When Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin help the Pittsburgh Penguins protect home ice at the city’s new hockey arena this winter of 2010-2011, they will be getting an assist from another hometown favorite, PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG).

Two products from the Pittsburgh-based company’s protective and marine coatings (PMC) business - AQUAPON® water-based epoxy and PITT-GUARD® rapid-coat, direct-to-rust epoxy - were specified by Kurt Amundsen, a senior associate at the architectural firm Populous, to protect the building’s structural steel from ultraviolet (UV) exposure, rust and other environmental hazards.

The PPG coatings’ hometown connection also helped CONSOL Energy Center to become the first NHL arena to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

“LEED certification was important to the owners,” Amundsen said, so the ability to source the product regionally was an incentive. He added that Populous regularly specifies Aquapon and Pitt-Guard coatings for building projects. “They are a standard in our product spec list,” he explained.

“PPG is very excited to be part of this new Pittsburgh landmark,” said Ed Brunins, PPG market manager, protective and marine coatings, United States and Canada. “Our products are designed to be tough and resilient, and to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Aquapon epoxy is a fast-drying, low-VOC coating with a hard, durable finish that resists exposure to corrosive solvents, acids, alkalis and slats. Pitt-Guard epoxy is engineered for barrier protection of steel, aluminum, hot-dipped galvanized steel and masonry surfaces. It has excellent wetting characteristics that enable application and good performance over tightly adhering rust and excellent performance over abrasive blasted surfaces.

PPG’s PMC business is a world leader in protective and marine coatings. Its products protect customers’ assets in some of the world’s most demanding conditions and environments, such as projects in energy, infrastructure and marine markets. PPG PMC features Amercoat, Sigma Coatings and other brand families. For more information, go to www.ppgpmc.com.

About PPG

PPG Industries’ vision is to continue to be the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company. Founded in 1883, the company serves customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2009 were $12.2 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

-Amercoat is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
-Aquapon and Pitt-Guard are registered trademarks of PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc.
-Sigma Coatings is a registered trademark of Sigma Coatings B.V. Co., owned by PPG Coatings Nederland B.V.

Photography by Jim Schafer