and prioritise our efforts over
the coming years, and it is key
that we continue to provide the
best regulatory advice, to increase membership, to improve awareness of the BCF, and the contribution
that the coatings industry makes to the
UK economy, and to work even harder
on lobbying both in the UK and Europe.
Brexit will have a major impact on BCF’s
work in the future, and we are working
proactively for the best future business
environment for our members.”
PPG Qualifies Chrome-free
Aerospace Primer, Coatings
System in Europe
PPG has qualified a chrome-free aerospace primer at Dassault Aviation for
external aircraft application and the
primer with a PPG aerospace topcoat as
structural coatings at Safran and Zodiac
Aerosafety.
DESOPRIME CF/CA 7521 chrome-free epoxy primer is qualified to Dassault
specification DGT150171 and Safran
specification HMRC0154. The PPG
chrome-free primer is qualified with
DESOTHANE HS/CA 8000 series topcoats to Safran specification HMRC0155
and to Zodiac Aerosafety specification as
a structural system.
According to Daniel Bencun, PPG
aerospace coatings segment manager
for the Europe, Middle East and Africa
region, these qualifications ensure PPG
products meet the performance and application requirements of customers.
“Desoprime CF/CA 7521 chrome-free
primer offers excellent corrosion resistance
while its eco-friendly formulation reduces
environmental impact and associated
costs,” Bencun said. “Desoprime primers
and Desothane topcoats are compatible
with our customers’ spraying equipment
and achieve an excellent appearance.”
RPM Acquires Bridge and
Highway Infrastructure
Maintenance Business
RPM International Inc. has announced
that Applied Polymerics, Inc. &
Marketing Associates, Inc. (API/MAI), a
specialist civil engineering and construction organization focusing on bridges,
roads and major structures, has been acquired to be part of its Universal Sealants
(U.K.) Limited (USL) business within the
RPM Performance Coatings Group. API/
MAI manufactures, supplies and installs
specialist construction products, including bridge expansion joints, concrete repair compounds, protective coatings and
pavement preservation products. Based in
Mount Airy, North Carolina, it has annual net sales of approximately $14 million.
Terms of the transaction, which is expected to be accretive to earnings within one
year, were not disclosed.
“RPM’s USL subsidiary, the UK’s leader in bridge expansion joint and bridge
repair, has a wide range of products and
know-how that will enable API/MAI to
expand its reach and become a national
player throughout the U.S. in compatible
market spaces,” stated Frank C. Sullivan,
RPM chairman and chief executive officer.
“API/MAI’s historical track record with
local Department of Transportation divi-
sions will greatly accelerate acceptance in
the market and provide the opportunity
to sell high value, differentiated technolo-
gies to solve larger and more complex
bridge and road repair needs.”
As is typical with many of RPM’s
acquisitions, the existing management
team, led by Jonathan Simmons and
Mark O’Neal, will continue to lead the
API/MAI organization.
Axalta Coating Systems
Launches Master Refinish
Certification Program
Axalta Coating Systems has launched a
Master Refinish Certification program
as part of its Learning and Development
offering in North America. The Master
Refinish Certification program provides
a path for refinish customers to advance
skills and abilities from industry standard
to expert through four educational stages. Students can earn the Master Refinish
Certification using Axalta’s refinish
brands, including Cromax, Spies Hecker
and Standox. In addition, many of the
courses that lead to certification qualify
for I-CAR credit hours. I-CAR is the international, not-for-profit Inter-Industry
Conference on Auto Collision Repair and
is dedicated to providing the information,
knowledge and skills required to perform
complete, safe and quality repairs.
“Our customers asked for a program that would help develop talent in
their businesses,” said Patrice Marcil,
Axalta’s North American Learning and
Development director. “The Master
Refinish Certification program does that
through a progressive learning journey
that begins with knowledge-sharing in
