Axalta, engineering is the foundation of
much of our operations and technology.
Graduating students will have the key to
opportunities in so many potential occu-
pations and be able to give back to the
communities they’re from across the state
and the nation.”
The purpose of the chair is to attract
or retain an engineering faculty member
with teaching and research interests re-
lated to paint and coating technologies,
including but not limited to rheology,
accelerated testing, and dispersion and
process modeling. Distributions from
endowment will support the teaching, re-
search, service and professional develop-
ment activities of the holder of the chair
in accordance with University guidelines.
“With more than 150 years in the
coatings industry, Axalta Coating Systems
understands the importance of investing
in the future,” said M. Katherine Banks,
vice chancellor and dean of Texas A&M
Engineering. “Providing the funds for a
faculty chair allows us to attract, reward
and retain the best faculty members.
We appreciate Axalta and CEO Charlie
Shaver helping us prepare the next gener-
ation of engineering leaders through this
generous gift.”
Axalta has a strong relationship with
the university and the Look College. In
2014, Axalta launched its college racing program with Texas A&M. Selected
students were invited to attend the annual NASCAR race at the Texas Motor
Speedway where they were able to get an
in-depth look into applications of engineering on the track and in the pits and
meet crew members of Jeff Gordon’s No.
24 Team Chevy sponsored by Axalta.
A number of Texas A&M alumni work
throughout Axalta.
PPG Passive Fire Protection
Coatings Lab Awarded UL
Witness Test Data Program
Certificate
PPG announced that Underwriters
Laboratories (UL), a global safety science
organization, has awarded its
passive fire protection (PFP) coat-
ings lab in Kunshan, China, a
certificate of participation in the
UL Witness Test Data Program (WTDP).
PPG is now the only coatings manufac-
turer in Asia Pacific certified to conduct
fire-resistance testing compliant with
UL1709 on furnaces in its own labora-
tory, under the supervision of UL person-
nel, as its physical resources, equipment
and qualified personnel have been found
equivalent to those of UL’s laboratories.
“UL standards are widely recognized
as industry standards for fire safety
products globally,” said Milton Chen,
PPG general manager, protective and
marine coatings, Greater China. “We
are honored to be certified by the WTDP
program, which means the Kunshan
technology center will play a more
prominent role in supporting our global
protective and marine coatings business
and developing new PFP coatings to
meet local customer demand.”
