotive refinish coatings businesses.
“The Zhangjiagang CAIC will play an essential role by fostering further collaboration between PPG businesses, increasing efficiency in product development and testing, and introducing more innovative applications and products to the Chinese market,” said Vincent Robin, PPG president, Asia Pacific. “This investment is an important step for PPG, honoring our commitment to the development of sustainable products, new applications, and advanced technology in China and reinforcing our leadership in the industry.”
Located in the Jiangsu Yangtze River International Chemical Industrial Park, the CAIC is adjacent to PPG’s existing manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang. The advanced, automated equipment and technologies in the center will allow PPG to simulate diverse environments and climates where PPG paints and coatings may be applied, allowing PPG scientists to test the coating technologies, provide industry-leading color design, and offer customers more customized solutions.
The location of the CAIC will also allow PPG to move newly developed applications to trial production at its Zhangjiagang plant, allow PPG to get new innovations to market quicker, and accelerating product and service customization.
“CAIC is set to accelerate PPG innovation, research, and development in China by sharing PPG global best practices, cutting-edge technologies, and sustainable products,” said Cathy Yan, PPG general manager of corporate and government affairs, Asia Pacific. “This is in full alignment with the objectives and proposals put forward by the Chinese government in its 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2021-2025). The sustainable development of the Chinese market and the continuous improvement of the investment environment have further enhanced PPG’s confidence in increasing investment and long-term development in the country.”