Coatings World - September 2008

Fresh Paint

electronic products that are manufactured both for export and domestic sale. The coatings are made and sold in China, Vietnam and Malaysia, and distributed to 15 other Asian countries.

Founded in 1992, Inchem has more than 400 employees across its four manufacturing plants and sales of approximately $30 million.

DUPONT VENTURE
OPENS R&D CENTER IN RUSSIA

DuPont Russian Coatings LLC has opened the largest technical center in Russia dedicated to the development of high-performance automotive coatings. The $3 million facility is located at the Yaroslav headquarters of DuPont Russian Coatings, a joint venture established in 2006 by DuPont and Russkie-Kraski to supply coatings to manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The new research and development center’s primary focus is adapting the technical properties of new coatings materials to the line conditions at new car manufacturers’ plants and at the operations of plastic parts makers. Because of the lab’s close proximity, the 15 DuPont Russian Coatings scientists staffing the new center will be better able to anticipate and respond to the needs of the fast-growing Russian auto industry.

H.B. FULLER TO BUILD SPECIALTY
ADHESIVE FACILITY IN CHINA

H.B. Fuller Company has made plans to invest further in its Asia Pacific region operations through the building of a new hot melt moisture cure (HMMC) and polyisobutylene (PIB) manufacturing facility in China.

Construction on the new facility is expected to commence in early 2009 with production expected to begin in

early 2010. The new facility, together with the company’s new Asia Pacific technology center, will enable H.B. Fuller to more fully serve the needs of its customers in the region. The facility will produce specialty adhesives for textile and performance wood applications, which include insulating glass, textile lamination and footwear.

PRAXAIR SURFACE TECHNOLOGIES EXPANDS ITS COATINGS SERVICES Praxair Surface Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., has completed the expansion of its Indianapolis-based ceramic coat-

CCAI AWARD WINNERS

The Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) honored members for service and dedication and installed its 2008-2009 officers and national board members during their 2008 annual meeting held in Clearwater Beach, FL in late June.

In a first, CCAI named long-time board members, George Bryant of Briggs & Stratton, and Larry Melgary of Northern Coatings & Chemicals, duel James F. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award for their years of dedication and service to the association. This was the first time CCAI presented two Lifetime Achievement Awards in the same year. Chapter User and Supplier of the Year members were also honored during CCAI’s awards luncheon held in conjunction with the annual meeting. Chapters recognize a user and supplier member for their year-long service and dedication to their respective chapter.

2007-2008 award winners were: Bill Boyce, Allied Tube & Conduit and Aivars Freidenfelds, Elektro-Physik of the Northern Illinois Chapter; Bill Deiss, Knape & Vogt

ing facility, which is used to coat aircraft engine components for General Electric (GE).

The facilities capacity has been expanded by more than 50%. Using GE licensed technology Praxair Surface Technologies is now supplying increased volumes of electron beam-physical vapor deposited ceramic coatings which provide thermal barrier protection to engine components.

Praxair Surface Technologies also provides GE-Aviation and other GE business with various other coatings and materials from its operations around the world.

and Dale Mulder, ChemQuest of the West Michigan Chapter; Angela Kokesh, Life Fitness and Deb Savage, Valspar of the Twin Cities Chapter; Louis McClain, RML, Inc. Premier Powder Coating and Bruce Nickolett, DuPont of the Central States Chapter; and Dick Klein, Kohler Co. and Bill Oney, American Finishing Res. of the Wisconsin Chapter.