PPG Announces Contract Extension with NHL

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019


Global coatings company PPG (Pittsburgh) announced earlier this week a three-year extension of its partnership with the National Hockey League in the United States and Canada.

“Through the extended partnership, PPG will continue to identify ways to integrate its game-changing technologies into hockey and continue to build upon our partnerships with the NHL,” said Bryan Iams, PPG Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs.

In addition to the deal (the financial terms of which were not disclosed), PPG announced that all official game pucks in the 2019-20 NHL season will include a color-changing thermochromic coating.

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The thermochromic coating was first announced in December 2018, and began testing during games at the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

PPG
In addition to the deal (the financial terms of which were not disclosed), PPG announced that all official game pucks in the 2019-20 NHL season will include a color-changing thermochromic coating.
PPG

In addition to the deal (the financial terms of which were not disclosed), PPG announced that all official game pucks in the 2019-20 NHL season will include a color-changing thermochromic coating.

According to PPG, the coating on the pucks changes from purple to clear when a puck’s temperature is above freezing, giving a visual cute to the officials that the puck should be replaced.

“Hockey pucks are made of vulcanized rubber and glide smoother and faster when frozen,” said Dan Craig, NHL Vice President of Facilities Operations.

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“Freezing a puck eliminates bouncing, and game officials closely monitor the puck for temperature changes that affect performance while in play. A coating that changes color when the puck is above freezing will more accurately alert the officials that it is time for a replacement.”

The thermochromic coating—which is dispersed into an ink system and screen-printed onto the pucks—meets the NHL’s requirements for withstanding game-environment impacts and low temperatures without impacting adhesion.

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“Working closely with our technology partners, LCR Hallcrest and QCR Solutions Corporation, we’ve been able to offer a smart and elegant solution to a problem that can significantly impact game play,” said Alicia Cafardi, PPG senior marketing communications manager, industrial coatings.

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Before the new puck coating, PPG announced at the beginning of the 2017-18 season that its Envirocon Extreme Protection was to be used on NHL goal posts and equipment to protect from scuffs, chips and the cold environment.

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"The custom dye pigment that changes color with temperature was developed specifically for this application on hockey pucks, but the solution represents an opportunity for other applications where an easy, visual reference could serve to improve the performance or use of an object.”

Before the new puck coating, PPG announced at the beginning of the 2017-18 season that its Envirocon Extreme Protection was to be used on NHL goal posts and equipment to protect from scuffs, chips and the cold environment.

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This came months after the initial February 2017 multi-year corporate marketing agreement between the paint company and the NHL, which made PPG the “Official Paint of the NHL.” That agreement, built upon PPG’s 20-year naming right agreement with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins Team, which renamed Consol Energy Center to PPG Paints Arena in 2016.

Tagged categories: Business matters; Business operations; Coatings Technology; PPG; Stadiums/Sports Facilities


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