Axalta Celebrates
150 Years in the
Coatings Industry by
Globally Investing in
its Future
Axalta Coating Systems has announced
it will invest in its powder coatings
manufacturing facility in Montbrison,
France, to improve manufacturing capabilities substantially.
Significant improvements will be
achieved throughout the site, including
the use of smart automation and upgraded production technology on the
bonded metallics lines. As part of the enhancement, the workflow in the facility
will undergo a transformation designed
to improve efficiency, productivity and
overall quality.
“The heart of the investment to
innovate our industrial business is
creating a better experience for our cus-
tomers,” stated Michael Cash, president
of Industrial Coatings at Axalta. “With
lean automation and upgraded pro-
duction technology in Montbrison, we
will be able to provide customers with
improved lead times and greater flex-
ibility. The upgrades on the bonded me-
tallics production lines will contribute to
higher quality powders, and will at least
double our production capacity in this
growing segment.”
The Montbrison site is one the larg-
est facilities for the production of Alesta,
one of Axalta’s powder coating brands.
Alesta serves a variety of industrial ap-
plications, ranging from anti-graffiti
to metallic, and they are all designed
to meet stringent performance require-
ments, offer superior corrosion protec-
tion and maintain the vibrant aesthetics
of significant products of our industrial
customers, from crop harvesting ma-
chinery and bulldozers to furniture and
building cladding.
The investment in Montbrison is one
of a series of commitments that Axalta
has made over the past 24 months to expand capacity and continually improve
the manufacture of its coatings around
the world in order to meet customer
needs. Work at Montbrison will began in
April 2016 and is scheduled for completion in 2017.
Sherwin-Williams Launches
Interactive Water &
Wastewater Coatings App
Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine
Coatings launched the Water &
Wastewater App designed to provide
users with protective coating recommendations for the following water and
wastewater operations: conventional
water treatment, membrane water/waste-water treatment, water storage, water
conveyance, sewer collection and wastewater treatment.
The app was developed to help engineers access accurate and up-to-date
coatings information via mobile technology. If a new product is introduced, or an
old product is no longer manufactured,
the Water & Wastewater App displays the
updated information.
From conventional treatment to membrane treatment, digesters to clarifiers,
the app provides coating solutions for
more than 35 functional areas across six
different water and wastewater facility
types. For example, in sewer collection,
the app suggests coatings for the following six areas: the lift/pump station, force
main sewer, gravity sewer manhole, air
release vault, sewer trunk line and junction splitter box.
The app’s home screen allows the user
to select the type of functional area in
need of coating. Once the site has been
selected, labeled areas of the plant appear.
By clicking on a labeled area, the app will
populate specific coating recommendations for it.
The recommendation includes a primary coating system (primer, intermediate and top coat), dry film thickness for
each coat and total mils for the system.
Surface preparation tips and process descriptions are also included in the recommendation. By clicking on a product
name, the app pulls up a detailed product
data sheet.
“Water and wastewater coatings
from Sherwin-Williams are formulat-
ed to return assets to service quickly,”
said Kevin Morris, Sherwin-Williams
regional water and wastewater mar-
ket segment director. “The Water &
Wastewater App is an extension of that
fast-return-to-service focus, allowing
engineers to access comprehensive coat-
ing solutions at their fingertips.”
The Water & Wastewater App evolved
from Sherwin-Williams’ deep familiarity
with the specific needs of the industry’s
operations, demonstrating commitment
to service and logistical support for its
customers. The app is optimized for iOS
tablet devices and all Android devices.
PPG Completes Divestment
of Minority Interest in
Automotive Glass Business
PPG has announced that, in connection
with LKQ Corporation’s completed purchase of Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW),
it has divested its approximately 40
percent minority ownership interest in
PGW. LKQ announced the completed
transaction.
PPG has held a minority interest in
PGW since 2008, when it completed the
sale of its automotive glass and services
business to PGW, which was controlled
by Mount Kisco, NY-based Kohlberg &
Company, LLC.
Axalta Coating Systems
Endows Texas A&M Chair
Axalta Coating Systems has endowed
the Axalta Coating Systems Chair in the
Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical
Engineering in the Dwight Look College
of Engineering at Texas A&M University.
The two million dollar chair will also
receive funding from the Office of the
President of the University.
The endowment is a response to
the university’s multi-year campaign –
themed “Lead By Example” – which is
designed to provide adequate resources
to help solve a variety of “real world”
challenges which its students are being
equipped to address. It is one of the most
ambitious fund raising programs ever un-dertaken by a public university in the U.S.
“We are excited to be able to support Texas A&M’s programs and especially the curriculum at the Look
College,” explained Axalta Chairman
and CEO Charlie Shaver and an alumnus
of Texas A&M with a degree in chemical engineering. “The applied sciences
are the backbone of so many initiatives
in both the private and public sector. At
