PPG donates digital refinish tools to 15 schools

PPG has donated the PPG Linq digital automotive refinish ecosystem to 15 vocational schools in over 10 European countries during last 15 months.

This effort is part of the company’s $2 million commitment through 2025 to workforce development initiatives aimed at addressing the skills shortage and attracting young talent to sectors, including the automotive refinish industry.

PPG says the donations enable more than 1,500 students to gain hands-on experience with digital tools, preparing them for modern automotive refinishing careers and tackling the industry’s growing skilled labor gap.

They will help to address challenges outlined in the European Commission’s report on vocational education and training, such as limited access to modern equipment, funding constraints and gaps in work-based learning.

The PPG Linq ecosystem connects, automates, and digitises the entire refinish process. It enables painters to modernise the repair processes using its interconnected digital hardware, software, and innovative services.

Tools include the PPG Moonwalk paint mixing system; PPG Digimatch multi-angle colour camera; PPG VisualizID 3D rendering software and PPG Linq Color digital colour identification software.

“We understand the transformative power of innovation and digitalisation in education,” said Jérôme Zamblera, PPG vice president, EMEA, Automotive Refinish.

“The PPG Linq ecosystem represents our vision for modernising the car refinishing industry and inspiring young talent to build careers in this dynamic field.

“Our investments in schools, including further initiatives planned for next year, reflect our commitment to preparing the next generation for the exciting opportunities in the automotive sector,” he added.