PPG, Kansai Paint announce plans to launch automotive-coatings venture

Citation

(2005), "PPG, Kansai Paint announce plans to launch automotive-coatings venture", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 52 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2005.12852bab.023

PPG, Kansai Paint announce plans to launch automotive-coatings venture

PPG, Kansai Paint announce plans to launch automotive-coatings venture

PPG Industries and Kansai Paint of Japan announced plans to launch an automotive-coatings alliance that will focus on sales to the global OEM market. The joint venture, to be known as PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes (PKAF), has established legal entities in the United States and the UK, with registration certification initiated in Canada, Mexico, France, and Japan, PPG said.

Officials from PPG and Kansai said the alliance will help both companies to respond quickly and effectively to the demands and requirements of the global automotive OEM market. The alliance initially will focus on Japanese-based auto-manufacturing operations in North America and Europe, with PPG and Kansai eventually planning to establish marketing and sales operations in Shanghai, China, and in other Asian countries. In addition, PPG and Kansai said they will develop technology jointly.

The North American and European joint ventures will be owned 60 percent by PPG and 40 percent by Kansai, with head offices to be based in Troy, MI, for North America and Birmingham, UK, for Europe. The joint venture in Japan will be 50 percent owned by both PPG and Kansai. The companies said Richard J. Rurak will be named President of PKAF-North America and Europe. Masahisa Izuhara will be President of PKAF-Japan.

Kansai Paint, established in 1918 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a major coatings company with a wide- ranging paint and coatings product portfolio. The company is a top automotive-coatings supplier in Japan and Asia, including China.