PPG was recently granted a key patent for its luminescent application and removal tools by the U.S. Patent Office (US10456806B2).

Manufactured from a proprietary polymer that glows in the dark after being charged by a light source, Semco Glow-in-the-Dark (GID) tools by PPG are precision molded application tools for sealants, adhesives and other paste materials commonly used in the aerospace industry.

Designed to be used in areas where limited light is available, such as aircraft fuel tanks (center and wing) or vertical and horizontal stabilizers, Semco application and removal tools currently available in GID include standard and specialty nozzles, spatulas, scrapers, and packaging. This patented technology aids operators in finding tools that are dropped or left behind in enclosed areas, and ultimately, minimizing instances of foreign object debris (FOD). Most tools are available in red, orange, or green. The variety of colors allows the operator to choose the option that best stands out from their primer or other substrates.