"As the Chinese aviation market further develops, we are witnessing several positive tendencies that facilitate our business growth here. That is why we are brewing new ASC expansion plans for further business development," Fang Hong, general manager of PPG Aerospace Asia Pacific, tells China Daily.

PPG Aerospace is a branch of PPG Industries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1883, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and reported a net income of US$596 million in 2005.

PPG Industries was one of the few global coating companies to invest in China in the 1980s. Among its seven major products currently produced and sold in China are automotive and industrial coatings.

PPG Aerospace set up its Suzhou ASC in 2002. Although PPG does not release its China sales figures, the company does say that by 2011, it expects PPG Aerospace global sales to double from the current figure to US$1 billion.

Fang says the new business expansion plans in China involve a new ASC venture in Tianjin with future ventures in Guangzhou and Chengdu.

"The layout follows the geography of our new expansion plans in China. It is also in line with the direction of development in the country's aviation industry," Fang says.

Europe-based aviation giant Airbus is establishing an aircraft assembly line, producing the A320 in Tianjin Municipality. As Airbus global supplier, PPG Aerospace is setting up an ASC in Tianjin to offer coating products and other services for Airbus.

"Airbus's new production facility in Tianjin is fuelling the establishment of our ASC in the coastal city. In fact, Airbus has asked us to offer integrated services and products," Fang elaborates.

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