Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries will invest $380 million to establish a manufacturing center in Shelby that’s expected to employ 110 workers, marking a return for the company that first established a facility in Cleveland County in the 1950s. The company’s project in Shelby will establish a facility to produce a full line of PPG’s aerospace coatings and sealants.
Wages for the new jobs will be $66,861, compared to the current average wage of $48,310 in Cleveland County. PPG’s median wage for its more than 46,000 employees last year was $61,469.
The company will locate in a shell building at 2215 Randolph Road, which will be built out for manufacturing. It will construct a second building for warehousing on the property. Construction is expected to start in October and be completed in the first half of 2027, which is when production will begin, according to the company.
The Fortune 500 company is a global supplier of paints, coatings and specialty materials and operates in more than 70 countries. It had reported net sales of $15.8 billion last year. PPG’s aerospace business provides solutions for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and aftermarket customers, such as airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for commercial, general aviation, and military segments. The company’s aerospace portfolio includes advanced coatings, sealants, transparencies, packaging, chemical services, engineered materials, and specialty products designed to enhance the performance, durability and safety of aircraft.
PPG sold its fiberglass operations in Shelby as part of a larger exit from the glass business in 2017 to Nippon Electric Glass in 2017. Nippon Electric Glass still has operations in Shelby.
The return of PPG held special significance for GOP Rep. Kelly Hastings, a Gaston County Republican whose district includes parts of Gaston and Cleveland counties.
“PPG is a name held in high regard in our area, and we’re all excited to open the next chapter of this partnership for our region and for our state,” says Hastings. “We welcome these new jobs and investment to our region, and I am especially proud that my mom is a PPG retiree.”
“PPG’s investment in this new manufacturing facility demonstrates the significant demand growth for our world-class technologies and our continued commitment to serving our aerospace customers,” says Tim Knavish, PPG CEO, in a release. “By modernizing and digitizing our facilities, PPG will continue to embody our purpose — to protect and beautify the world — while contributing to the growth and innovation of the aerospace sector.”
A performance-based grant of $300,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate PPG’s project into Cleveland County. The grant also requires a local matching grant.