Sherwin-Williams Company announces the grand opening of state-of-the-art Aerospace Service and Training Center

Contact: Julie A. Wellner
Marketing Manager
Aerospace Coatings Business Unit
316-733-7576, ext.604

ANDOVER, Kan. — Nov. 14,2000 — In the high-speed world of business aviation, an exterior coating is a critical element that affects an aircraft’s aerodynamics, weight distribution, payload capacity and several other performance and economic factors. Because the precision application of aerospace coatings is essential to maximizing an aircraft’s performance in the air and on the bottom line, the Aerospace Coatings division of the Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE; SHW) announces the grand opening of its state-of-the-art Aerospace Service and Training Center. The new facility is located at 415 E. Commerce St., in Andover, Kan., U.S.A.

Commenting on the significance of the new facility, George McCarthy, Sherwin-Williams’ Aerospace Coatings Business Unit director, said, “The science of aerospace coatings is advancing so rapidly that application technicians must constantly upgrade their skill levels. This new facility houses a large spray booth that is completely temperature and humidity controlled, which will allow us to simulate the climate conditions our customers will encounter wherever their base of operations, anywhere in the world.” McCarthy also notes that the booth will be an invaluable tool for research development.

Explaining why a full range of climate control is important, McCarthy said, “Techniques and application parameters are different in the hot, dry conditions of South Texas, for instance, than those used in the highly humid, hot conditions of Malaysia. No matter what the climatic conditions of a trainee’s home base of operations, we will be able to make sure the application techniques he or she learns during training are applicable in non-training situations when the technician is back home.”

In addition to offering the world’s most advanced training in coatings application science, the new facility also will include expanded space for research and development labs and the color design group.

“Coordinating all of Sherwin-Williams’ worldwide aviation customer service and marketing activities out of this new 25,000 square foot facility will greatly benefit our customers,” McCarthy said, “because it will improve our worldwide customer support and response time.” The new facility is located just south of the Sherwin-Williams plant at 630 East 13th in Andover, Kan., which will continue to manufacture aviation paint products.

McCarthy also is enthusiastic about the possibilities created by the equally sophisticated research and development and color design areas. “We will have the capability to develop improved formulations for our products and new colors in different paint technologies,” he explained.

Sherwin-Williams’ new facility is located just south of its production plant in Andover, where Sherwin-Williams will continue to manufacture aviation paint products, including JET GLO® and ACRY GLO® Aerospace Coatings. JET GLO® is the premium aerospace coating for overall base application on medium and large size aircraft. ACRY GLO® is a high-quality aerospace coating generally used for overall base application on smaller aircraft and feature striping on larger aircraft. JET FLEX TM is an interior aerospace coating product manufactured at another Sherwin-Williams location. It is ideal for the finishing and refinishing of plastic, metal, composite and wood surfaces within the cabin and cockpit.

The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866 and incorporated in 1884, is one of the world’s leading companies engaged in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. Its primary markets are in North and South America, with selected products manufactured and sold in the United Kingdom.