Pittsburgh Paints Co. is gearing up to launch a series of products for the spring and summer season, specifically targeted to Pro customers. Paint & Decorating Retailer talked with Pittsburgh Paints Co. president and general manager of commercial, Dennis Karnstein, about the upcoming products and how they were formulated with input from Pros along with updates from the business, including progress on rebranding efforts.
Paint & Decorating Retailer (PDR): Tell us about the product innovations and launches for Pros coming out.
Dennis Karnstein: Product development is a core pillar of our business and one of the ways we can continue to best serve the market. 2026 will be the biggest product launch year that our Pittsburgh Paints business has ever had. We have a number of new and improved products being released in the coming months, across both commercial and industrial lines, developed to fill gaps we’re seeing in the market and respond to feedback we’ve received from our customers and field teams. These products will offer in-demand benefits such as increased durability and protection, ease-of-use, and faster dry times. Pros can continue to have confidence in our products, knowing that when they apply a fresh coat of Pittsburgh Paints product it will stand up to the test of time. We recently launched our new PRO-SELECT™ primer, designed for new residential and commercial
construction. We’ve also expanded our portfolio of offerings and are pleased to share that we are now also the exclusive distributor of PPG PMC’s FLR 700 Urethane Cement Flooring Line and Steelguard 652 water-based intumescent fireproofing.
We will soon be introducing a new protective coatings brand, supplying products that our customers know and love and launching new coatings with industry-leading innovation, including BUILDING RENEWAL™ NEVERFADE® Exterior Coatings with KYNAR AQUATEC® PVDF resin. These exceptional performance coating systems for architectural use have been proven to significantly extend the life of industrial and commercial building materials for over 15 years. With KYNAR® PVDF emulsion technology, the coatings withstand harsh thermal, chemical pollution, and ultraviolet environmental conditions, delivering UV and mildew resistance and meeting the AMPP™ SSPC Paint 47 Standard. We’re excited for our customers to access these new formulas that they know they can trust on the job site. Pros can expect to see some of these products on the shelves as early as May 2026.
PDR: Why focus on Pros? Are there macroeconomic factors happening now that made you want to focus on the Pro segment right now?
Karnstein: Pros have always been, and will continue to be, the lifeblood of our store and dealer business. We pride ourselves in having a broad and expanding product portfolio to meet the needs of any job.
We’re seeing a rise in infrastructure, industrial development and urbanization, and building and construction activity, which has played a role in the demand for durable, anti-corrosive commercial and industrial coatings. In the commercial market, professional painters are looking for the best service, quality and performance, which includes leaning on local paint retailers and representatives to share their expertise and excellent product knowledge. They are looking for products that meet the demands of the job and have the necessary application properties to be efficient and provide quality results. Through this demand, and always, our top priority
is to continue providing our customers with the quality products and services they need and expect for their businesses to succeed.
PDR: How did you gather and implement Pro input for these products? Why is it important to get Pro input when formulating new products?
Karnstein: Our customers are integral to our product road mapping and development process. We collect input from customers to identify where we have opportunities to improve, where we have gaps in our assortment, and
where we can better position our formulas to service their needs. We also use customers to test our new prototypes before launching, with a field trial process that puts our new products to the test on real job sites. We
use customers for this because they’re the ones using the products day in and day out and need the products to perform. Their feedback is critical to bring the best performance to the market, which was the case when we
released PITTSBURGH PAINTS ANTI-SCUFF Interior Zero VOC paint.
This innovative new product is unlike any other coatings solution on the market. It delivers unrivaled scuff resistance for high-traffic areas in commercial and residential spaces, along with a smooth application and
finish, is high-hiding and has great coverage. Its quick drying capabilities help professional painters finish their jobs faster so they can move on to their next project. We are strategically focused on continuing to develop
new innovative formulas that meet both the application and performance demands of our customers.
PDR: How is the rebranding process going?
Karnstein: It’s a transition. New labels and messaging have been flowing into the market, with a lot more to come in 2026. Over the next 12+ months, we’ll be rebranding all of our labels to clearly highlight the information our customers care most about, such as clear technology, mix ratio and component details. We are also updating and improving our branded collateral to support this branding change for both dealer partners and end-users.
PDR: Do you expect any additional price increases in the coming months?
Karnstein: We continue to monitor the recent developments in the Middle East that are disrupting the global supply chain, resulting in significantly higher oil prices. Because the energy industry is embedded in our manufacturing and supply chain costs, the impacts on prices in the paint and coatings markets are unavoidable. Through this situation, we continue to provide our customers with the quality products and services they need to run their businesses.
PDR: How are you helping retailers mitigate supply chain challenges?
Karnstein: We have plans in place to mitigate supply chain challenges, and we do not anticipate any service issues. Since our products are manufactured in North America, we aren’t facing a supply chain impact from a production and fulfillment standpoint. This lets us continue to supply our company and partner stores with the products they need to succeed. We’re strategically focused on supplying our distribution centers to meet local
demand so that our dealer partners are able to better serve their customers and support them with their projects.
