Coating Technology Is Critical to Improve Road Safety

Q: What critical areas should Mexico develop to become a manufacturing powerhouse?
A: The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that global economies are great but regional markets cannot be ignored. The constant supply chain disruptions result in many challenges for organizations, so now companies are starting to look for alternatives. Mexico’s privileged geographical position allows companies to install their plants closer to the biggest market in the world: the US. 

We need to act now to take advantage of this opportunity. The key is to boost collaborations, not only with the different industries and sectors but also with different government entities. The industry needs to work together with the government to attract investment, provide incentives, implement clear regulations, and build infrastructure. 

Large Automotive companies are starting to invest and relocate their assembly plants to Mexico, many of them from the US and the EU but also some from China. The latter companies are entering the country with large investments and building infrastructure to meet the demand from North and Latin America. 

Q: Electromobility seems to be the industry’s unified response for achieving a more sustainable industry. What is the role of PPG in boosting the EV market?
A: Electric and hybrid vehicles bring the automotive industry to a different level. EVs are easier to manufacture since they require fewer components but they will also bring new challenges and opportunities to the sector. OEMs will need to adapt to the new and smaller companies that will be entering the market. These companies will be able to offer greater flexibility and allow OEMs to produce cars with disrupting features at a faster rate. 

PPG focuses on making EVs safer. We do this indifferent ways. Our first objective aims to dissipate the heat generated by batteries. Another exampleis to offer traffic solutions by improving the painting on cars and road infrastructure, so autonomous vehicles can receive clearer signals while on the road. 

Q: Road safety is a major issue in Mexico. What are the main subjects the country needs to tackle and what could be the impact of this?
A: Mexico has many mountains, poor signage and foggy or unlit roads, so investing in basic road safety would have an immense impact on the health of millions of people who put themselves in danger daily. Many innovations regarding coating could greatly improve road security but it is just as important to educate on the importance of using the most suitable coating and performing preventive maintenance for each type of road. In the medium and long term, this will result in significant savings for the relevant governing bodies. It is critical to professionalize the industry because there are many local players that are still behind in innovation and security. 
  
Q: What are the company’s priorities when establishing new business relationships with other companies? 
A: PPG is without a doubt the largest coating company in the world, and the automotive industry was the first sector we worked with. Since then, working with automakers and OEMs has always been a priority. We actively work on building close relationships with our customers so they trust our R&D experts to solve the challenges they face. This creates a strong bond that allows us to maintain long-lasting relationships with customers. 

We are transforming our processes to make PPG more flexible and agile to address our customers’ ever-changing demands. The company does not only help to beautify and protect but also innovates on different processes to deliver the best coatings in every sector in which we participate. 

Q: Experts agree that in the next two years, infrastructure investment will aim to facilitate access to energy. What result can be expected from the USMCA energy dispute?
A: The new wind and solar energy projects show that there is interest in developing green energy in Mexico; it is simply not true that this sector is stopping. These projects, while they are not happening at the necessary speed, are still being developed. The industry expects that tariffs and customs penalties will not be necessary, especially because the US needs Mexico to boost its economy. 

Q: How has PPG worked to minimize the impact of supply chain disruptions?
A: We have gone through many different supply chain challenges since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially because the raw materials that we need are only available in the US, the EU and Asia because the chemical industry in Mexico is not highly-specialized. Despite the challenges, we handled these situations fairly well thanks to our strategy of increasing direct contact with our customers and suppliers, which allowed us to understand the market’s needs and the situation within the supply chain in real time.