Paintmaker PPG’s Digital Transformation Ripples Around The World

PPG has seen many changes over its 135-year history. Originally a glass manufacturer, PPG transitioned the core of its business to paints and specialty coatings that are used on everything from driverless cars to the posts on NHL goals. But the latest change may be the most drastic. PPG has undergone a digital transformation in tandem with Pittsburgh, which has become a leading research and innovation hub. By digitizing its polymer making processes, the company has seen up to 30 percent productivity gains along with increased efficiency and worker satisfaction.

Spotlight

Sherpa Design, Inc.

Sherpa Design is a mechanical design services company specializing in design and product development using Siemens PLM software (formerly Unigraphics), Pro/Engineer, and SolidWorks CAD systems. We build close relationships with companies both large and small helping to keep their design workloads manageable.

OTHER ARTICLES
Engineering Tech

Autodesk Forge Examples

Article | August 25, 2021

Autodesk Forge is a powerful tool connecting design processes, data, and the web, allowing teams to create task automation and other innovative solutions. The abilities of the forge platform are extensive, potentially offering resolutions to thousands of complex problems in the architecture, construction, engineering, and manufacturing industries, and beyond.

Read More
Engineering Tech

Including STEM engagement in U.S. COVID-19 recovery efforts

Article | July 13, 2022

In addition to their core research work, many Federal science agencies have a mission to engage the public with current scientific research; educate Americans in science, technology, engineering, and math; and seed tomorrow’s workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the importance of providing tools for the public to evaluate scientific information, bolstering community science literacy, and engaging the public in conversation about scientific issues.

Read More
Engineering Tech

How Engineering Answers to Why Cybersecurity is Critical to Realizing the Full Potential of 5G Networks?

Article | July 14, 2022

5G is the next quantum leap in mobile and wireless communication, providing unprecedented speed, capacity, and capabilities. In the 5G world, networks will serve trillions of connected things, and each person will be supported by hundreds of connected devices. In addition to these opportunities, the combination of new capabilities and virtualisation in 5G introduces new threats. 5G has significantly more network end-points that cyber criminals can exploit, and 5G virtualisation means that the entire connection is based on software, which is inherently hackable. Transforming society by reconceptualising the “network” Understanding where the vulnerabilities exist is a critical first step toward protecting 5G networks from cyber threats. This entails implementing a process that involves identifying, profiling, and assessing the health of each component before allowing it to connect to the network, and, if necessary, restricting access to the 5G service based on this assessment. It's known as a zero-trust approach, and it will assist organizations throughout the 5G ecosystem in striking the right balance between business risk and 5G security. 5G Expands Cyber Risks The network is transitioning away from centralized, hardware-based switching and toward distributed, software-defined digital routing. However, in the 5G software defined network, that activity is pushed outward to a web of digital routers spread throughout the network, removing the possibility of chokepoint inspection and control. 5G adds to its cyber vulnerability by virtualizing higher-level network functions previously performed by physical appliances in software. These activities are based on the Internet Protocol common language and well-known operating systems. Even if it were possible to secure the network's software vulnerabilities, the network is also managed by software—often early generation artificial intelligence—that is vulnerable. The dramatic increase in bandwidth that enables 5G opens up new attack vectors. Low-cost, short-range small-cell antennas deployed throughout urban areas become new physical hard targets. Finally, there is the vulnerability created by connecting tens of billions of hackable smart devices (actually, small computers) to the Internet of Things network. Plans are in the works for a diverse and seemingly endless list of IoT-enabled activities, ranging from public safety to battlefield to medical to transportation—all of which are both wonderful and uniquely vulnerable. In this paper, we argue that a zero-trust approach, combined with company leaders focusing on three key pillars—trust, resilience, and enablement—will form the foundation of a sound cyber strategy, allowing companies to roll out 5G quickly and safely.

Read More
Construction

Infrastructure Policy Watch: impact of Covid-19 behaviour change and Australian Budget boost

Article | May 18, 2021

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has published a new assessment of how behaviour change brought by Covid-19 will impact infrastructure networks as part of its prep work ahead of the second National Infrastructure Assessment. The NIC’s findings are that it's too early to assume that Covid-19 behaviour change will lead to completely different patterns of infrastructure use, even if these changes remain in place. The commission recommends using realistic scenarios and planning responses to the range of possibilities these scenarios present to manage uncertainty. They also suggest a more ‘adaptive’ approach to longer-term project commitments and using data to understand how changes are unfolding.

Read More

Spotlight

Sherpa Design, Inc.

Sherpa Design is a mechanical design services company specializing in design and product development using Siemens PLM software (formerly Unigraphics), Pro/Engineer, and SolidWorks CAD systems. We build close relationships with companies both large and small helping to keep their design workloads manageable.

Related News

PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project at INFINITY Science Center in Mississippi

PPG Industries | June 17, 2019

PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project that helped revitalize the Saturn V first-stage booster, referred to as S-IC-15, on display at INFINITY Science Center in Pearlington, Mississippi. The project brought together nearly 50 employee volunteers from PPG, INFINITY Science Center and NASA, who spent a half-day painting the center’s largest space attraction. The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and paint products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Mississippi, where PPG operates 3 PPG PAINTS™ stores and sells PPG products through 48 local independent retailers. PPG provided approximately 105 gallons (400 liters) of specialized PPG paint products to assist with the project.Originally constructed for the Apollo 19 mission, the S-IC-15 and its five F-1 engines would have provided the immense power required to thrust the booster from the launch pad and into space during liftoff. The mission was canceled due to budgetary constraints in September 1970, which is why the 138-foot-long (42-meter-long), 360-ton (327-metric-ton) relic can be seen from Interstate 10.

Read More

PPG Introduces PPG SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION UV+ Blocking Technology for Aircraft Windows

PPG Industries | May 02, 2019

PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced that it has developed breakthrough technology for aircraft windows that significantly blocks harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and high-energy visible (HEV) light to help protect aircrews, passengers and aircraft interiors from solar radiation. PPG windows with PPG SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION™ UV+ blocking technology block 99% of UVA and UVB radiation and more than 50% of HEV (blue) light.“UV radiation exposure increases about 11% for every 3,300-foot (1,006-meter) increase in altitude,” said Brent Wright, PPG global director, aerospace transparencies. “At flight altitudes for jet aircraft, the radiation threat is approximately three times the exposure at sea level. PPG windows with PPG Solaron Blue Protection UV+ blocking technology help protect people and interior aircraft components from harmful radiation without the optical, structural and other window properties being affected.”While today’s aircraft windows already block some solar radiation, windows incorporating PPG Solaron Blue Protection UV+ blocking technology will offer a higher level of protection across a broader range of threats. The new technology is incorporated into PPG’s windows at the time of manufacture and can be applied to cockpit and cabin windows.

Read More

PPG names VP architectural coatings for U.S., Canada

PPG Industries | May 02, 2019

PPG has named Jaime Irick as vice president, architectural coatings for the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Irick will succeed Dave Cole who will retire effective July 31, the company said. PPG’s architectural coatings include consumer paint brands such as Glidden, Olympic and PPG Paints. Mr. Irick was formerly president of the Life Fitness Division of Brunswick Corp., which makes commercial fitness equipment, and previously worked at General Electric Co. in several executive roles. Mr. Cole has spent 38 years with PPG in various jobs including president of Transitions Optical, a joint venture that made Transitions eye lenses and which PPG sold in 2014. Mr. Irick will be based at PPG’s Cranberry operations — the headquarters for its architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada.

Read More

PPG Completes COLORFUL COMMUNITIES Project at INFINITY Science Center in Mississippi

PPG Industries | June 17, 2019

PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced the completion of a COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project that helped revitalize the Saturn V first-stage booster, referred to as S-IC-15, on display at INFINITY Science Center in Pearlington, Mississippi. The project brought together nearly 50 employee volunteers from PPG, INFINITY Science Center and NASA, who spent a half-day painting the center’s largest space attraction. The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and paint products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world, such as in Mississippi, where PPG operates 3 PPG PAINTS™ stores and sells PPG products through 48 local independent retailers. PPG provided approximately 105 gallons (400 liters) of specialized PPG paint products to assist with the project.Originally constructed for the Apollo 19 mission, the S-IC-15 and its five F-1 engines would have provided the immense power required to thrust the booster from the launch pad and into space during liftoff. The mission was canceled due to budgetary constraints in September 1970, which is why the 138-foot-long (42-meter-long), 360-ton (327-metric-ton) relic can be seen from Interstate 10.

Read More

PPG Introduces PPG SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION UV+ Blocking Technology for Aircraft Windows

PPG Industries | May 02, 2019

PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced that it has developed breakthrough technology for aircraft windows that significantly blocks harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and high-energy visible (HEV) light to help protect aircrews, passengers and aircraft interiors from solar radiation. PPG windows with PPG SOLARON BLUE PROTECTION™ UV+ blocking technology block 99% of UVA and UVB radiation and more than 50% of HEV (blue) light.“UV radiation exposure increases about 11% for every 3,300-foot (1,006-meter) increase in altitude,” said Brent Wright, PPG global director, aerospace transparencies. “At flight altitudes for jet aircraft, the radiation threat is approximately three times the exposure at sea level. PPG windows with PPG Solaron Blue Protection UV+ blocking technology help protect people and interior aircraft components from harmful radiation without the optical, structural and other window properties being affected.”While today’s aircraft windows already block some solar radiation, windows incorporating PPG Solaron Blue Protection UV+ blocking technology will offer a higher level of protection across a broader range of threats. The new technology is incorporated into PPG’s windows at the time of manufacture and can be applied to cockpit and cabin windows.

Read More

PPG names VP architectural coatings for U.S., Canada

PPG Industries | May 02, 2019

PPG has named Jaime Irick as vice president, architectural coatings for the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Irick will succeed Dave Cole who will retire effective July 31, the company said. PPG’s architectural coatings include consumer paint brands such as Glidden, Olympic and PPG Paints. Mr. Irick was formerly president of the Life Fitness Division of Brunswick Corp., which makes commercial fitness equipment, and previously worked at General Electric Co. in several executive roles. Mr. Cole has spent 38 years with PPG in various jobs including president of Transitions Optical, a joint venture that made Transitions eye lenses and which PPG sold in 2014. Mr. Irick will be based at PPG’s Cranberry operations — the headquarters for its architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada.

Read More

Events

2024 Geo Week

Conference

2024 Geo Week

Conference