About SEM Products
About SEM Products
SEM Products was founded in 1948 by William "Bill" Elliott and George Sneckner and has grown into a specialty manufacturer of aerosols, adhesives, and coatings headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The company built its reputation on products engineered to match and restore difficult substrates - vinyl, leather, plastic, and fabric - that standard paints and coatings struggle to bond with.
For decades SEM operated as an employee-owned company before PPG Industries acquired it in December 2018, giving SEM access to broader manufacturing and distribution resources while the brand continued serving the automotive, aerospace, marine, and industrial markets it built its name in. SEM's core strength remains color-matched and flexible coatings for interior trim, upholstery, and specialty surfaces.
ChatMRO lists SEM aerosol coatings, color-match paints, vinyl and leather repair products, and adhesion promoters so technicians can find the right can for a specific substrate without guesswork. Searching by material type - vinyl, ABS plastic, leather, or fabric - surfaces the matching SEM product and compatible accessories.
Prefer a quick quote?
Get SEM Products Pricing in Your Inbox
Tell us the substrate and color you're matching and we'll quote genuine SEM coatings or adhesives.
Frequently asked questions
What makes SEM coatings different from standard spray paint?
SEM engineers its coatings specifically to bond with flexible and difficult substrates like vinyl, leather, plastic, and fabric, which standard rigid-surface paints often crack or peel from. Many SEM products include a dedicated adhesion promoter step to ensure the coating flexes with the material instead of chipping.
Is SEM Products still independently owned?
No, SEM operated as an employee-owned company for most of its history before PPG Industries acquired it in December 2018. The brand and its Rock Hill, South Carolina manufacturing continue to operate under PPG's ownership.
What industries use SEM aerosol products?
SEM coatings and adhesives are used across automotive interior repair, aerospace, marine upholstery, and general industrial refinishing. The product line was originally built around matching factory interior colors on vehicles.
Can SEM products be color-matched to a specific vehicle interior?
Yes, SEM is known for its color-match systems that let technicians tint coatings to match OEM interior colors for vinyl, leather, and plastic trim. This color-matching capability is one of the company's core specialties since its founding.
How long has SEM Products been manufacturing coatings?
SEM was founded in 1948 by William Elliott and George Sneckner, giving the company more than 75 years of experience in specialty coatings and adhesives. It remains headquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina today.