Coatings World - February 2010

Fresh Paint
(Barcelona) previously focused on
developing Hempel’s range of antifoul-
ing coatings and developing products
for Spanish customers. Now, after a €2
million expansion project, the R&D
Centre will be able to apply its knowl-
edge to support European businesses
with protective, decorative and yacht
coatings developed specifically to meet
European and country legislation. The
expansion will also enable Hempel to
expand its International Trainee
Program. The Polinyà R&D center
employs 40 people.

caused confusion among industry. It proposes options for resolving these problems, and recommends harmonizing thresholds for product exemptions.

The Ökopol study also highlights
concerns over unanticipated VOC
labelling costs, estimated at €576 mil-
lion. To reduce costs, industry has
requested a one-year extension of the
transition period for allowing sales of

T
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®
Patented blending/dispersing blade design makes radical
improvement over old saw tooth designs

COMMISSION PONDERS
PAINTS DIRECTIVE EXTENSION

The 2004 directive on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints and var-nishes could be extended to other products such as hairsprays, window cleaning products and wood coatings, according to an EU consultancy study published in December.

The directive’s review was demanded by EU legislators in 2004. The European Commission will now consider the consultancy’s recommendations and possibly propose legislative changes in 2011, an official told ENDS.

The directive covers paints and var-nishes used in buildings and vehicles. German consultants Ökopol recommend extending the rules to seven categories: deoderants, hairspray, sol-vent-based adhesives, window cleaners, protective coatings, wood coatings and new types of vehicle refinishing.

The consultants also recommend a stricter VOC limit value for solid-based interior decorative paints of 130 grams per liter. They do not call for a stricter limit value for vehicle coatings, citing several reasons. For example VOC emission reductions would be marginal in some cases.

The paints directive was meant to complement a 1999 law setting VOC limits for products used in industrial facilities. But Ökopol highlights overlaps between the two laws, which