PPG invests in testing line for radiation-curable coatings at Marly, France
PPG invests in testing line for radiation-curable coatings at Marly, France
Rhea-AI Impact
(Moderate)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Very Positive)
Tags
Key Terms
radiation-curable coatingstechnical
Radiation-curable coatings are liquid finishes that harden almost instantly when exposed to specific types of energy, such as ultraviolet light or electron beams — like using sunlight to set glue instead of waiting for it to dry. For investors, they matter because they can cut manufacturing time, reduce emissions and waste, and improve product durability, which can lower costs, speed up production and influence regulatory and market competitiveness.
infrared (IR)technical
Infrared (IR) is a band of light just beyond what the human eye can see, felt as heat rather than seen as color; specialized sensors and cameras translate that invisible heat into images or measurements. Investors care because IR technology powers products from night‑vision and building energy audits to medical imaging and industrial sensors, affecting demand, manufacturing costs, regulatory approvals, and revenue potential—think of it as a camera that ‘sees’ heat instead of color.
ultraviolettechnical
Ultraviolet is the portion of light that sits just beyond the violet end of the colors visible to the human eye, like a hidden band of light that you can’t see but that can still cause effects such as sterilizing surfaces or triggering chemical reactions. Investors care because ultraviolet’s unique properties create market opportunities and risks—products using it (from disinfection devices to sensors) can drive sales, regulatory safety limits and testing affect costs and approvals, and patents or manufacturing advantages can change competitive position.
electron beam (EB)technical
An electron beam (often written e‑beam or EB) is a focused stream of high‑speed electrons used to alter, sterilize or harden materials without heat or chemicals. Think of it like a precise, high‑speed spray that changes a product’s surface or internal structure. For investors, e‑beam matters because it requires specialized capital equipment and can cut production time, reduce chemical use, enable regulatory compliance for medical or food products, and affect a company’s costs, margins and competitive edge.
volatile organic compoundtechnical
Volatile organic compounds are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate easily into the air from products and processes such as paints, solvents, fuels, and manufacturing operations. They matter to investors because VOC emissions can lead to regulatory limits, cleanup expenses, product restrictions, fines, and reputational harm—like an unseen leak that forces a plant to pause—impacting costs, operations and company value.
UV- and EB-curable systemstechnical
UV- and EB-curable systems are coatings, inks, adhesives or resins that harden almost instantly when exposed to ultraviolet light (UV) or streams of electrons (EB), like wet paint drying under a special lamp. Investors care because they speed up manufacturing, reduce volatile chemical emissions and lower waste, which can cut costs and meet stricter regulations; they also require specific production equipment, affecting capital spending and competitive positioning.
laser-curingtechnical
Laser-curing is a process that uses focused beams of light to trigger a chemical reaction that hardens or bonds light-sensitive materials such as resins, adhesives or coatings. For investors, it matters because laser-curing can speed up production, improve precision and consistency, reduce waste and enable new product designs — similar to using a powerful, targeted flashlight to instantly set glue instead of waiting for it to dry.
powder coating technologiestechnical
Powder coating technologies are methods for applying a dry, colored powder to metal or other surfaces that is then heated to form a hard, protective finish—think of it like spraying on a durable, paint-like shell that bakes on. Investors care because these processes can lower manufacturing costs, extend product lifetimes, and meet stricter environmental rules, all of which influence demand from industries such as automotive, appliances, and construction and can drive revenue and margins for suppliers.
Installation helps accelerate development cycles, reduce number of customer trials
MARLY, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced the installation of an advanced testing line for radiation-curable coatings at its R&D Center of Excellence in Marly, France. The line can test multiple curing technologies, including infrared (IR), ultraviolet (LED, excimer and arc lamps), and electron beam (EB). This investment allows the company to accurately replicate customer production conditions, helping accelerate development cycles and reduce the number of customer trials.
Unlike conventional thermal curing, radiation curing requires less energy because it operates at or near ambient temperature. This reduction in energy demand can significantly lower carbon emissions by 65%*, with further gains possible when powered by renewable energy sources. In addition, UV- and EB-curable systems typically use 100% solids formulations with no solvents, reducing or eliminating volatile organic compound emissions.
Beyond sustainability advantages, UV- and EB-based technologies deliver significant productivity gains, curing in seconds and allowing parts to be handled immediately for storage, packing and shipping.
“Our deep expertise and broad capabilities in radiation curing set PPG apart and strengthen our position as a leader in energy-efficient finishing solutions,” said Mark Poland, PPG regional technical director, EMEA, Industrial Coatings. “This investment enables us to tailor finishing technologies to our customers’ specific lines, processes and curing conditions, delivering measurable gains in performance and efficiency.”
Marly is a key R&D development hub within PPG’s global network, driving product innovation and technical support for customers in the automotive, general industrial, coil, extrusion and specialty product sectors. The company also carries out research on radiation-curable technologies at its Coatings Innovation Center (CIC) near Pittsburgh, and at several regional labs across the U.S., Europe, Australia and China. These facilities feature stand-alone UV and EB curing units or fully integrated UV/EB lines to help customers develop, test and validate energy curable coatings to reduce energy use and improve production efficiency.
Further demonstrating a commitment to the advancement of alternative curing technologies, PPG recently installed a laser-curing pilot finishing line at its powder manufacturing and technical facility in Strongsville, Ohio, along with a laboratory-scale system for feasibility research at the CIC. This investment is intended to accelerate the large-scale commercialization of laser curing for powder coating technologies.
*Source: European Coil Coating Association (ECCA)-Zero Carbon Coil Coating Study
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD®
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty products that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we market and sell in more than 50 countries and reported net sales of $15.9 billion in 2025. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.
ThePPG Logo and We protect and beautify the world are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
