Coatings World - May 2010

Fresh Paint have to settle for something close to what they originally envisioned. There’s no settling here.”

AKZONOBEL REBRANDS
INDIAN ICI BUSINESS
AkzoNobel’s integration activities fol-
lowing the acquisition of ICI have
reached a significant landmark with
the ICI India business now officially
known as AkzoNobel India Limited.
ICI India, a separate listed company
on the stock market, is one of the
country’s leading decorative paints
businesses. Led by managing director
Amit Jain under the same board of
directors, the rebranded business will
continue to play a pivotal role in the
company’s strategic growth plans.

PPG WINS PACE AWARD FOR SUPER HIGH THROW ELECTROCOAT

PPG was named a 2010 Automotive News PACE Award winner at the PACE Award Ceremony. The prestigious award recognizes automotive suppliers for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance. PPG was recognized for its Super High Throw Electrocoat, which allows coatings to penetrate recessed, hard-to-reach areas and interior surfaces on a vehicle without leaving excess paint on the exterior surfaces. This innovation reduces weight and improves the efficiency of the electrocoat process. In one year, PPG and Toyota have launched Super High Throw Electrocoat at 11 plants in North America and Europe.

“We are honored to receive the PACE Award for this exciting product,” said Cindy Niekamp, PPG vice president, automotive coatings. “Super High Throw Electrocoat is another important innovation from PPG that reflects our dedication to improving our customers processes and products while reducing overall costs and environmental impact.”

PPG’s Super High Throw Electrocoat team accepts the Automotive News PACE Award. From left to right: Yuko Gidcum (Toyota), Darren Soroczak (PPG), Jim Long (PPG), Chris Flener (PPG), Jack Burgman (PPG), Cindy Niekamp (PPG), David Janowiecki (Toyota), Ed Pagac (PPG) and Matt Marek (PPG).

The 16th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers’ Contribution to Excellence) Award was presented by Automotive News, Ernst & Young LLP and Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.). The competition was open to suppliers who contribute products, processes, materials or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks. The Automotive News PACE Award is accepted around the world as the industry symbol of innovation. PPG won in the Product category, which recognizes innovations in new products, components or systems that have significant market impact and act as “game changers” in the automotive industry.

VALSPAR INTRODUCES ELITE APPLICATOR PROGRAM The Valspar extrusion coatings group announced the release of a new applicator program designed to assist architects and building owners source quality aluminum extrusions and wall panels post-painted with Valspar coatings. The program is open to applicators of any of Valspar extrusion coating systems including the 70% PVDF Fluropon product family, the 50% PVDF Acroflur and Acrodize products and its polyester products such as the Polylure line. In order to join, applicators must demonstrate they can consistently produce high quality products, accommodate industry service level expectations, and agree to continual improvement goals based in part by Valspar provided continuing education as well as routine quality audits and safety programs. Valspar offers its applicators access to various resources that enable them to provide solutions to the building products industry. These resources include: • Valspar mix and match technology and systems that allow applicators to follow an electronic paint recipe to quickly create a product at their facility that is color consistent with other samples and production of the same recipe;