PPG opens new cellulosic intumescent coating fire test and training facility
Published: 18 October, 2011
PPG Protective & Marine Coatings (PPG) has opened a new fire test and training facility in Amsterdam.
The new facility contains comprehensive state-of-the art equipment and comprises dedicated space for steel stock storage, compressors, paint storage, spray application, mixing, conditioning, drying, the control room, furnace hall and workshop.
“With this new facility we will greatly accelerate in-house testing capabilities and make PPG less reliant on external test institutes for indicative testing,” said Maurice Te Riele, PPG PMC EMEA R&D Manager. “PPG’s R&D department will utilize the resource to test both existing and newly developed intumescent coatings.”
The structure and design of the building has been carefully considered to deliver maximum efficiency and throughput with all the practical work on preparation, application and testing of the intumescent coatings now done under one roof. The layout of the furnace building is designed in such a way that ensures easy application and quick handling of the test specimens, with the benefit of a dedicated application area.
PPG believes that this facility emphasizes its position as a market leader in advanced R&D for the protective coatings industry.
Mark Cooper, Technical Manager, Cellulosic PFP EMEA said, “The intumescent coating market is continuing to expand. With new standards appearing all the time, along with the upgrading of our existing assessments, PPG continues to provide solutions to an ever-changing market. Our aim is to meet these performance requirements using both conventional and innovative technologies with a continuous flow of development and products.”
Conscious of the need to maintain and raise standards, the facility is also being utilized to deliver training application courses for all PFP-related products.
PPG markets its passive fire protective products under the brand names STEELGUARD and PITT-CHAR.
