Our Polish affiliate, PPG Deco Polska, is based in Wrocław, Poland’s fourth largest city that is both a lively cultural centre and a major commercial and industrial hub.
PPG Deco Polska (Architectural Coatings Poland) has over 750 employees, most them working in Wrocław. The Wrocław production plant covers 26 hectares and turns out 55 million litres of product per year.
It's one of the biggest architectural coatings plants in the EMEA region, serving both the local market and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe with their R&D centre being one of the biggest and most important in the region.
Products Making a Mark on Poland
The company’s flagship brand is Dekoral, Poland’s number 2 wall paint with a 16% market share. Other key brands include Domalux and Drewnochron (wood care products), Sigma Coatings, Cieszynka, Bondex and Malfarb.
These products are supplied to all major DIY chains and to major investment projects, such as Lech Walesa Airport in Gdansk, the National Stadium in Warsaw and, in Wrocław itself, the Municipal Stadium and Sky Tower, Poland’s tallest apartment building.
A City Shaped by Multiple Influences
The historical capital of Europe’s Silesia region, Wrocław has at various times been part of the kingdoms of Poland, Bohemia and Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Prussia and Germany. Who better to introduce you to this charming cultural city than, Grzegorz Koźmiński, communication manager, Poland:
From there it is an easy walk to District of Four Temples, including the renovated synagogue. It is worth to walk to the Cathedral Island, home to the city’s oldest church dating from the 11
th century, the unique two-level church (Roman Catholic on the upper level and Greek Orthodox below), and of course the 13
th century cathedral itself.
As well as the historic centre, the Szczytnicki Park district is also a great place to visit. Here you can find the city zoo with its exhibition of wildlife from the oceans around Africa. It is worth noting that the building was painted entirely with PPG products! You can also visit the Centennial Hall, a UNESCO-listed exhibition hall, and marvel at the multimedia fountain and its evening displays combining water, lasers and music.
Food and Drink in Wrocław
If you are looking for something good to eat after work, Grzegorz recommends the District of Four Temples as an ideal place to relax.
Grzegorz also offers advice on what to eat:
Other traditional specialties are bigos, sauerkraut boiled with mushrooms and meat, and gołąbki, which are cabbage leaves filled with rice and meat with a tomato sauce. Two staple soups are borscht made of beetroot and sour rye soup.
Dwarfs Wherever You Look
In Wrocław you will see dwarves everywhere! There are small statues of dwarves all over the city, and many tourists make a point of counting how many they can spot.
Unlike most of the city’s tourist attractions, the dwarfs only date back to 2001, when a figurine was placed on Świdnicka Street to commemorate the Polish anti-communist movement that had a dwarf as its symbol. Since then, dwarfs have been cropping up all over the city. Some reference specific aspects of Polish history and culture, others serve noble causes like improving awareness of people with disabilities.
Fostering Science, Education and Enterprise
One of PPG Deco Polska’s main CSC activities is sponsorship of Wrocław Science Center Humanitarium. Also known as the Gardens of Experience, Humanitarium is an educational unit of the EIT + research centre created in 2011 as an inspiring way to explore the world around us through the lens of the latest scientific achievements.
At the start of 2016, PPG Deco Polska provided a grant of around €27,000 that will be used to create and fit out a “Laboratory of Colours” branded with PPG Industries and its local products. The project includes the creation of an educational laboratory under the patronage of PPG, thematic workshops based on PPG activities, workshops aimed at all school levels and at adults, including seniors, and professional workshops to tie in with vocational training.