Need to Know

• Pittsburgh Paints Co. is rolling out new commercial and industrial products in 2026.
• Customer feedback and job-site testing are shaping new formulas and product launches.
• Durability, fast dry times and ease of use are key priorities for professional painters.
• Supply chain and raw material pressures remain a challenge, but the company says it does not anticipate service issues.
• Technology, including CRM systems and data-based distribution planning, is supporting contractor service and product availability.

Karnstein: I lead Pittsburgh Paints Co.’s trade business, including our company-owned stores and dealer channels. Across our commercial, industrial and protective segments, we are focused on providing professional painters and dealer partners with the best service, quality and product performance to get pros the products they need, when they need them and with their preferred application and characteristics. With this in mind, we are in the process of rolling out some exciting new products for 2026 that pave the way in innovation. It is going to be our best year for product and branding yet. Our Pittsburgh Paints team is driving forward with speed and hustle to show up for our customers and partners in a big way.

PCI: Looking at 2025 and into 2026, what are the most significant shifts you are seeing in demand across commercial and industrial coatings?

Karnstein: While demand across commercial and industrial coatings is currently slowed,¹ the rise in infrastructure, industrial development and urbanization, and building and construction activity has played a role in the need for durable, anti-corrosive commercial and industrial coatings.

Through this demand, and always, our top priority is to continue providing our customers with the quality products and services they need and expect for their businesses to succeed.

PCI: How are customer priorities evolving right now, particularly when it comes to performance, cost pressures and sustainability expectations?

Karnstein: In the commercial market, professional painters are looking for the best service, quality and performance, which includes leaning on paint representatives to share their local expertise and excellent product knowledge. They are looking for products that meet the demands of the job and have the necessary application properties to be efficient and provide quality results.

PCI: Where are you seeing the most meaningful innovation in your portfolio, and how are those developments translating into real-world performance benefits?

Karnstein: We have a number of new and improved products being released across both commercial and industrial lines, which will make 2026 the biggest product launch year that our Pittsburgh Paints business has ever had. We have built a strong product pipeline, and our customers are integral to our road-mapping and development process. Their input helps us identify where we have opportunities to improve our assortment and best position our formulas to serve their needs. In fact, our customers put our new prototypes to the test on actual job sites before we launch. Their feedback is critical to bring the best performance to the market, which was the case when we released Pittsburgh Paints Anti-Scuff Interior Zero VOC paint. This innovative new product is unlike any other coatings solution on the market. It delivers unrivaled scuff resistance for high-traffic areas in commercial and residential spaces, along with a smooth application and finish, great coverage and high hiding. Its quick-drying capabilities help professional painters finish their jobs faster so they can move on to their next project.

For exterior projects, we designed Flood Easy Seal premium oil-based stain and sealer for a streak-free performance that prevents runs or laps, allowing professionals to complete wood care projects quickly with no back-brushing required.

PCI: You mentioned upcoming commercial and industrial product introductions. What gaps in the market are those innovations aiming to address?

Karnstein: We are excited to be rolling out several innovations in the coming months, developed to fill gaps we are seeing in the market and respond to feedback we have received from our customers and field teams. These products will offer in-demand benefits such as increased durability and protection, ease of use and faster dry times, allowing pros to have confidence in our products, knowing that when they apply a fresh coat of Pittsburgh Paints, it will stand up to the test of time.

We recently launched our new Pro-Select primer, designed for new residential and commercial construction. We have also expanded our portfolio of offerings and are pleased to share that we are now also the exclusive distributor of PPG PMC’s FLR 700 Urethane Cement Flooring Line and Steelguard 652 water-based intumescent fireproofing. Expect to see some of these new products on the shelves as early as May 2026.

PCI: In high-traffic environments like health care, education and commercial buildings, durability continues to be a key focus. How are you approaching formulation or product design to meet those demands?

Karnstein: Pittsburgh Paints Anti-Scuff paint meets this demand head-on. Pro painters are looking for durable solutions that deliver not only a smooth finish but also an easy application. For these types of commercial spaces where durability is a key focus, we have developed an unrivaled coating that stands up to heavy foot traffic and withstands unavoidable scuffs and scrapes. As we continue to develop innovative formulas, durability remains top of mind for both interior and exterior environments.

Soon, we will be releasing Pittsburgh Paints Pro-Select Trim & Door interior/exterior 100% acrylic paint. This product provides a great option for trim and doors in new residential and commercial jobs, particularly for spray applications. Pittsburgh Paints Pro-Select is designed specifically to deliver a durable finish, excellent adhesion, hiding power, coverage and block resistance.

PCI: How is Pittsburgh Paints Co. navigating ongoing supply chain pressures and raw material volatility, and what impact is that having on product development or customer strategy?

Karnstein: Recent developments in the Middle East are disrupting the global supply chain, resulting in significantly higher oil prices. Because the energy industry is embedded in our manufacturing and supply chain costs, the impacts on prices in the paint and coatings markets are unavoidable.

Through this situation, we continue to provide our customers with the quality products and services they need to run their businesses. We have plans in place to mitigate supply chain challenges and do not anticipate any service issues.

PCI: Are there specific end-use segments or applications where you are seeing outsized growth or new opportunity?

Karnstein: With deferred residential remodeling projects kicking back up after the pandemic, we are excited about the potential for the residential repaint segment. We anticipate these projects to start building momentum and expect to see an increase in investment projects, such as kitchen remodels, with available home equity line of credit (HELOC) funds.

PCI: Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity for coatings manufacturers over the next few years?

Karnstein: While there remains plenty of economic uncertainty as it relates to inflation, housing costs, global supply chain impacts and material availability, we are hopeful that a growth cycle will lead to a stronger second half of 2026. For instance, we are seeing growing demand for Pittsburgh Paints UltraLast product. It offers great application and stain resistance and is now available in an updated Pittsburgh Paints label.

Over the coming 12-plus months, we will be rebranding all of our labels and launching new products, so stay tuned for what is to come.

We also see a huge opportunity for technology to serve as a tool to better assist painters and contractors. We have already invested in our customer relationship management (CRM) systems, field team training, color matching tools and enhanced marketing to help our customers grow their businesses and profitability. Using data to get a better read on geographical demands also helps ensure our distribution centers are properly equipped with the necessary products to locally serve our customers.

References

1. Fortune Business Insights. Industrial Coatings Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis; Fortune Business Insights. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/industrial-coatings-market-101741 (accessed June 12, 2026).

For more technical coverage, explore PCI’s latest reporting on commercial coatings and industrial coatings performance.