PPG to Launch Joint Venture for Thermosets in China.

PITTSBURGH -- PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) and Sinoma Jinjing Fiber Glass Co. Ltd. today announced they will launch a 50-50 joint venture, PPG Sinoma Jinjing Fiber Glass Co. Ltd., to serve the global thermosets market.

Products will be manufactured at the existing Sinoma Jinjing Fiber Glass plant in Zibo, Shandong, China, for the filament-wound epoxy pipe, wind energy, construction, marine, transportation and corrosion end-use markets.

"Expanding PPG's thermosets manufacturing into Asia through this joint venture demonstrates our commitment to both the global fiber glass industry and the thermosets segment, as well as to the region and China specifically," said Victoria M. Holt, PPG senior vice president, glass and fiber glass. "It will serve the growing Asian market and provide a high-quality supply for specific global customers and product lines."

The operation has annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons with two furnaces.

Todd White, PPG general manager, fiber glass general industrial products, said, "PPG Sinoma Jinjing Fiber Glass will position PPG as a global supplier of high-quality roving, direct draw, chopped strand mat and fabric products to both a regional and global customer base. This joint venture will enable us to grow our thermoset business by establishing a competitive manufacturing facility in this key region."

Thermosets production in Zibo will complement PPG's existing regional joint ventures for fiber glass electronic and specialty materials yarns and reinforcements with Nan Ya Plastics Corp. PPG and Nan Ya have operated PFG Fiber Glass Corp. in Chia Yi, Taiwan, since 1991, and PFG Fiber Glass (Kunshan) Co. Ltd. in Kunshan, China, since 2003. The Kunshan site is adding a second 38,000-metric ton furnace scheduled for start-up in 2006 to serve the growing Asian markets for electronic yarn and thermoplastic chopped strand.

About Sinoma Jinjing Fiber Glass

Sinoma Jinjing Fiber Glass Co. Ltd. is a joint venture between China National Materials Industry Group and Shandong Glass Group. China National Materials Industry Group is a Beijing-based, government-administered enterprise directly under the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, with total assets of more than 10 billion RMB (more than US$1.2 billion). It covers the full range of technology and innovation in the non-metallic minerals industry, with manufacturing, engineering and mining of non-metallic materials as well as construction and international trade components. Shandong Glass Group is one of the leading glass manufacturers in China and among the top 100 enterprises of Shandong Province, with total assets of more than 2 billion RMB (more than US$247 million).

About PPG

PPG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of continuous-strand fiber glass, with eight manufacturing facilities worldwide, focused primarily on the global electronics, thermoplastics and general industrial markets. With 2004 sales of US$9.5 billion, Pittsburgh-based PPG is also a leading global supplier of coatings, glass and chemicals.