of increasing efficiency of the
combined group, through economies of scale, innovation and the
realization of synergies especially in the fields of R&D, and by unifying
branding and marketing, according to the
company. R&D activities of the enlarged
group will be centralized in Slovenia in
order to concentrate all knowledge and
innovation in Helios Domžale. RIH, thus
intends to preserve and further create
highly skilled workplaces in Slovenia.
Helios will become the headquarter of
the combined entity and the umbrella
brand of the new combined entity and
shall become an active consolidator of the
coating industry in Europe, with a special
focus on SEE (South Eastern Europe)
and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent
States) region. RIH will further develop
the Helios brand and its main brand
names. Slovenian main manufacturing
locations shall remain the centerpiece of
Helios’ business activities. Employment
levels at Helios in Slovenia shall be substantially maintained or increased.
Helios is a leading manufacturer
of coatings in South Eastern Europe.
Headquartered in Slovenia (Domžale
near Ljubljana), Helios employs approximately 2,200 employees and runs
ten productionplants located in Slovenia,
Croatia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine. The
company’s product portfolio covers the
full spectrum of coating products, including decorative coatings, car refinishing coatings, coatings for metal industry,
coatings for wood industry, powder coatings, road marking paints and synthetic
resins. The company reports that it holds
leading market positions in selected geographies and product categories with
a strong portfolio of well-known established brands such as Mobihel, Helios,
Chromos, Belinka, Zvezda, Colomix,
Odilak, Duga and Color.
PPG Architectural Coatings
Joins Growing HomeSphere
Network of Preferred
Manufacturers
HomeSphere Inc. announced that PPG
Architectural Coatings will join its grow-
ing digital lead-generation and customer
loyalty platform, opening up new revenue
opportunities for the brand.
A respected paint industry leader,
PPG will connect HomeSphere’s grow-
ing builder network to its wide range of
interior and exterior paints and stains,
caulks and adhesives, including the re-
cently added Glidden Professional Paints
and products that meet the most strin-
gent environmental standards. Its popu-
lar brands, including Pittsburgh Paints,
Olympic and Martha Stewart Living, are
distributed through home centers, inde-
pendent dealers and a network of compa-
ny-owned stores across North America.
“With our strong suite of brands and
large distribution network, PPG is unique-
ly positioned to service the new residen-
tial market,” said PPG national business
development manager Carl Howell.
“HomeSphere connects our team to a
much broader base of home builders that
can benefit from our variety and environ-
mentally-conscious paints and coatings.”
PPG joins nearly 75 preferred manufacturers using HomeSphere BRI and its
industry-first digital marketing services
to connect with a growing network of
regional and local builders. Members of
HomeSphere’s extensive builder network
are staged to construct nearly 20 percent of the total new single-family homes
forecast in 2013. Nationally, local and
regional builders construct 75 percent of
current new-build homes.
Keep America Beautiful’s
Graffiti Prevention Grant
Awards Presented to Seven
Local Organizations
Keep America Beautiful (KAB) announced the winners of the 2013 Graffiti
Hurts Grant Program. This year, KAB
provided four $2,500 cash grants as well
as two $2,500 paint supply certificates
from The Sherwin-Williams Company.
Q-Star also provided a FlashCAM, valued at $6,995, to one deserving recipient.
The FlashCAM is a deterrent system effective in preventing illegal trespassing
during hours it most often occurs.
$2,500 cash grant recipients:
•Population >250,000: Keep
Riverside Clean & Beautiful,
Riverside, California
• Population 75,000 – 250,000: City
of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.
•Population < 75,000: Coastal
Carolina University, Conway, South
Carolina and Keep Hammond
Beautiful, Hammond, Louisiana.
$2,500 Sherwin-Williams paint supply
certificate recipients:
•Population > 75,000: Keep Las
Vegas Beautiful, Las Vegas, Nevada.
•Population 75,000 – 250,000:
Keep Alachua County Beautiful,
Gainesville, Florida.
Q-Star FlashCAM recipient:
• Eight Mile Boulevard Association,
Detroit, Michigan.
“The recipients of this year’s Graffiti
Hurts Grant Program awards reinforce
how volunteer engagement can help
mitigate damage that can be caused by
graffiti vandalism,” said Becky Lyons,
COO of Keep America Beautiful. “We’re
very grateful to The Sherwin-Williams
Company for its ongoing support of the
Graffiti Hurts program, which provides
communities with valuable tools and re-
sources to abate graffiti.”
Responding to the blight of graffiti
vandalism, the Graffiti Hurts program
was developed in 1996 through a part-
nership between Keep America Beautiful,
the nation’s largest nonprofit that builds
and sustains vibrant communities, and
The Sherwin-Williams Company, maker
of Krylon paint. The Graffiti Hurts Grant
Program was initiated in 2007. According
to the U.S. Department of Justice, graf-
fiti contributes to lost revenue associated
with reduced ridership on transit sys-
tems, reduced retail sales, and declines in
the value of surrounding residential and
commercial property.
“The Graffiti Hurts Grant Program
augments the power of local partnerships, volunteerism and community
engagement in beautifying communities while eradicating blight,” said Ian
L. Gresham, vice president of marketing, Diversified Brands Division,
The Sherwin-Williams Company.
“Sherwin-Williams is proud to be a
