When Vintage Hardwood Flooring hosted a two-week customer event to introduce its new showroom and manufacturing facility in Toronto, PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) was the only supplier invited to participate. One highlight of the new facility is an aluminum-oxide wood-finishing production line designed with PPG that uses an ultraviolet (UV) curing process.
Carla Torquato (far left), PPG wood marketing manager, joins (from left) Lori Derkatch, Lupe DiLuciano, Penny Hodges and Angelo Portante of Vintage Hardwood Flooring at the company's new showroom and manufacturing facility in Toronto.
Brian Knapp, PPG market manager for UV flooring in North America, said the new wood-coating line gives Vintage Hardwood Flooring unprecedented manufacturing versatility. "The technology enables them to run multiple combinations of colors and coating layers to generate any color or finish a customer desires," he said. "It also helps them to control costs because of the ability to quickly change-out primers, stains, fillers, sealers and topcoats."
According to Emanuel Machado, director of sales and marketing for Vintage Hardwood Flooring, PPG was chosen to participate in the event on the strength of its 10-year partnership with his firm and the quality of PPG's wood coatings.
"PPG has been with us from the beginning, and we consider them an important partner integral to our business," Machado explained. "They have provided us with reliable, consistent paint, which has allowed us to focus our attention on market growth and product development. Having them communicate directly with our customers both highlights the benefits of their finishes and helps to build our brand image and awareness."