Latest news with #JamesWren
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Wire
PPG celebrates 3,000 th installation of PPG MOONWALK paint mixing system at U.S. collision center
PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced that it has completed the 3,000 th global installation of its PPG MOONWALK® automated paint mixing system at Wren's Collision Group's facility in Auburn, Ala. Since its launch in 2019, the PPG MoonWalk system has transformed body shop operations worldwide by delivering exceptional accuracy, traceability and productivity across the automotive repair process. 'We are proud to be a part of this innovation in the automotive industry with the installation of the 3,000 th PPG MoonWalk system at our newest body shop,' said James Wren, owner of Wren's Collision Group, at a celebration of the milestone held in July. 'With our new Auburn facility, we are looking forward to continuing to drive productivity, efficiency, and profit throughout the 19 body shops we own. We are excited to be a part of this milestone for PPG as a long-standing partner.' Leading collision centers in more than 60 countries use the PPG MoonWalk system, recognizing it for its innovation, sustainability benefits and ease of use. Key benefits of the PPG MoonWalk system include: Precision and accuracy: Delivers consistent paint mixing for accurate color matches, reducing costly rework. Time savings: Automates mixing to streamline prep time and allow technicians to focus on repairs and spraying. Reduced waste: Minimizes over-pouring and materials usage to lower costs and improve sustainability. Digital integration: Connects seamlessly with the PPG LINQ™ digital ecosystem for efficient workflows, real-time data and inventory management. 'Wren's Collision is embracing the future of collision repair with the installation of the PPG MoonWalk system at its newest location,' said Rodolfo Ramirez, PPG vice president, Automotive Refinish, Americas. 'They're advancing efficiency, accuracy and consistent quality, and we're honored to support forward-thinking customers pushing performance to the next level.' For more information about the PPG MoonWalk system, visit here. At PPG (NYSE: PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit PPG LINQ is a trademark and MoonWalk, the PPG Logo and We Protect and Beautify the World are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. CATEGORY Automotive Refinish
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
WW2 veteran recalls torpedo attack to Duchess of Edinburgh
One of the oldest surviving veterans of World War II has told the Duchess of Edinburgh about his experience being held as a prisoner of war by Japanese troops, after his Royal Navy ship faced "torpedo after torpedo".James "Jim" Wren survived the sinking of HMS Repulse in December 1941, but was captured in Singapore two months later and held for three-and-a-half years."We didn't know when our next meal was coming or where our next drink was coming from… they had no idea how to deal with prisoners of war," he 105-year-old met the duchess in Salisbury, Wiltshire, ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day). He was joined by four generations of his family. Mr Wren told the duchess he initially wanted to join the Royal Air Force, or the British Army, but was rejected from both when he applied at then joined the Royal Navy after his uncle, a retired Royal Marine, was recalled on reserve. After completing the eight-month training course, Mr Wren was posted to join the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in autumn ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft off the coast off Malaya, in what is now Malaysia. Mr Wren said: "It was around 11:00 in the morning, I was having a cup of tea on the mess deck and the alarm was raised."I dropped my cup and as I left the mess deck, the first bomb dropped right behind me."Fortunately, it didn't explode – I was able to go down two or three decks before it exploded."It was torpedo after torpedo," he added. The veteran, who grew up in Sussex, was held as a prisoner in Sumatra until August 1945, after Japan said his family "suffered" until the end of the war as they did not know if he was still alive in Wren's son-in-law, Andy Dables, said the 105-year-old did not start sharing his war memories until he was Dables said: "We are just impressed that he remembers everything – he's as sharp as any."But you wouldn't just forget anything like that though, would you?" he added.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
105-year-old taken as PoW after torpedo attack tells Sophie of VJ Day liberation
One of the oldest surviving veterans of the Second World War has told the Duchess of Edinburgh over a cup of tea how his Royal Navy ship was torpedoed by the Japanese before he was held as a prisoner of war for more than three years. Sophie met 105-year-old Royal Marines veteran James 'Jim' Wren in Salisbury on Tuesday ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), which marks the surrender of Japan to the Allied Forces on August 15 and the end of the Second World War. Mr Wren survived the sinking of HMS Repulse in December 1941 but was captured by the Japanese in Singapore in February 1942. He spent the next three and a half years as a prisoner of war and was still in captivity in August 1945 when the war ended. When the duchess, who is patron of The Java Far East Prisoner of War Club 1942, asked if his family knew he had survived, Mr Wren said: 'It was right until the end of the war until they knew I was alive. 'So they suffered all this time.' Mr Wren sat next to Sophie at the Old Sarum Manor Care Home surrounded by four generations of his family, including his daughter Denise Dables, 69, son-in-law Andy Dables, 72, his granddaughter Kirsty Dables, 51, and great-granddaughters Freya, 18, and Ellie, 16. The veteran caused mirth when Sophie asked what had attracted him to serve in the Navy, and he replied: 'Nothing attracted me to the Navy – I didn't want to be in the Navy.' Mr Wren applied to join the RAF and the Army when he was 19, but was turned down. He then joined the Navy after his uncle, a retired Royal Marine, was recalled on reserve. After completing the eight-month training course, Mr Wren was posted to join the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in the autumn of 1940. On December 10 1941, HMS Repulse was sunk by Japanese aircraft off the coast of Malaya, in what is now Malaysia. Mr Wren recalled: 'It was around 11 o'clock in the morning, I was having a cup of tea on the mess deck and the alarm was raised. 'I dropped my cup and as I left the mess deck, the first bomb dropped right behind me. 'Fortunately, it didn't explode – I was able to go down two or three decks before it exploded. 'It was torpedo after torpedo,' Mr Wren added. The veteran, who grew up in Sussex, also remembered when he was captured by Japanese soldiers alongside a group of civilians as they attempted to flee Singapore on a boat. 'It must have been awful, because you were surrounded by women and children,' the duchess told Mr Wren, who nodded. 'We didn't know when our next meal was coming from or when our next drink was coming from…' he added. 'They had no idea how to deal with prisoners of wars, the Japanese – no idea.' Mr Wren was kept as a prisoner in Sumatra until he was released in August 1945, after Japan surrendered. Son-in-law Andy Dables said Mr Wren did not start sharing his war memories until he was 99. 'We are just impressed that he remembers everything – he's as sharp as any,' Mr Dables said. 'But you wouldn't just forget anything like that, though, would you?' The King will commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Friday with an address to the nation, Buckingham Palace previously said. Charles's pre-recorded audio message will be broadcast on VJ Day ahead of a service of remembrance attended by the King and Queen, Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
The Independent
7 days ago
- General
- The Independent
105-year-old taken as PoW after torpedo attack tells Sophie of VJ Day liberation
One of the oldest surviving veterans of the Second World War has told the Duchess of Edinburgh over a cup of tea how his Royal Navy ship was torpedoed by the Japanese before he was held as a prisoner of war for more than three years. Sophie met 105-year-old Royal Marines veteran James 'Jim' Wren in Salisbury on Tuesday ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day), which marks the surrender of Japan to the Allied Forces on August 15 and the end of the Second World War. Mr Wren survived the sinking of HMS Repulse in December 1941 but was captured by the Japanese in Singapore in February 1942. He spent the next three and a half years as a prisoner of war and was still in captivity in August 1945 when the war ended. When the duchess, who is patron of The Java Far East Prisoner of War Club 1942, asked if his family knew he had survived, Mr Wren said: 'It was right until the end of the war until they knew I was alive. 'So they suffered all this time.' Mr Wren sat next to Sophie surrounded by four generations of his family, including his daughter Denise Dables, 69, son-in-law Andy Dables, 72, his granddaughter Kirsty Dables, 51, and great-granddaughters Freya, 18, and Ellie, 16. The veteran caused mirth when Sophie asked what had attracted him to serve in the Navy, and he replied: 'Nothing attracted me to the Navy – I didn't want to be in the Navy.' Mr Wren applied to join the RAF and the Army when he was 19, but was turned down. He then joined the Navy after his uncle, a retired Royal Marine, was recalled on reserve. After completing the eight-month training course, Mr Wren was posted to join the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in the autumn of 1940. On December 10 1941, HMS Repulse was sunk by Japanese aircraft off the coast of Malaya, in what is now Malaysia. Mr Wren recalled: 'It was around 11 o'clock in the morning, I was having a cup of tea on the mess deck and the alarm was raised. 'I dropped my cup and as I left the mess deck, the first bomb dropped right behind me. 'Fortunately, it didn't explode – I was able to go down two or three decks before it exploded. 'It was torpedo after torpedo,' Mr Wren added. The veteran, who grew up in Sussex, also remembered when he was captured by Japanese soldiers alongside a group of civilians as they attempted to flee Singapore on a boat. 'It must have been awful, because you were surrounded by women and children,' the duchess told Mr Wren, who nodded. 'We didn't know when our next meal was coming from or when our next drink was coming from…' he added. 'They had no idea how to deal with prisoners of wars, the Japanese – no idea.' Mr Wren was kept as a prisoner in Sumatra until he was released in August 1945, after Japan surrendered. Son-in-law Andy Dables said Mr Wren did not start sharing his war memories until he was 99. 'We are just impressed that he remembers everything – he's as sharp as any,' Mr Dables said. 'But you wouldn't just forget anything like that, though, would you?' The King will commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day on Friday with an address to the nation, Buckingham Palace previously said. Charles's pre-recorded audio message will be broadcast on VJ Day ahead of a service of remembrance attended by the King and Queen, Second World War veterans and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
