The Valspar Corporation Expands Production Capacity for Automotive Refinish Coatings

New technology and equipment automates a number of processes and delivers immediate and greater efficiencies, as well as enhanced quality control, faster filling and mixing times, safer workplaces, and more environmentally-friendly practices. "Not only are we producing the necessary volume to serve customers and the growing market, but we're improving ergonomics and overall safety protocols for our employees," said Dave Brunori, business director, Valspar Automotive, North America.

Expansions at the Garland and Pittsburgh sites represent a $10 million project—the largest of its kind by Valspar Automotive to date. The added production capacity will result in a 200 percent increase in output of automotive refinish brands. "The stage is set for our commercial organization to deliver products on time and at the required level of quality to grow our business over the next five years," added Brunori.

As a result of both east and west expansion projects, Valspar Automotive has not only increased production in North America, but also storage space by approximately 300 percent.

"With automated, in-line equipment there's little-to-no manual intervention in the production process, improving consistency in filling and packaging cans," said Sue Byrne, global director of supply chain at Valspar Automotive. The Garland facility alone went from filling 450,000 cans to 1.3 million annually, with the capability to grow to more than 3 million.

In Pittsburgh, activator and hardener production has nearly doubled. "We're filling more cans and we're doing it more efficiently," said Byrne.

The sites' expansion is part of the final stages of integrating the automotive refinish coatings business of Quest Specialty Chemicals, which Valspar acquired in June 2015. Valspar has consolidated all of its automotive coatings research and development, manufacturing and distribution at three "Centers of Excellence" — Garland, Pittsburgh and Massillon, Ohio.

The three facilities develop and produce refinish products for some of the most popular brands in the industry, including DeBeer Refinish, Valspar Refinish, Matrix Automotive Finishes, U.S. Chemical & Plastics and Prospray Finishes as well as several private label brands.

Valspar is a global automotive coatings manufacturer, delivering color matching technology, support and service; global color labs and tools provide the ability to match any OEM and custom color. OEM approvals include Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, while the automotive division of Valspar also supplies refinish materials for use on European and Asia OEMs, including Honda, Mazda, Toyota, and Hyundai. Valspar's global portfolio of preferred brands include: DeBeer Refinish, Octoral™, Valspar Refinish and House of Kolor^®.

Valspar: If it matters, we're on it.®
Valspar is a global leader in the coatings industry providing customers with innovative, high-quality products and value-added services. Our 11,000 employees worldwide deliver advanced coatings solutions with best-in-class appearance, performance, protection and sustainability to customers in more than 100 countries. Valspar offers a broad range of superior coatings products for the consumer market, and highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets. Founded in 1806, Valspar is headquartered in Minneapolis. Valspar's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: VAL). For more information, visit www.valspar.com and follow @valspar on Twitter.

SOURCE Valspar Automotive

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