PPG's Springdale plant to celebrate 75th anniversary

PPG Industries’ Springdale plant is marking a big milestone: 75 years.

To celebrate the occasion, the plant hosted an event for employees and their families to tour the facility Saturday.

The plant, built in 1947, specializes in manufacturing coatings used on a variety of items, including commercial vehicles, buildings, kitchenware, furniture and golf balls. An estimated 300 employees work at the 204,000-square-foot plant, laboratories and offices and the 71,000-square-foot warehouse.

PPG spokesperson Mark Silvey said 75 years is a huge milestone for the plant, and having employees celebrate it can go a long way.

“It helps improve employee engagement by having these celebrations when we take time and celebrate the success of Springdale,” Silvey said.

Plant manager William Olp, who has worked there for three years, said many employees have been at the plant for more than 30 years.

“I can tell you we are really impressed with the people here. They are resilient,” Olp said.

Olp said the event gives families a chance to see their loved ones’ day-to-day job. That’s especially nice for employees who, in some cases, might spend more time at work than with their families.

A committee was formed to map out the celebration, he said.

“I wanted it to make sure it was meaningful for those who have been here a long time,” Olp said.

Olp said he is proud of the investments being made in the plant to ensure it continues to improve customer delivery and increase monthly production. The plant produces 8 million gallons of paint per year, he said.

“We are going to continue to work on our efficiency and invest in our plant,” he said.

Area operations manager Zach Chow said the plant’s versatility allows them to make either one batch of paint or up to 4,000 gallons of it. He started at the Springdale plant six months ago after leaving the Monroeville location.

Chow said workers clock in for an average of 45 to 50 hours a week, sometimes including weekends, depending on demand. But he said the company has managed to stay ahead in productivity to avoid regularly working weekends.

“We are trying to keep up with today’s times while being innovative and creating new things,” he said.

Chow said he enjoys being able to produce products for customers to use.

The work culture and camaraderie at the plant have kept some workers in place for many years.

Bryan Brenneman has been at the plant since 1998. He worked as the operations planning manager before transitioning to his new role as supply chain manager.

Brenneman said the milestone says a lot about the company’s longevity.

“It is good to show we are a long-standing company and will be here for a while,” he said.

During a short stint of traveling to other PPG facilities for four years for his previous role, Brenneman said he missed the work atmosphere at the plant.

“It was a great place to work before, and I missed it when I was traveling,” he said. “There is great teamwork.”

Senior development associate Phil Buhr has been with the company for 38 years, 18 of which have been at the Springdale plant.

He said he recalls when 50% of the manufacturing at the business was for glass before the company pivoted to focus on coatings and paint.

“That has been the biggest change in my career,” Buhr said.

Buhr said the plant’s 75th anniversary says a lot about its importance within the Springdale community.

“We are an intimate part of Springdale’s history. Springdale has been around for 115 years, and we have been here for 75 of it,” he said. “That says a lot about our spot in the community.”