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PPG Expands Sylmar, California, Production Plant

08/04/2021
Global paints, coatings, and specialty materials supplier PPG completed a $15 million investment at its manufacturing facility in Sylmar, California. The project is expected to create 70 jobs.

The 30,000-square-foot expansion will expand the development and production of aircraft transparency technologies for military aviation programs, including canopy transparencies for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets. PPG said it will deploy state-of-the-art processing equipment and new information technology infrastructure to enable enhanced digital manufacturing capabilities.

The Sylmar facility currently has more than 500 employees in various manufacturing, technical, research, customer support and related service and administrative positions.

“The expansion of this facility marks an incredible milestone for PPG,” said Brent Wright, PPG global director, aerospace transparencies. “As the worldwide F-35 fleet grows, logistical and industrial support has become increasingly important. Because of the F-35 fighter jet’s very stringent performance requirements and high manufacturing complexity, PPG recognized an opportunity to deploy its expertise in aircraft transparency technology, development and production in a way that will meet the program’s ambitious goals for many years to come.”

In addition to military aircraft transparency products, PPG provides aircraft windshields and windows with advanced-technology coatings and liners for specific performance characteristics to the commercial, regional and general aviation segments. The company also produces windshields for the new NTT INDYCAR® SERIES’ Aeroscreen cockpit protection system.

According to company officials, the facility’s expansion is the latest milestone in PPG’s long partnership with Lockheed Martin, which dates to the 1950s. In support of the expansion, PPG has completed the qualification and manufacturing process approvals necessary to commence production of canopy transparencies for the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A and carrier variance (CV) F-35C. Qualification work in support of the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B is underway.

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