PPG announced the arrival of the SEM brand to the Mexican automotive repair market with an offering focused on body shops, repainting processes and surface preparation.
In addition, the company seeks to strengthen its presence in the aftermarket segment through solutions designed to improve operational efficiency, optimize working times, and maintain uniform automotive finishes during each stage of repair.
The addition of SEM products will allow PPG to expand its portfolio beyond traditional paints and coatings. The brand has over 70 years of experience manufacturing automotive abrasives , detailing solutions, masking tapes, and spray systems for quick touch-ups.
According to Alejandra Gallego, PPG's director of related products for automotive refinishing, surface preparation is a crucial part of the repair process.
In Mexico, more than 45,000 automotive painters work under pressure to achieve high-quality finishes; performance in the body shop is fundamental to profitability and customer satisfaction.
Gallego pointed this out.
He also indicated that surface preparation can represent up to 60% of the repainting work, so any error directly affects adhesion, color, and the final finish.
The SEM product portfolio available in Mexico includes high and medium performance abrasives for sanding, automotive detailing solutions, masking tapes, and custom spray systems for quick repairs.
According to PPG, these solutions aim to reduce material waste and facilitate more agile workflows within body shops.
Furthermore, the company highlighted that the SEM brand has maintained a presence among professionals in the United States and Australia thanks to products aimed at improving the consistency of automotive finishes.
With this expansion, PPG seeks to consolidate its participation in the automotive refinishing market in Mexico by offering a wider range of products to distributors and specialists in the sector.
Juan Pablo Reyes, sales and business development manager for PPG Mexico in the automotive refinishing division, stated that the arrival of SEM will allow them to meet new needs within the repair processes.
As he explained, the strategy aims to offer comprehensive solutions for automotive workshops that require operational efficiency, quality control, and improved delivery times.
PPG reported that SEM products will be available during the first half of 2026 through authorized distributors and Comex stores in cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, León and Tijuana.
The company indicated that this expansion is part of its strategy to strengthen its presence within the automotive industry and the aftermarket segment in Mexico.
Voliro has unveiled a new drone-based aerial inspection system capable of continuous industrial corrosion mapping using B-Scan technology . The solution utilizes the Voliro T drone with a rolling payload that maintains constant contact with surfaces while performing thousands of ultrasonic measurements per hour. The system aims to improve inspections of critical infrastructure such as tanks, pipelines, and elevated industrial structures.
Unlike traditional spot inspection methods, the new system provides complete surface coverage and generates detailed, real-time records. The technology can identify the size and depth of corrosion defects and create digital maps ready for technical audits. Furthermore, it reduces the need for scaffolding or rope access, as the drone can operate directly over complex structures or assets that are still in service.
Ulstein Verft highlighted the growth of its after-sales services after completing maintenance work on Hurtigruten's Trollfjord vessel in Bergen, Norway. The project included repairs and replacement of critical components on a draft boiler that had been in operation for over two decades. Although the work was carried out off-site, the company quickly mobilized a specialized team to perform the task directly on board.
For four days, the technical staff worked inside the ship, dismantling exhaust pipes, aligning equipment, installing new vibration dampers, and performing welding and structural reinforcement work. Ulstein explained that the team brought prefabricated parts and tools to expedite the operation and minimize the vessel's downtime.
The rapid growth of offshore wind energy is driving up demand for submarine cables and creating new bottlenecks in transportation and offshore infrastructure, according to two new reports from TGS | 4C. The analysis indicates that the industry faces increasing pressure on manufacturing capacity, the availability of specialized vessels, and installation costs as projects become larger and more complex.
Data shows that cables installed for offshore wind projects increased from 9,000 kilometers in 2015 to more than 55,000 kilometers in 2025. Furthermore, the installation of another 117,000 kilometers is projected between 2026 and 2040. This is compounded by the growth of submarine interconnectors between countries, which will also increase the demand for marine infrastructure. The report warns that regions such as Asia-Pacific could face a shortage of specialized vessels for installing next-generation turbines and cables.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Cadens have developed a small-scale hydroelectric system partially manufactured using 3D printing to reduce costs and facilitate new energy projects. The initiative aims to utilize thousands of small dams across the United States that currently do not produce electricity due to the high cost of installing and customizing traditional equipment.
The project used additive manufacturing to create key components of a Kaplan-S turbine intended for micro-hydroelectric systems. Among the manufactured parts are draft tubes, supports, and special molds made from carbon fiber-reinforced polymers. According to the researchers, this technique could reduce the cost per kilowatt by up to 40% compared to conventional methods. The prototype has already been in continuous operation for more than six years and serves as a testing platform for further improvements in energy storage and efficiency.
