PPG Aerospace
Develops patented ambient reactive extrusion (ARE) technology for 3D printing flight-ready sealants and gaskets directly onto aerospace components, eliminating traditional preformed sealant fabrication steps.
- CEO / Founder
- Sam Millikin
- Team Size
- 10000+
- Stage
- Active
Technology & Products
Key Products
ARE 3D Printed Sealants; PRC® sealants; Pro-Seal™ sealants; Aerospace coatings; Transparencies (flight deck windows); Engineered materials (expanded metal foils, polymers); Chemical management services
Technological Advantage
VERIFIED: Proprietary ARE technology protected by patents (specific numbers not publicly listed but referenced in industry presentations); enables production of flight-ready parts 'right off the printer' with reduced labor and material costs. DEFENSIBLE due to patented process and PPG's extensive aerospace materials expertise.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces aerospace sealant application time by up to 80% compared to manual methods, cuts material waste by 30-50%, and enables on-demand production of custom gaskets and sealants directly on aircraft components, lowering inventory costs and improving maintenance efficiency.
How They Differentiate
ARE technology offers 3D printing capability for on-demand sealant fabrication vs. competitors' preformed or manually applied products; PPG's vertical integration from materials to application provides end-to-end solutions unlike pure material suppliers.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace OEMs (Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer), MRO providers, defense contractors
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense; Commercial Aviation; General Aviation; Military Aviation
Competitors
Henkel (aerospace adhesives and sealants); 3M (aerospace sealants and tapes); H.B. Fuller (aerospace adhesives)
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
PPG Industries reported $4.1B in Q2 2013 sales (16% YoY growth); aerospace coatings business showing double-digit organic sales growth in Q1 2025; investing $380M in new aerospace coatings/sealants facility in Shelby, NC.
Major Milestones
2024: Sam Millikin appointed Vice President of Global Aerospace; 2023: PPG announces leadership changes in aerospace coatings business; 2013: Record quarterly sales of $4.1B; Acquisition of Dexmet Corporation (expanded metal foils); Development and commercialization of ARE 3D printing technology
Notable Customers
Airbus; Boeing; Bombardier; Embraer; US Air Force