US-based supplier of industrial coatings, applied coatings, specialty chemicals, commodity chemicals and glass PPG Industries is to open a state-of-the-art painting services facility in Pingshan, near Shenzhen in southern China, where it will demonstrate the capabilities and benefits of its Vivaflex colour system for designers and manufacturers of athletic footwear. Announcing it plans at the NW Apparel and Footwear Materials Show, the company stated that it expects the new facility to go into operation in April, where PPG will offer masking capabilities and be able to coat design and sales samples as well as production quantities.

PPG employs more than 30,000 people and has 125 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates in more than 20 countries. Sales in 2006 reached $11 billion.