PPG Industries has inducted four science and technology leaders as "distinguished colleagues" into the PPG Collegium. Chairman and CEO Charles E Bunch and Chief Technology Officer Charles F Kahle recognised the latest members' accomplishments and contributions to PPG's innovations and commercial success at a celebration dinner. "Members of the Collegium personify the research, innovation and technology leadership that has transformed and recreated PPG businesses time and again," commented Charles Kahle. "They are our R&D brain trust, inspiration and catalyst for future success." The latest members include Bill Blackburn, a 31 year PPG veteran with significant contributions to technologies and businesses related to automotive coatings and Transitions Optical Inc and Jean Barjot, who retired in 2011 as Director of decorative coating systems technology for PPG's EU automotive coatings business and spent 30 years at PPG developing technologies to improve automotive coatings. Hong Li was a staff scientist for PPG's fibre glass business, who counts among his contributions three glass compositions developed or adapted for fibre glass commercial production in the wind power, corrosion resistance and high performance electronics markets. In addition, Dennis J O'Shaughnessy, Associate Director, flat glass vacuum coatings, joined PPG in 1988 and has continued to make significant contributions in glass technology.
