Coatings World Breaking News

Sherwin-Williams awarded coatings contract for U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt

Tim Wright — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:28:00 -0500

Sherwin-Williams has been awarded the contract to supply marine coatings as part of a three-year overhaul of the supercarrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). The project began in August and will continue through late 2012 at Northrop GrummanShipbuilding Newport News, where the vessel was constructed and launched in 1984.The 1,092-foot-long carrier has seen duty in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The coatings contract was awarded by Mid-Atlantic Coatings, Chesapeake, VA.Sherwin-Williams will provide just-in-time coatings as work progresses for the exterior topside, underwater hull and freeboard. Tank coatings include potable water, ballast, feedwater, reserve feedwater and damage control voids. Over 20 Sherwin-Williams military-approved coatings products will be used in the coatings project.

H.B. Fuller launches new microsite

Tim Wright — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:25:00 -0500

H.B. Fuller has launched a new microsite illustrating its singular focus on perfecting adhesives. The site, www.hbfullerstrength.com, has been designed as a resource with specific examples of the people, products and processes involved in developing H.B. Fuller’s adhesives formulas. Visitors can learn more about H.B. Fuller’s performance and knowledge by reading case studies and downloading a capabilities brochure at the site. The microsite is currently in English, Spanish and German and additional languages are being developed. It also includes a blog for visitors to engage with H.B. Fuller in discussions of adhesives technologies and solutions.

DuPont Performance Services now market ready

Tim Wright — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:21:00 -0500

DuPont Performance Services (DPS) has completed training and certification programs for its newly formed team of business development managers and consultants. A total of 25 DPS experts dedicated to independent and dealer repairers or large MSO (multi-shop operation) accounts can now be called upon by shops looking to improve productivity and profitability. The certification sessions covered numerous weeks of intensive classroom training and testing, numerous field consulting engagements, a thorough Lean/Six Sigma training program, bi-weekly training sessions, field coaching ride-alongs and course facilitation “train the trainer” sessions. According to DPS collision services sales manager Steve Aitken, placing these experts within each sales district now means that shop owners, managers and technicians have localized access to a DPS expert who can help implement a personalized shop productivity plan for them. DPS offers education, consulting, tools, performance groups and performance alliance solutions to customers looking to improve productivity and profitability.

BASF Refinish launches new web site design

Tim Wright — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:18:00 -0500

BASF Automotive Refinish has launched a new web site design at www.basfrefinish.com. The first thing users will notice is that the new design offers a clean appearance and streamlined content. BASF also made major changes to the site navigation structure, which provides users with improved communication and greater ease of navigation. The site continues to be multilingual, featuring English, Spanish and French language choices. Another new feature to the site is an upgraded search interface, providing an interactive results grid allowing for column sorting and resizable columns.

Beckers Industrial Coatings and MatOx form R&D relationship

Tim Wright — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:04:00 -0500

Beckers Industrial Coatings Holdings AB and MatOx Oy have entered into a three-year research and development collaboration. Under the terms of this agreement, MatOx will use computational approaches to design new and unique coatings products with controllable functionality, which Beckers will have the option to bring to market. MatOx, the wholly owned Finnish subsidiary of UK-based MatOx Ltd., will work with academic staff at Helsinki University of Technology to develop and apply computational modeling and simulation in the design of new materials. MatOx will be focusing on several projects directly related to "smart" coatings, such as self-cleaning behavior or physical properties that change in response to external stimuli.

Scientists to make coating that can thwart chemical attack on vehicles

Tim Wright — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:55:00 -0500

Scientists are planning to develop a coating for military vehicles that would soak up a chemical warfare agent and then decontaminate itself, and could protect those operating in or around a vehicle after a chemical attack. According to a report by BBC News, the development work is being carried out by the UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). Dr. Steven Mitchell, from DSTL's headquarters at Porton Down in Wiltshire, said the next generation of coatings could be engineered to absorb chemical warfare agents. Further down the line, scientists are looking into reactive coatings. These would incorporate catalysts and possibly enzymes allowing the paint to "self-decontaminate."

"Ultimately, what we'd like to create is a coating that changes color to indicate it's been contaminated, decontaminates itself, then returns to the original colour when it's clean," said Dr. Mitchell, acting team leader for hazard management and decontamination at DSTL. "This is a long-term but not unreasonable ultimate objective."

Currently, strippable, or peelable, coatings are used when a new camouflage is required, changing a vehicle's color from green to, for example, light stone in order to blend with desert terrain. But even if something is not visible from far away, it may reveal itself by reflecting sunlight. The paint can also alter the vehicle's glint signature, helping conceal it from hostile troops. The coating is applied just like normal paint, often using commercially available spray guns.The paint can be used to temporarily change a vehicle's camouflage.

"It's a single pack emulsion. It looks much like paint you'd find in a DIY store for painting your house. So you could apply it with a paint brush, or you could apply it with a roller. It's really flexible," Dr. Mitchell said.

Dr. Mitchell said DSTL was currently working in partnership with industry to develop a version of the coating that would absorb the vast majority of a liquid chemical warfare agent.

Valspar Paint unveils 2010 color trend palettes for consumers

Tim Wright — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:48:00 -0500

Drawing on a consumer desire to relax, retreat and create a calm, soothing
environment at home, Valspar revealed its 2010 color trend palettes. Each of the four palettes—watercolor impression, retro retreat, vintage romance and peaceful ambiance—is comprised of eight colors, providing an assortment of
choices for consumers selecting colors within a particular trend. Inspired by
the current environment and consumer sentiment, these trend palettes build upon relevant societal themes and will carry greater significance as the year 2010 unfolds.

Valspar`s 2010 four color trend palettes:
• Watercolor impression is inspired by fluid patterns found in art, glassware and upholstery;
• Retro retreat colors of the past are reinvented for the present to create a
calming sanctuary. Paired with the right colors, this nostalgic palette of warm
earth tones, inviting greens and subtle blues can create a classic or modern
feel;
• Vintage romance rediscovers the regal elegance of a bygone era with the rich jewel tones and luxurious textures that defined the Victorian period; and
• Peaceful ambiance ethereal palette of warm and light earthy colors
creates a comforting and relaxing atmosphere in a time of economic uncertainty.

International Paint to merge distribution center with AkzoNobel store in Baton Rouge, LA

Tim Wright — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:42:00 -0500

International Paint Protective Coatings, an AkzoNobel company, will merge its distribution center in Baton Rouge, LA, with the local AkzoNobel company-owned store in the same locale—the first U.S. location to offer a full selection of International Paint Protective Coatings, Devoe High Performance Coatings and Glidden architectural paint products under one roof. Slated to begin joint operation in the first week of November, 2009, the state-of-the-art 4,000+-square-foot facility, with full automated racking, tinting and shipping capabilities, will serve high-performance protective coatings customers in the downstream oil and gas market segment, the water and wastewater market segments, as well as its traditional institutional, commercial and residential painting customers. The Baton Rouge location will be one of several distribution consolidations anticipated to occur during 2010.

PPG appoints Kenny vice president, corporate marketing

Tim Wright — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:04:00 -0500

PPG has named Patrick Kenny vice president, corporate marketing. He will continue to be based at the company's global headquarters. Kenny will be responsible for corporate marketing and growth initiatives, government selling programs, market-facing growth initiatives and marketing/sales competency development. He is currently PPG general manager, corporate marketing and construction markets.

Buhler launches Oxylink for eco-friendly coatings

Tim Wright — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:28:00 -0500

Buhler has introduced Oxylink, a new functional additive for waterborne paints and varnishes designed to improve the characteristics of coatings. A widely applicable additive based on nanoparticle technology, Oxylink is particularly suitable for one-component formulations and it facilitates compliance with future environmental requirements. Oxylink is a formulated additive that improves MEK rub resistance, blocking and humidity resistance and it reduces drying time. Other important parameters such as gloss are not affected. Oxylink contains tailor-made nanoparticles that improve the coating by direct interaction with the resin. It is based on so-called dispersions of inorganic nanoparticles in water and requires a dosage of one percent. The additive may be used for clear as well as pigmented formulations. Oxylink is available in three standard categories—Oxylink 3101, 3102 and 3103.

Univar names president and CEO

Tim Wright — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:52:00 -0500

Univar has appointed John Zillmer as president and CEO. Gary Pruitt, non-executive chairman of the board, announced his plans to retire as Univar's chief executive last April. Zillmer joins Univar after serving as chairman and CEO of Allied Waste Industries, Inc. from 2005 until it merged with Republic Services in December 2008. A Fortune 500 company and publicly traded on the NYSE, Allied was the second largest non-hazardous solid waste company in the U.S. with 2008 sales in excess of $6.5 billion.

Celanese unveils EcoVAE 408

Tim Wright — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:46:00 -0500

As coatings manufacturers turn to innovation to help them recover from the financial downturn, Celanese Emulsions is offering new products for architectural coatings at the Western Coatings Symposium, October 25-28, in Las Vegas, NV. Celanese Emulsions will feature low odor, low VOC solutions for coatings manufacturers. “Paint manufacturers today are either trying to stay ahead of the curve on VOC legislation or they are looking for ways to best position ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ formulas to the consumer to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace,” said Craig Mitchell, marketing director.

Celanese is launching the newest member of the EcoVAE emulsion family—EcoVAE 408. It is designed for use in low odor, low VOC interior decorative paints that require freeze/thaw stability. “This new product meets our ‘EcoVAE criteria checklist’ which means the emulsion is a vinyl acetate/ethylene base, is APE-free, has a low residual monomer level and can be formulated into low VOC coatings to achieve green certifications,” said Mitchell.

Wacker opens new headquarters and technical center in the U.S.

Tim Wright — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:00 -0500

Wacker Chemie AG has inaugurated its new headquarters and technical center in Allentown, PA/USA. Equipped with lab facilities, the technical center will develop and test polymer products chiefly for applications in the construction, adhesive, engineered fabrics and architectural coating industries. Through its new addition, the Munich-based chemical company is promoting international quality standards and the exchange of expertise with regional customers and partners. The technical center is located at Wacker Polymers' new U.S. headquarters, which also opened recently. Alongside research and applications labs, the new headquarters is housed in 6,200 square meters of space and is home to sales, marketing, customer-service and administrative functions. The move to Allentown is part of Wacker’s integration of its two former joint ventures—Air Products Polymers and Wacker Polymer Systems—into the group. Wacker acquired full ownership of these two companies last year.

Wacker, Dow Corning start to build second phase of pyrogenic silica plant in China

Tim Wright — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:24:00 -0500

Wacker Chemie AG and Dow Corning Corporation started the construction of the second phase of their pyrogenic silica plant in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, China. The pyrogenic silica plant, together with a siloxane plant, is a key facility of an integrated silicone manufacturing site developed by both companies at Jiangsu Yangtze River Chemical Industrial Park in Zhangjiagang to produce materials used extensively in industries including construction, beauty and personal care, power and automotives. Covering an area of one million square meters, the site is China’s largest facility of this kind and among the world’s largest and most advanced integrated production complexes for silicones. The overall nameplate capacity for both siloxane and pyrogenic silica, including the second phase silica plant, is expected to be approximately 210,000 metric tons per year. Investments from both partners for the new pyrogenic silica production plant will amount to a mid double-digit million euro sum. Pyrogenic silica is a nano-structured specialty chemical. It can be used as an active filler in silicone elastomers, a viscosity-adjusting agent in coatings, printing inks, adhesives, unsaturated polyester resins and plastisols or as a flow aid, for example in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food-processing industries.

BASF enters global cooperation with Kia Motors

Tim Wright — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:21:00 -0500

BASF Coatings and Kia Motors have reached an agreement to cooperate in automotive refinish solutions at Kia Motors after-sales network in locations around the world. The agreement recognizes BASF Automotive Refinish as an official automotive refinish paint supplier for Kia Motor’s after-sales network worldwide. In addition, BASF Automotive Refinish will provide Kia Motors official service packages adapted to local agreements. Particularly important among the service package is an automotive refinish training program, jointly developed to meet and fulfill all the requirements of dealer network of Kia Motors worldwide. BASF will help train hundreds of expert body shop workers and repair technicians in the best way to restore a car to its pre-accident condition.