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PPG Aerospace

MaterialsPittsburgh, PA, USAFounded 1927· One of 961 Materials companies tracked by AMPulse

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
Tim Knavish
Team Size
10000+
Stage
Subsidiary
Total Funding
Subsidiary

Technology & Products

Key Products

PPG Aerospace offers high-performance coatings, customized sealant solutions, transparencies, and engineered materials for various aviation sectors.

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

PPG Aerospace differentiates through its extensive portfolio, focus on innovation in performance coatings (e.g., environmentally friendly products), and vertical integration from materials to application, providing end-to-end solutions.

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

AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams, Henkel

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, Lockheed Martin

Why this company matters

PPG Aerospace, a division of the larger PPG Industries, has introduced a patented ambient reactive extrusion (ARE) technology for additive manufacturing of flight-ready sealants and gaskets. The process cures materials at room temperature without external heat sources, enabling direct deposition onto complex aerospace surfaces. This eliminates traditional preformed sealant fabrication steps and reduces material waste by 30-50%.

The ARE technology targets aerospace OEMs such as Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin, as well as MRO providers and defense contractors. By enabling on-demand production of custom gaskets and sealants directly on aircraft components, it lowers inventory costs and improves maintenance efficiency. The process is designed to integrate additive manufacturing into the existing aerospace coatings and sealants supply chain.

PPG Aerospace's broader portfolio includes high-performance coatings, transparencies, and engineered materials for commercial, military, and general aviation. The company's extensive materials expertise and vertical integration from raw materials to application provide a defensible position against competitors like AkzoNobel, Sherwin-Williams, and Henkel. Key partnerships include approved products for the Airbus A320 family and Boeing 787, as well as qualification for the F-15 Advanced Bird-Strike Windshield.

An open question is how quickly ARE technology will be adopted across MRO workflows, given the certification requirements for flight-ready sealants in aerospace applications. PPG's $380 million investment in a new aerospace coatings and sealants facility in Shelby, North Carolina, signals a long-term commitment to scaling production capacity.