4 minute read
INDUSTRIAL COATINGS GROUP AIMS TO BECOME ONE-STOP SHOP
Steve Ulrich, Freelance Writer Floor Covering Institute
Lacy Williams, lwilliams@rpmicg.com Marketing Communications & PR
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By definition, a one-stop shop provides a multitude of products and/or services to its customers - all under one roof.
Think Wal-Mart. Get your groceries and pick up a tire for your vehicle. One-stop.
Can that apply to floor coverings? Johnny Green says yes.
“With the introduction of RPM Industrial Coatings Group, we will provide our customers with a consolidated approach to meet all of their industrial coating needs,” said Green, President of RPM Industrial Coatings Group. “The power of a one-stop shop improves the customer experience and enhances operational efficiency to the benefit of customers.”
Launched in August 2022, the Industrial Coatings Group falls under the umbrella of RPM International Inc., a $6.7B global company with subsidiaries that are market and industry leaders in specialty coating, sealants, building materials and related services.
The Industrial Coatings Group comprises five industry-leading coatings and finishings brands – Mohawk Finishing Products, FinishWorks, TCI Powder, KopCoat Protection Products, and Morrells Woodfinishes.
What drove the development of the Industrial Coatings Group? The answer is simple.
“To create a complete portfolio of products for customers,” says Lacy Williams who oversees marketing, communications and public relations for the Industrial Coatings Group (ICG). “Whether you’re a large OEM manufacturer or a distributor, we want to be your complete finishing solution - whatever you want, you can get. It’s a unique model within the industry.”
With this group of brands under the RPM Industrial Coatings Group umbrella, the wide variety of products offered include: abrasives, adhesives, brushes, coatings, custom finishes, finishing repair materials, finishing supplies, finishing systems and equipment, paints and lacquers, sealers, stains, water-based finishes, wax finishing products, and wood fillers.
“We wanted to provide space for cross-collaboration,” said Williams. “With R&D having a shared space we can drive innovation, invest in new ideas, and get our products to market faster.”
As the group plans for its current move-in date of May 2023, it will complete a four-year journey from idea to completion that ran into some bumps along the way. COVID. Moving into a new space. And moving to a new city.
“Greensboro helps us recruit top talent,” said Green. “We’re not just competing with other coatings companies. We’re competing with Google and Wall Street investment banks for the brightest minds available. It was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit young talent in rural areas.”
The “Gate City” - Greensboro is a growing metropolitan area with a population approaching 770,000 and is part of the Piedmont Triad along with Winston-Salem and High Point.
“This makes a statement to the industry that we’re committed to innovation, our employees, and to the customer experience. This is a great area. It’s located right next to an airport and Greensboro has a lot of culture that will be exciting.”
Similar to buying a house, making plans for what the Innovation Center of Excellence will look like in 10 years involved a lot of conversations with a lot of stakeholders.
The internal conversations started with the size of the building.
“Should we build for today or for how we might look 10 years from now?,” she said. “Today or tomorrow? There was also a growing interest among our sister companies. We’re excited to have a space that will not only house our ICG companies, but act as host to other RPM companies as well.”
ICG opted for a 60,000 square foot building of which 13,000 square feet has been set aside for anticipated expansion.
Most of its laboratories will be on the first floor, including a formulation lab, an applications lab to replicate customer conditions, weathering and corrosion labs to expedite conditions, a resin lab, and a world class analytical lab.
There will also be plenty of office space for a yet-to-be determined number of personnel and a visitor/ conference center.
The hope is that ICG becomes a think-tank for all things coatingrelated.
“We want to increase performance, efficiency, reduce costs and raise the bar across the industry,” Williams said.
Bringing new products to the market. Having a destination where customers can see a product run. The expansion of their training and service component. All these things and more are in store for ICG.
“We want customers to see we can do even more for them,” said Williams.
A ONE-STOP SHOP.
A destination that brings it all under one roof.
“It allows us to provide the most comprehensive portfolio that we can without sacrificing quality,” said Williams. “We will be passing along savings and efficiencies to our customers while also providing increased opportunities to our employees.”
A win-win for everyone involved.
