Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries began construction of a facility in Taiwan that will apply the company's electrocoat and dip-spin coatings to fasteners and small parts. The PPG-owned facility will operate under the name Alltech Engineered Finishes.

Expected to open in the second quarter of 2006, the plant in the Hsiao Kang District of Koahsiung will have enough production area to support the existing customer base with room to grow.

"PPG recognized the need for a high-quality coating services facility in Taiwan to support the fastener manufacturing and small parts industry there," says J. Rich Alexander, senior vice president, coatings. "This plant will coat parts for construction, industrial, electronics and automotive applications."

"Alltech will have state-of-the-art equipment, meeting the most stringent finishing needs of the customer base in Taiwan," says Nate Goodnow, managing director of PPG Coating Services.

Goodnow added the plant will have the ability to process zinc phosphate conversion coatings and multiple colors of electrocoat.