The editorial below was taken from the May 18th edition of Chemical Engineering & News:
McGarry, Michael H. “Paint and Coatings Industry Plays Role in Global Pandemic.” Chemical & Engineering News, vol. 98, no. 19, 18 May 2020, cen.acs.org/materials/coatings/Paint-coatings-industry-plays-role/98/i19.
Traditionally, paint and coatings products have played a vital role in protecting consumers’ assets. Whether it is a home, automobile, airplane, or electronic device, paints and coatings protect the products many use every day from corrosion, scratches, wear and tear, and stains.
In the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the word protect is taking on even greater significance. As we navigate these unprecedented times together, we are all focused on protecting the health and well-being of our families, colleagues, and friends.
Health-care workers, frontline responders, and scientists in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries are working tirelessly to fight this devastating pandemic and develop life-saving treatments and vaccines. Now more than ever, they need our support. And there are many other essential industries that also provide important products and services people count on.
The coatings industry continues to support frontline workers who are putting their own safety and health at risk every day. The coatings industry is making sure that it manufactures and applies essential coatings—such as antibacterial-protected powder designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria—on surfaces and on medical devices and equipment, such as ventilators and vital sign monitors. Coatings enable the protective performance of devices and equipment, ensuring that they work as intended and, ultimately, protect health-care workers and their patients. Coatings also play a role in protecting temporary hospital installations and drive-through coronavirus testing facilities.
The coatings industry continues to support families staying at home. Families also benefit from coatings, such as those used on food and beverage packaging to ensure essential products like canned fruits and vegetables and bottled and canned beverages are safe and protected. The trucks, ships, or planes that deliver these goods to your local grocery store also count on protective coatings, which help ensure the safety of drivers, crews, and pilots.
The coatings industry is not only serving customers in essential industries, but is also using new and existing infrastructure to produce, distribute, and donate supplies that are in demand. PPG, for example, donated 80,000 much-needed N95 respirators and surgical masks to health-care facilities across cities in the US. More than 290 gallons of antibacterial latex coatings were also donated to the Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital to protect health-care workers and patients.
Many companies in the coatings industry are supporting efforts to produce critical supplies of hand sanitizer. In times of crisis, we know it is our duty to deploy our resources wherever possible."
The original editorial was published in Chemical & Engineering News, you can read it in its entirety by clicking on the link above or below the editorial citation:
McGarry, Michael H. “Paint and Coatings Industry Plays Role in Global Pandemic.” Chemical & Engineering News, vol. 98, no. 19, 18 May 2020, cen.acs.org/materials/coatings/Paint-coatings-industry-plays-role/98/i19.
Engineered Materials (Dexmet Corporation) is a division of PPG Aerospace and is proud to be part of the PPG family.
