PPG Industries has launched a new, environmentally responsible automotive pretreatment technology called Zircobond at CAMI Automotive’s production facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. In a separate move, PPG Industries has signed an agreement with Plymouth Technology, Inc., to distribute Plymouth’s Metals Removal System (MRS) wastewater treatment technology by to the North American automotive original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) market. PPG will distribute this technology under the PPG brand name “Water Wise Solutions.”

PPG Industries has launched a new, environmentally responsible automotive pretreatment technology at CAMI Automotive’s production facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. CAMI, an independently incorporated joint venture of Suzuki Motor Corporation and General Motors of Canada Ltd., began processing vehicles with Zircobond pretreatment in early January and moved to full-scale production Jan. 14. Metal pretreatment cleans and provides corrosion protection to automotive body surfaces. However, traditional zinc-phosphate pretreatment processes generate sludge containing heavy metals such as nickel, zinc and manganese, making them subject to environmental regulations. As a result, PPG has devloped Zircobond pretreatment, an alternative pretreatment based on zirconium chemistry and a proprietary blend of additives. Zircobond pretreatment reportedly cuts sludge byproduct from the pretreatment process by at least 80% compared to zinc-phosphate-based products, and it can be used in existing pretreatment lines.

Additionally, estimates shows that facilities using Zircobond pretreatment can realize annual savings of up to several hundred thousand dollars on energy, maintenance and labor costs. Savings potential is even greater in greenfield applications, where fewer process stages could generate as much as several million dollars in savings on new facility capital investments. (An article on this new technology will be featured in the February issue of Finishing Today magazine.)

In a separate move, PPG Industries has signed an agreement with Plymouth Technology, Inc., to distribute Plymouth’s Metals Removal System (MRS) wastewater treatment technology by to the North American automotive original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) market. PPG will distribute this technology under the PPG brand name “Water Wise Solutions.”

Water Wise Solutions uses proprietary media and processes to adsorb heavy metals and other contaminants from wastewater streams. Automotive manufacturing facilities, particularly assembly plants with paint shops, must treat wastewater on-site before releasing it into municipal water systems, typically using a large, complex water treatment plant to reduce water contaminants to acceptable levels. Water Wise Solutions treats wastewater with reduced chemical use, sludge generation and plant resources, while providing an effluent stream typically cleaner than required by regulations. Water treated by Water Wise Solutions can also be reused in some assembly processes, thus reducing total water purchase and discharge to save money and reduce environmental impact.

For more information, visitwww.plymouthtechnology.comorwww.ppg.com.