PPG Industries announced at the NW Apparel and Footwear Materials Show that it is opening a state-of-the-art painting services facility in Pingshan, near Shenzhen in southern China. Expected to begin operation in April, the facility will enable PPG to demonstrate the capabilities and benefits of the VIVAFLEX color system for designers and manufacturers of athletic footwear.
“The VIVAFLEX color system provides an exciting palette of colors and finishes that lend a uniform appearance when applied to most flexible materials used in athletic footwear, such as synthetic leather, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU) and thermoplastic urethane (TPU),” said Gary Long, PPG director of coating services. “This will be PPG’s first VIVAFLEX color system application center, and it will also serve as a showcase of our coatings expertise for the athletic footwear industry.”
The facility will offer masking capabilities. Long said PPG’s operational goal for the center is to work with customers in the region to reduce cycle time and costs associated with small-quantity orders, and to provide enhanced order flexibility.