increasingly attractive region.”
“There is huge growth potential in the
Middle East, particularly in the architectural sector, which accounts for
around 60% of the area’s powder coatings market,” added powder coatings
general manager Rob Molenaar. “We
offer an extensive range of powder and
liquid technologies and we are keen to
utilize our scale and expertise in order
to meet all the needs of our customers.”
Located in Jebel Ali, 35 kilometers
south west of Dubai, the new site offers
a full range of services and products,
including color matching, rapid made-to-order products, and technical support
DUPONT, AMERICAN TRIM
FORM COLLABORATION
DuPont CoatingSolutions and American
Trim have teamed up to promote an
innovative coating technology. American
Trim recently took delivery of a physical
vapor deposition chamber (PVD) that
allows for the processing of a chrome-like finish without the use of hexavalent
chrome. The PVD process employs a
base powder coating supplied by
DuPont, which serves as a protective,
functional layer and smooths out the
surface. Therefore, no sanding or buffing
is required on rough parts, like castings.
The PVD chamber is utilized to deposit
the very thin layer of metal. Parts are
then coated with a clear acrylic topcoat
for protection of the metal layer and
added durability.
The PVD process was primarily
designed for decorative finishing in the
NPCA AND FSCT SIGN AGREEMENT TO MERGE, ICE
TO BE COMBINED WITH AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW
The National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) and the
Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT)
have signed a memorandum of agreement, which outlines
the details of a prospective merger of the two organizations.
The agreement describes a “governance merger” that will
consolidate the governance, management and administrative functions of both groups under NPCA, while preserving
each organization’s separate identities, operations, functions and member services. NPCA and FSCT will remain as
separate organizations managed through a common governing structure.
As part of the merger, FSCT and NPCA have agreed to
combine the International Coatings Expo (ICE) with the
American Coatings Show and Conference (ACS) to be held
on June 2-5, 2008, in Charlotte, NC. With the combination
of ICE into the ACS, ICE 2008 in Chicago will be canceled.
NPCA and FSCT will fully endorse and support the
American Coatings Show as the premier exhibition for the
coatings industry.
In addition, NPCA and FSCT will endorse and support
the FSCT’s international technology conference,
FutureCoat!, which will continue as the signature science
and technology event for the industry and a forum for
FSCT’s annual meeting. A complement to the American
Coatings Conference, FutureCoat! will be held in the fall of
2008 in Chicago and feature multi-track educational programming focused on globally responsible coatings. NPCA
and FSCT have agreed to explore the possibility of holding
FutureCoat! in conjunction and/or in cooperation with
future American Coatings Shows and American Coatings
Conferences and/or the NPCA annual meeting and leadership conference. NPCA and FSCT also have agreed to coordinate future planning of the American Coatings Show and
Conference and FutureCoat! to avoid conflicts for participants and to ensure the most effective and efficient use of
industry resources.
NPCA president Andy Doyle and FSCT executive director Joe Pontoski said in a joint statement, “NPCA and
FSCT view FSCT as the leading technical and scientific
educational organization for the industry and NPCA as the
leading advocacy and public policy based organization for
the industry. NPCA and FSCT fully endorse membership in
and the programs and activities of both organizations.
NPCA and FSCT are committed to combining their
resources and expertise for the greater benefit of the industry. The purpose of integrating the management and financial resources of both parties is to enhance the overall quality and breadth of programs and services provided to the
industry and to efficiently and effectively apply resources to
industry priorities. In addition, we recognize that an
important aspect of a successful merger of our two organizations is a continued affiliation and effective interaction
with the industry’s network of local societies, councils and
associations, and the Coatings Industry Education
Foundation. We not only expect our relationship with these
groups to continue, but to be enhanced and expanded.”
NPCA and FSCT have agreed to an action plan to finalize the merger. FSCT’s board of directors has already
approved the memorandum of agreement and has recommended approval to its membership; NPCA’s board of directors will take formal action on the agreement at its meeting
on March 19. Following a decision by NPCA’s board, the
agreement will be submitted to the FSCT general membership for approval beginning on March 21. Voting by the
FSCT membership will likely take place between April 21
and May 2, 2008, for all members of record as of February
29, 2008. All aspects of the merger are expected to be completed by June 3, 2008.
