PPG Aerospace Launches OPTICOR Advanced Transparency Material Brand

Window with craze-resistant, high-performance plastic displayed at Paris Air Show

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPG Industries’ (NYSE:PPG) aerospace transparencies group is launching the brand name of its craze-resistant, high-performance aerospace transparency material at the Paris Air Show, where visitors can see a passenger-cabin window made with the unique plastic at the PPG Aerospace booth Stand 2B – D94.

“Opticor advanced transparency material meets the aerospace industry’s needs for a lightweight transparent plastic that maintains optical clarity while offering the ability to be formed into complex shapes”

OPTICOR(TM) advanced transparency material by PPG Aerospace is the first new transparent plastic developed in more than 50 years for aerospace applications, according to Anthony Stone, global director for new business development and innovations for transparencies.

“Opticor advanced transparency material meets the aerospace industry’s needs for a lightweight transparent plastic that maintains optical clarity while offering the ability to be formed into complex shapes,” Stone said. “We expect it to replace stretched acrylic for passenger-cabin windows because it weighs less and has better craze and fire resistance, and it will be used in cockpit windows because it is an excellent substrate for metallic and nonmetallic coatings.”

Stone said that PPG plans to install equipment for manufacturing Opticor advanced transparency material at its Sylmar, Calif., aerospace transparencies facility and will fabricate windows from it there and at facilities in Huntsville, Ala., and Casaletto Vaprio, Italy, near Milan.

“As both the window fabricator and the manufacturer of the plastic with which the windows are made, we will be better able to control quality as well as supply,” Stone said.

Opticor advanced transparency material has been selected by Gulfstream for the outboard surface of the passenger-cabin windows in the new G650 business jet, Stone said. The proprietary PPG plastic is laminated to stretched acrylic for increased stiffness and assembled with an inboard coated glass panel that can be heated for antifogging. Opticor advanced transparency material has successfully met the requirements of Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing in support of the aircraft type certificate. PPG is displaying a G650 cabin window at its booth during the Paris Air Show June 20-26 at Le Bourget.

PPG Aerospace is the aerospace products and services business of PPG Industries. PPG Aerospace – Transparencies is the world’s largest supplier of aircraft windshields, windows and canopies. PPG Aerospace – PRC-DeSoto is the leading global producer and distributor of aerospace coatings, sealants, and packaging and application systems.

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 2010 were $13.4 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

Opticor is a trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

G650 is a registered trademark of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

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