The 30 new colors bring the
total of architectural polyester
quality colors up to 110 RAL
“We created the additional col-
ors to address current architectural
color trends,” said Markus Koenigs,
Marketing Communications Manager
for Axalta’s powder business in EMEA.
“Nine of the new shades are grey, the
color most frequently chosen by archi-
tects. There are also 12 new browns, the
third most popular color-choice for ar-
chitectural applications. The tone looks
set to be on the increase in specifica-
tions, too.”
All 110 RAL colors of the Fine
Textured Collection are available for
delivery from stock and are Qualicoat
and GSB approved. With a low sensitiv-
ity to pollution and excellent abrasion
resistance, the finely textured coatings
not only hide imperfections and protect
the substrate, but also offer long-lasting
good looks in the most up-to-date and
popular colors.
Cromax Agrees to Two-
Year Sponsorship Deal with
Honda Racing Team Sweden
Cromax, one of the three premium
global refinish brands of Axalta Coating
Systems, has been named as an Official
Partner to the Honda Racing team
Sweden for the FIA World Touring Car
Championships (WTCC) 2015 and 2016
seasons. The contract sees the global refinish brand’s logo on the WTCC Honda
Civic TC1 race car, driver overalls and
team clothing.
“We are delighted to have Cromax on
board as an Official Partner to our team,”
says Nicklas Karlsson, Team Principal,
Honda Racing team Sweden. “As a truly
global and dynamic brand with a great
pedigree in motorsports, Cromax fits well
with the ethos of Honda Racing team
Sweden and of course with the global na-
ture of the WTCC.”
Dries Van den Bergh, Cromax brand
manager Europe, Middle East and Africa,
said, “We couldn’t be more pleased to
be working with Honda Racing team
Sweden as an Official Partner for two
years. And despite the grueling race cal-
endar, we know that the team will give it
their all, on and off the track.”
Karlsson added, “Honda Racing
team Sweden is Sweden’s only world
championship-level motor racing team.
Launched in early 2014, the team has
come to fruition thanks to the combined
efforts of Honda Sweden and specialist
motorsport squad NIKA Racing, who
competed in the WTCC in 2013.”
PPG Aerospace Expands
Coatings Training for
Customers in Europe,
Middle East, Africa
PPG Industries’ aerospace coatings
group has expanded training opportunities for airline, airframe manufacturer
and maintenance customers to enhance
their understanding and facilitate application of aerospace coatings with
the PPG Aerospace Coatings Academy.
Sessions offering classroom instruction
and hands-on training are being held
quarterly at PPG’s Montcada i Reixac,
Barcelona, Spain, coatings application
training center.
According to Daniel Bencun, PPG
aerospace coatings segment manager,
Europe, Middle East and Africa, programs are designed for participants to
gain comprehensive understanding of
new coatings technologies that could enhance their competitive advantage.
“Aerospace coatings technologies are
evolving at a fast pace, and we want our
customers to be able to understand their
many advantages so that they can select,
purchase and apply them with confidence,” Bencun said.
The initial session for paint shop
staff addressed basecoat-clearcoat exterior topcoat systems, and a second one
in September will focus on chromate-free coatings technologies for paint shop
customers. The December session will
provide purchasing, engineering and supervisory personnel with general aerospace coatings information.
Three programs are being held this
year and four are planned for 2016. PPG
customers should contact their local sales
representative for more information.
“PPG has conducted similar training
in the U.S. and Asia, and we are pleased
to offer our customers in Europe, the
Middle East and Africa this opportunity,”
Bencun said.
New Partnership Puts
AkzoNobel Center Stage
AkzoNobel is adding its own artistic
flair to Dutch National Opera & Ballet
after agreeing a two-year partnership to
help modernize the institute’s theater in
Amsterdam.
The company will provide its Sikkens
paint products and color expertise as part
of a program to upgrade the interior of
the building. AkzoNobel is already the
institute’s preferred paint supplier and
was responsible for the renovation of the
scenery workshop in 2013.
“We are very pleased to broaden
the scope of our cooperation with
AkzoNobel,” said Els van der Plas,
general manager of Dutch National
Opera & Ballet. “We want to give
visitors an enchanting and enriching
experience every evening they spend
with us and AkzoNobel’s sponsorship
is making an important contribution
to our visitor experience.”
Added Ruud Joosten, member of
AkzoNobel’s Executive Committee re-
sponsible for Decorative Paints: “Dutch
National Opera & Ballet is a symbol
of Amsterdam’s cultural heritage and
modern art and we are delighted to be
involved in the theater’s modernization.
The partnership also reflects key elements
of our Human Cities initiative, such as
using color to bring urban environments
to life and helping to connect people with
their surroundings.”
Opened in 1986, the building was
designed by Cees Dam and Wilhelm
Holzbauer.
DNV GL and Jotun Provide
Hull Coatings to Improve
Hull Performance
DNV GL and Jotun signed a cooperation agreement to work on improving
hull performance at Nor-Shipping. The
project will bring together two performance management services, Jotun’s Hull
