As We Go To Press
BASF to close New Jersey site
BASF will close its Belvidere, NJ, automotive refinish paint manufacturing
site by Dec. 31, 2010. The facility, a
part of BASF’s coatings division, manufactures automotive refinish products
for the collision repair, automotive
refinish and automotive aftermarket
industries.
Employees were notified that the
approximately 112 positions at the site
will be eliminated over the next two
years. The company started paint production at the site in 1985.
“We wanted employees to be aware of
this decision as soon as it was made. We
regret the impact this decision may have
on these employees and their families,”
said Juan Carlos Ordonez, group vice
president of BASF’s coatings regional
business unit. “The decision is in no way
a reflection of the hard work, dedication
and professionalism of the colleagues at
this facility.”
The decision was made because the
Belvidere site is an aging facility and
would require significant infrastructure investment to continue operation, according to the company.
Products currently manufactured at
the site will be moved to other BASF
sites, though specific locations are
not yet known.
A key benefit of the merger will be the
integrated support that will now be
given to companies pursuing government funding for R&D projects, whether
under EC or national schemes, according
to PRA.
“The merger is an important step in
the further development of Pera into an
international organization and with
PRA as part of the Pera Innovation
Network, we will have an outstanding
competency for industrial materials and
nanotechnology research and business
support,” said John Hill, CEO at Pera.
NPCA/FSCT TO FULLY MERGE
The National Paint and Coatings
Association (NPCA) and the Federation
of Societies for Coatings Technology
(FSCT) have announced their intent to
complete a full merger of the two organ-
izations by March 31, 2009. After that
time, the NPCA/FSCT will become one
fully integrated coatings industry association providing goods and services for
science and technology professionals, as
well as corporate members.
Since June 2008, NPCA and FSCT
have been operating as two separate but
aligned organizations. However, the current economic conditions, and a substantial decrease in both short- and long-term FSCT revenues, forced the two
organizations to pursue a full organizational merger. The goal of the merger is
to create a stronger, more cohesive
organization allowing NPCA/FSCT to
provide the advocacy and public policy
programs NPCA is traditionally known
for, while preserving and eventually
enhancing the technical programs currently provided by FSCT. CW
Index to Companies
This index gives the starting page for a department or feature with
a significant reference to a manufacturer of paint, coatings, adhe-
sives and sealants. Subsidiaries are indexed under their own names.
PRA/PERA MERGE
PRA (Paint Research Association) and
Pera (Production Engineering Research
Association) have today merged both
organizations following a meeting of
PRA members. PRA will continue to
operate autonomously but as part of the
Pera Innovation Network.
“Merging with Pera will enable us to
consolidate the very positive progress
made over the past three years and to
further develop our services in support of
the innovation and growth of PRA member companies,” said Jonathan Bourne,
managing director at PRA.
AkzoNobel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 50
Aremco .................................................. 28
BASF Coatings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10
Benjamin Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Cabot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
ICA Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Industrial Nanotech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Jotun. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Minwax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Nissan Motor Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Randolph Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Republic Powdered Metals,Inc. .............................. 28
Rust-Oleum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Sherwin-Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Thompson’s Water Seal ..................................... 20
