The role of Maria Lamorey, commercial strategy manager for Americas, in the Industrial Coatings (IC) team is essential. Maria has perfectly analyzed the market segments and set up her team to always know where to innovate. From keeping up with the rapidly evolving automation trends to maintaining a close connection with customers, Maria turns everything she learns into advantages for our products. Let's hear Maria reveal some of the unexpected challenges and successes she has witnessed in her 9 years alongside the IC team.
Captivated by Manufacturing Processes
After a 25-year career in industrial manufacturing and being part of PPG since 2015, Maria Lamorey received exceptional training in managing large, complex accounts with multiple decision-makers. She continues to apply her extensive knowledge in her current role as commercial strategy manager for the Americas and remains eager to learn more every day.
I’ve always been captivated by the intricacies of product manufacturing. I enjoy delving deeply into how products are made.
This attention to detail has always allowed Maria to understand our customers' challenges, what they're facing in their marketplace, and how our solutions match up to their needs.
Her love of product manufacturing brought Maria to the Industrial Coatings—a field she claims to be underrated, as people seldom realize its importance.
Building the First Line of Defense
One of the fastest growing target markets is shelving & racking/logistics/warehousing. The choice of coating in this field is determined by the performance requirements and the location of the warehouse. Factors such as whether the warehouse is climate controlled, located outdoors, if there is frequent contact with forklifts impacting the equipment or packages as they are being moved on and off the racks, as well as the need for high scratch resistance, all play a role in determining the appropriate coating choice.
"The coating system is literally the first line of defense. It is subject to impacts, is exposed to the elements, and has the potential to prolong the lifespan of constructions. It has to be chosen carefully."
Maria explains that trends and needs evolve every day, and her team needs to stay one step ahead of the market's demands.
Worker safety is a huge topic nowadays, because more robotics brings new automations like scissor lifts or telehandlers, both of which are commonly used inside a warehouse. We have to ask ourselves how the coating faces these new challenges that weren't there before.
Polishing the Edges
From Maria's experience, developing coatings for shelving and racking components is very tricky. In addition to hard-to-coat shapes such as wire shelving and baskets, the painting process of these components can also generate a significant amount of waste. The IC team has been focusing on not just addressing these challenges but also on emerging trends, focusing on products that offer superior protection against corrosion, high durability, and efficiency during application.
"We create coatings that thrive in high-traffic areas, protecting shelving and racking systems and reducing maintenance. Our improved powder coatings are also gaining popularity, as they enhance resistance to moisture, chemicals, and temperature changes."
Maria highlights our PPG ENVIROCRON® HTE coatings, which use advanced single-coat powder technology to minimize waste during the coating process and enhance control over film thickness. PPG ENVIROCRON® Extreme Protection Edge, on the other hand, provides superior protection for sharp edges and hard-to-cover features.
"Corrosion tends to affect the sharp edges first as the powder coating cures and contracts away from those areas. Envirocron protection offers significant benefits for our customers."
Connecting with Customers Across Segments
The industrial coatings business is complex. Maria and her team had to determine which markets to focus on and which product platforms would be successful in those markets. This drew Maria back to her original excitement of understanding customers and their challenges:
I said, let's look at it from the customer perspective and how they view PPG. So, my team and I created a new approach to the market by dividing it into three major segments: infrastructure, lifestyle, and industry. This shift allowed us to leverage market trends effectively and identify growth opportunities.
This approach significantly advanced the IC team. Today they collaborate with a wide range of industries that include power generation, heavy duty equipment, appliances, and construction, understanding their needs and their next generation of requirements.
"Our involvement in diverse industries enables us to leverage successful technological advancements from aerospace, packaging, automotive or protective marine sectors and apply them to any other areas where they can be beneficial. This way, we can directly see and touch the difference we make."