ALCOA Architectural Products Joins PPG Certified Metal Panel Program

PPG Industries announced that ALCOA Architectural Products is the first member of its new PPG Certified Metal Panel Program (PPG/CMPP). Administered by the PPG coil and extrusion coatings group, PPG/CMPP is a certification program that gives architects a direct channel to a group of metal panel manufacturers certified by PPG to apply high-performance Duranar, Duranar ULTRA-Cool and Coraflon fluoropolymer coatings to metal building components. PPG/CMPP members also specify, design, fabricate and/or install aluminum components pre-painted with these coatings.

As part of the program, PPG audits the coating lines operated by PPG/CMPP members and/or their toll coaters. This process examines every aspect of the metal panel coatings process, from the cleaning and pre-treating of the metal substrate to the actual application of the coating. The audit also specifies paint application parameters and cure schedules, and how finished products should be handled, packed and shipped. There's also a continuous training and education component.

Working with PPG/CMPP members also provides enhanced color harmony for coated metal building components. To minimize color variability, PPG/CMPP members and/or their toll coaters synchronize color production using the same color-measuring software and hardware as PPG. According to a PPG announcement, other protocols that help to minimize color variance include:

• A digital global database of colors, stored numerically;
• A uniform, systems-oriented approach to matching colors and making paint;
• PPG's color and coatings knowledge, experience and resources, especially in the area of metallic color production (from the automotive industry)