- 16 May 2008 -
In brief...AkzoNobel has agreed to a transfer of the lease on its London base. The company will be moving into new office space a few miles away in Portland House. The Manchester Square property—formerly ICI’s head office—will be taken over by The Boston Consulting Group. The substantial deal has been agreed to just a few months after AkzoNobel’s acquisition of ICI. “We’re very keen to make swift and efficient progress with all aspects of the ICI integration and it’s pleasing to have agreed this transaction so quickly,” said AkzoNobel CEO Hans Wijers. “It’s also a fine example of how focused we are on benefiting from the many synergies we have identified.” The company has taken over the 26th floor of Portland House, which is situated close to Victoria Station. Approximately 75 employees will move to the new location and are due to be in place by the end of June. The Manchester Square deal will officially be finalized in August.

DuPont Industrial CoatingSolutions Brazil recently received the "Partnership Excellence Award" from the John Deere Agricultural Equipment Division at the 2008 John Deere Achieving Excellence Banquet and Supplier Conference. The "Partnership Excellence Award" honors excellence in supply of paint and coatings for 2007. DuPont Industrial CoatingSolutions Brazil excelled in the quality of the coatings, the timely supply of the coatings, and its superior service to John Deere in the application of these coatings.

BASF AG plans to double its manufacturing capacity for certain alkylethonalamines (AEOA) by mid-2009. This expansion is the company's response to increases in its customers demand for these products. BASF manufactures its range of AEOA specialties at the integrated Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, by means of a flexible, fully backward-integrated multi-product facility. AEOA, such as ethylethanolamines, propylethanolamines, and butylethanolamines, are used successfully in a wide array of applications, including coatings and lubricants in pharmaceutical and agrochemical products.

- 09 May 2008 -
TrueLogic Opens Asia-Pacific Regional Office in Singapore
TrueLogic Company, LLC, maker of TrueChem chemical and wet-process management/control software, has announced the opening of its Asia-Pacific regional office in Singapore. TrueLogic Far East will be responsible for business development, sales, and customer satisfaction for TrueChem across the Asia-Pacific region....more

- 09 May 2008 -
In brief...BASF SE said it will set up a new engineering plastics factory in the city of Thane and that it plans to expand its coatings facilities in Mangalore, both in India, to cater to the booming car industry in Asia. (Asian car makers posted an 8% sales increase last year, making Asia the fastest growing region in the global automotive industry, according to BASF.) In Thane, where BASF operates a plastics engineering lab, the company will build an engineering plastics compounding plant that will enter service in the second half of 2009. In Mangalore, BASF is building a new laboratory for systems to mend damaged coatings.


- 02 May 2008 -
In brief...3M Co. plans to build a new facility in Singapore to produce coatings for film-based products used in commercial, electronic, and automotive applications. The expansion site will be responsible for the coating of optical films, window film, and other film products. 3M estimates it will spend about $200 million on the facility over two years.

KMI Systems, Inc. has successfully completed the installation of a new porcelain enamel system for Midea, a major appliance manufacturer located in Guangdong, China. The new porcelain enamel coating line will be used for coating small appliances. The new system comprises a four-stage washer, dry-off oven, two Nordson powder booths, an environmental room, and porcelain enamel furnace. With four major projects installed in China and one more on the way, KMI has the experience, expertise, and dedication needed to deliver quality systems to companies in China. From the beginning the project was on a fast track, and KMI was able to deliver the system in less than 18 weeks, from purchase order to production.  

- 25 April 2008 -
In brief...Royal DSM N.V. announced its long-term manufacturing plan to expand its polyester powder coating resin facilities and prepare its manufacturing network for the future. The capacity at three of its locations will be expanded, while preparations have started for further expansions. Including investments currently under consideration, the long-term manufacturing plan would result in a total capacity expansion of 40 kilotons. The investments are scheduled for the period 2007–2010. As a first step, the facilities in Schoonebeek (the Netherlands), Ping Tung (Taiwan), and Santa Margarida (Spain) will be expanded. At the site in Augusta, Ga. (United States), engineering has already been started to prepare for a significant expansion of capacity for the American market. The announced investments are in addition to the capacity expansions as announced in 2006 in Kunshan (China), Ping Tung, and Santa Margarida. The investments at both Asian sites are fully aligned with and supported by Eternal Chemical, DSM's joint venture partner for these operations.
 
Columbia Chemical has named Tecnochimica its exclusive distributor in Italy. Since its foundation more than 25 years ago, the San Giuliano Milanese–based company has focused on the sale of specialty products to the electroplating industry, and has imported Columbia Chemical’s acid tin products for 18 years. “Thanks to Columbia Chemical technology and processes, we have achieved significant zinc business in the Italian plating market, said Fabio Farina, technical sales representative for Tecnochimica Italy. “Our partnership has enhanced our customer base and product turnover significantly.”

- 11 April 2008 -
In brief...Rohm and Haas Europe announced the acquisition of ACIL, its former exclusive distributor for the French powder coatings market. Based in Savigneux, France, ACIL has for 14 years positioned itself as a strong player in the French powder coating industry. "Through this acquisition we are clearly demonstrating our commitment to the powder coatings market," said Xavier Susterac, general manager powder coatings, Europe. "France remains a major market in the overall European powder coatings arena and one where we expect to see considerable growth opportunities through ACIL's excellent reputation and customer reach."

Machine tooling firm Haas Automation, Inc., of Oxnard Calif., announced the opening of two new Haas Factory Outlets (HFOs) in India to accommodate the country's booming manufacturing economy. The facilities are based in Bihwadi (near Delhi) and Ahmedabad. This brings to four the number of HFOs in India, with a fifth outlet scheduled to open in Chennai in June. Justin Quan, Haas business manager for Asia, noted that the Indian economy is remarkably strong. Calling it home to the largest forging facility in the world and citing GDP growth projections of 8% to 9% annually, he also noted that Indian airlines are going global, and a major Indian automotive manufacturer (Tata Motors) recently acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company. The shift from a labor-intensive type of production to high-tech CNC machine tools is one of the great drivers of Indian industry, he added. For more information about Haas Automation and Haas products, visit www.HaasCNC.com or call (800) 331-6746.

- 04 April 2008 -
In brief...Dutch chemicals and paint giant Akzo Nobel earlier this week put its U.K. business, Crown Paints, on the market for up to £200m ($396 million). According to the investment bank Greenhill, which has been appointed to find buyers for Lancashire-based Crown, the auction is likely to attract interest from buyers such as U.S. companies eager to expand into Britain. Industry observers say Akzo Nobel has been pressured by the European Commission to sell its U.K. paint business because its £8 billion ($15.8 billion) takeover of ICI last year has given it too much dominance over the U.K. market. Akzo Nobel’s purchase of ICI gave it control over Dulux, Britain’s largest paint manufacturer in Britain. (Crown is the second-largest manufacturer in that country.) Analysts also say Akzo Nobel is due to dispose of a number of other businesses and sites across Europe to satisfy the European Competition authorities. These include manufacturing and warehousing sites in Belfast, Hull, and Dublin, as well as the Macpherson, Permoglaze, and Sandtex brands.

DuPont and a joint venture Decorimex recently held a technical seminar for entities serving the coatings and paints industry in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The aim was to increase awareness of Ti-Pure, DuPont’s brand name for titanium dioxide. Yuri Svistelnikov, technical specialist, DuPont Titanium Technologies, shared information on the technology, properties, and applications of Ti-Pure. “The seminar was of great value for our customers and employees,” said Elena Zhuravleva, marketing and sales representative, DuPont Science & Technology. “It helped build understanding of key market trends and potential prospects to drive growth in the region.”

A new brochure from Sherwin-Williams describes the systems and services available for finishers in the Asia-Pacific Region. The six-page, color brochure explains how Sherwin-Williams is poised to meet the coating needs of manufacturers with facilities in the Asia-Pacific region through operations in Shanghai and southern China. Sherwin-Williams serves OEMs and finishers in the Asia-Pacific region in industries such as residential and office furniture, electronics, heavy equipment, kitchen cabinets, wood, composites, and metal building products. The company is focused on global expansion, employing more than 30,000 people across 3,000 worldwide locations. Please send inquiries to: Asia Brochure (SWCC1306) The Sherwin-Williams Company, c/o Ultimate Lead Systems, P.O. Box 739, Berea, OH, 44017; or call (800) 524-5979.

- 28 March 2008 -
In brief...Nissan Motor Company Ltd. has announced it will issue its Green Procurement Guidelines in April, which will define a set of environmental protocols to augment the Nissan-Renault Purchasing Way. The guidelines will apply to all global parts and materials suppliers. The newly-issued Nissan Green Procurement Guideline replaces a previous set of standards issued in 2001. The new document includes guidelines for reducing substances that affect the environment, adhering to Green Procurement Guidelines through Tier 2 or upstream suppliers, and management of auto parts and materials supplied to Nissan-related companies. This management will include changes in methodology of parts and materials data management, and data reporting on CO₂ emissions in the parts manufacturing process. In anticipation of more stringent regulations in the future, Nissan is working to reduce or eradicate the use of certain substances in all new models, including heavy-metal compounds such as mercury, lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and in-cabin volatile organic compounds. Nissan will monitor the performance of its suppliers to ensure that they are in compliance with the guidelines set.

Columbia Chemicals, the Brunswick, Ohio–based firm specializing in zinc plating additives and processes, recently announced it has acquired a 25% stake in Metalite Chemicals, Foshan, China. Metalite, a long-time Columbia partner, specializes in environmentally friendly products for the Chinese market. For more information, please visit www.columbiachemical.com.

Xiom Corp., developers and manufacturers of the first completely portable plastic polymer spray system, has named Orica Powder & Industrial Coatings of Australia its sole Pacific & Southeast Asian distributor. With operations in approximately 50 countries, the Orica group is a multi-billion dollar company with sales revenue of $5 billion in 2007. The publicly listed Australian company is a market leader in mining services, chemical services, and powder coating materials. Xiom, in addition to its portable powder coating system, has a complete line of unique mixed polymer coatings that are used with the Xiom low-temperature thermal spray system. With no overspray problems and no VOCs, Xiom’s products are now being used for onsite coating application in more than 20 countries. Xiom and Orica Powder & Industrial Coatings will also jointly—both logistically and technically—extend Xiom/Orica product offerings to other areas in the world in addition to the Pacific and Southeast Asia where it is deemed advantageous to do so. In this regard, Andrew Mazzone, president of Xiom, also reports that Xiom has granted Orica an exclusive “stand-still” review period of 180 days to examine Xiom, its technology, and current alliances. The stand-still agreement is independent of, and not conditional on, the appointment of Orica Powder & Industrial Coatings as Xiom's exclusive Pacific and Southeast Asian distributor.

- 14 March 2008 -
In brief...Global specialty chemicals manufacturer Sartomer Company has announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Nansha, in the Guangzhou province of China. The facility will manufacture specialty acrylate monomers and oligomers used as raw materials in products such as paints, inks, coatings, adhesives, circuit boards, flooring, CDs, and DVDs. Sartomer will sell materials manufactured at the new plant to customers in Asia, Europe, and the United States. The entire facility mirrors Sartomer’s plant in Chatham, Va. The new plant includes lab space, offices, and conference rooms and features integrated computer-based technology for process monitoring and control. The site also features state-of-the-art emergency response capabilities and a Modern Safety Management system. It will employ about 100 people when fully staffed.

Chennai-based Nippon Paint India Pvt. Ltd. has come out with a new odorless, premium-quality interior emulsion paint. According to Ramakanth V. Akula, the company’s vice president, the paint contains near-zero VOCs and boasts a matte finish. Nippon says the paint will be marketed through the firm’s 90 exclusive stores and 60 multi-brand outlets in the region, with plans to double that number this year. Nippon, which entered South India in mid-2006, has plans to extend operations to Gujarat in April. Seventy-five percent of the company's revenue comes from decoratives, while the remainder is for industrial purposes.

Akzo Nobel NV, the world's largest maker of paints, said fourth-quarter 2007 earnings increased 42% on sales of house paints and chemicals used in the paper and pulp industry. Earnings before interest and tax increased to 174 million euros from 122 million euros ($269 million and $189 million, respectively), the Amsterdam-based company said in a statement. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 2% to 2.4 billion euros ($3.7 billion) led by the chemicals division, which gained 12% and increased selling prices by 4%. Revenue from chemicals rose 7% on higher prices and volumes, led by papermaking and surfacing. Meanwhile, coatings sales rose 3%. Pretax profit for the division improved to 9.4% of sales on changes in branding and reduced production expenses.

BASF AG has reached an agreement for INEOS Nitriles to buy the Seal Sands site of BASF plc on Teesside in the United Kingdom. The Seal Sands site operates large-scale production facilities for acrylonitrile, AN, adipodinitrile, ADN, and hexamethylenediamine (HMD), among others. These chemical intermediates are used in the production of acrylic and polyamide (PA) fibers for clothing and carpets, as well as for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and PA plastics for the automotive, electric, and electronics and domestic appliance industries. BASF plc has approximately 240 employees at the site; an additional 250 people are employed by contractors. All BASF plc personnel will be transferred to INEOS Nitriles, which will also take over existing contracts, supply, and service arrangements. The acquisition is conditional on approval by the relevant competition authorities. Financial terms were not disclosed.

- 29 February 2008 -
In brief...MetoKote Corporation, Inc., an industry leader in protective coating applications—including electrocoat (e-coat), powder coat, and liquid paint—has named Martha Horner sales account manager. Prior to joining MetoKote, Horner spent seven years as an account manager of Industrial Coatings Mexico at PPG Industries de Mexico for the San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Silao, Aguascalientes, and Guadalajara regions. She earned her B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Guadalajara. The appointment coincides with MetoKote’s installation of equipment in its new San Luis Potosi, Mexico Regional Coating Service Center, scheduled for start of production in April, 2008. Horner’s responsibilities for MetoKote will be to act as the primary liaison with current and future customers for this facility.

PPG Industries, Inc., the world’s second-largest paint maker, plans to close some European factories acquired with the company’s recent purchase of SigmaKalon Group BV (MFW, Jan. 4, 2008). Company principals say the move is designed to meet cost-saving targets. According to Jack Maurer, a spokesman for Pittsburgh-based PPG, the as-yet unidentified paint plants will be shut down by 2010 to help attain savings equal to 3–5% of SigmaKalon’s sales. Savings also will come from bulk raw-material purchases and cutting administrative expenses in Europe, he said. PPG, led by chief executive officer Charles Bunch, bought SigmaKalon for $3.25 billion on Jan. 2 from Bain Capital LLC to double sales of coatings, its largest business, in Europe.

- 22 February 2008 -
In brief...BASF Coatings Japan intends to step up marketing activities for its Onyx HD waterborne paint system for automotive refinishing. The Yokohama-based company, part of Germany's BASF group, plans to strengthen its provision of technical support by further developing its Certified Trainers System for automotive-refinish coatings, and to make product presentations at dealer meetings. In addition, it aims to promptly support its customers by providing a series of training courses, ranging from seminars to practical exercises for basecoat and topcoat applications. Onyx HD offers the advantage of reduced environmental burden without the need to change existing work processes. Compared with conventional solvent-borne products, it contains 80% less volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and discharges 90% less waste after use according to BASF.

Rohm and Haas Company recently announced a worldwide price increase of up to 10% across its range of ion exchange resins, adsorbents, and catalysts. The increase will be effective March 1, 2008, or as contracts permit. In making the announcement, Kim Ann Mink, vice president and global general manager, ion exchange resins, stated the increase is needed to cover the continued escalation of raw materials, energy, and freight costs.

- 15 February 2008 -
In brief...The Sherwin-Williams Co. recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Liquid Coatings Subsidiaries of Inchem Holdings of Inchem Holdings International Limited, Singapore. Inchem specializes in waterborne, solvent-based, and ultraviolet (UV) curable coatings for electronics, wood and plastic products. Inchem, which will become part of Sherwin-Williams’ Chemical Coatings Division, has more than 400 employees across its four manufacturing plants with sales of approximately $30 million.

Martinrea International Inc. , one of Canada’s largest automotive parts facilities, plans to close a frame plant in Kitchener, Ontario, in 2009. The closure will result in the elimination of 1,200 jobs. Rob Wildeboer, the company’s chairman, cites several factors: The high value of the Canadian dollar, high transportation costs to a General Motors Corp. plant in Ohio (the Kitchener plant's main customer), falling production volumes at the GM plant, and higher wages and benefits at the Martinrea plant relative to other facilities in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Martinrea took over the Kitchener facility and 12 others in the United States and Mexico as part of the purchase of the North American automotive metal-forming assets of ThyssenKrupp AG in 2006. That deal more than doubled the size of the company to an estimated $2 billion in revenue last year, turning Martinrea from a mainly Canada-focused parts maker to a company with operations in the growing vehicle production areas of the southeast U.S. and Mexico.

The planned Kitchener closing is the latest in a series of shutdowns impacting communities in the auto-making heartland of Southern Ontario. The most recent major announcement came earlier this month, when Windsor, Ontario-based Nemak—which employees 600—announced plans to shut its Essex Aluminum Plant. The city also witnessed the closure of facilities owned by Ford Motor Co. and Lear Corp. The latest jobs data as of the end of November, 2007, show that more than 11,000 parts industry jobs have disappeared since this decade's peak of auto parts employment of 98,894 people in 2001.

- 08 February 2008 -
In brief...The Canadian Paint & Coatings Association (CPCA) has been meeting regularly with Environment Canada about the proposed VOC regulations concerning conversion to compliant products. The association has been urging Environment Canada, the country’s governing regulatory agency, to harmonize Canada’s regulations with those of Europe and the U.S., particularly California. The parties are negotiating a timeline for implementation, most likely early 2010.

A recent report by Bloomberg News shows the barrage of snowstorms in eastern, central, and southern China has vastly reduced the supply of coal to Chinese power-generating stations. The storms have knocked out electricity, reduced supply to major aluminum and zinc smelters, and are negatively impacting many industrial operations. China is the world’s largest producer of both aluminum and zinc but production has suddenly been cut back because of the severe weather, raising prices and the prospects for producers in other parts of the world. Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co., China’s largest zinc smelter, has cut production because of the power shortages. (China’s annual aluminum production of roughly 12.6 million tons will be reduced by 300,000 tons because of the smelter shutdowns, according to Beijing Antaike Information Development Co., a metals consulting firm.)

- 16 January 2008 -
In brief...Bollig & Kemper, a German manufacturer of coatings for the European auto industry, has signed a license agreement for DuPont EcoConcept, a patented coatings technology that enables auto manufacturers to realize substantial reductions in energy use, environmental emissions and capital costs. (EcoConcept eliminates one complete coating layer, the primer-surfacer, and combines it into a single environmentally compliant water-based basecoat. As a result, a spray booth and curing oven are eliminated from the auto production line.) Under the license agreement, the Cologne-based paint maker will manufacture and sell water-based basecoats for use in the EcoConcept process at automotive manufacturing plants in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. DuPont EcoConcept technology currently is used at two Volkswagen plants in Mexico and Spain. Approximately 200,000 cars have been produced using the process.

Rohm and Haas Co. officially launched the initial operations of its new manufacturing plant in Sanshui, Guangdong Province, China. The company has invested $10 million in the site, which will make products based on acrylic emulsion technology. The new plant has more than 20,000 metric tons of capacity and will produce water-based binders and emulsions used to make consumer paints and coatings. Sanshui also produces polyacrylic acid-dispersant products used in detergents and mining applications.

- 12 November 2007-
PPG to Invest $50 Million in Tianjin Facility
Leading coatings manufacturer PPG Industries Inc said it will spend $50 million to expand output to 100,000 tons a year at its Tianjin plant. The company plans to expand the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area (TEDA) facility from 40,000 to 100,000 square meters to meet the nation's growing demand for automotive and industrial coatings...more

-12 November 2007-
In brief…Shareholders of U.K.-based Imperial Chemical Industries PLC voted overwhelmingly last week to sell the company to a Dutch counterpart, Akzo Nobel NV, for 8 billion pounds ($16 million). The vote was approved by about 93% of the company's shareholders in London, far above the 75% required to approve the acquisition, ICI said in a statement. With the acquisition, Akzo Nobel will become the world's biggest paint and coatings company, holding 14% market share, analysts said.

- 19 October 2007 -
In brief...BASF earlier this week inaugurated a customer center for automotive technology in Shanghai, China. At this new center, BASF chemists and engineers plan to optimize and develop new applications in close cooperation with customers as well as offer training programs in process technology.

- 19 October 2007 -
In brief... More than 210 exhibitors from 12 countries participated at the 5th parts2clean Convention, which took place for the first time at the new Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, October 9-11, 2007. There were 3,813 people in attendance at this year’s show, an increase of 35%.

- 05 October 2007 -
In brief...Top executives and professionals in the metalforming industry viewed the latest advancements in press and forming technologies, assembly automation and value-added services at METALFORM Mexico—the country’s only focused metal stamping and fabricating exposition and conference.  Held September 25-27, 2007, at the Cintermex in Monterrey, the fourth edition of METALFORM Mexico featured 179 exhibitors offering equipment and services designed to help companies improve productivity and efficiency. 

- 11 October 2007 -
PPG Industries to Acquire Dutch Coatings Producer
PPG Industries, Inc. has agreed to purchase SigmaKalon Group, a Dutch paint and coatings producer, from Boston-based Bain Capital, a private equity firm. According to PPG, the deal will help the company expand operations in Europe and Asia...more

- 05 October 2007 -
In brief...Akzo Nobel has sold its share in the passenger car coatings activities of Kemipol in Turkey. No financial details were disclosed. According to the company, the move is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to focus on growing and strengthening its core businesses.

- 05 October 2007 -
In brief... Rohm and Haas has launched TianBa(TM) 2000, a new coatings product that has been developed to meet the needs of Chinese customers. According to the company, TianBa(TM) 2000 is the new generation flexible acrylic copolymer with broad applicability for use in cement-based and non-cement-based waterproof coatings, flexible plastering mortar for thermal insulation systems, external flexible putties, ceramic tile adhesives, and mortar repair. Extensive studies demonstrate that TianBa(TM) 2000 has better waterproofing, flexibility, and alkali resistance than similar existing products. TianBa(TM) 2000 is environmentally advanced technology, which is low-odor and low in volatile organic compounds.

- 14 September 2007 -
MetoKote Taps GM for Asia/Pacific Rim
MetoKote Corporation, Inc., an industry leader in protective coating applications services such as electrocoating (e-coat), powder coating and liquid paint, has named Jinsong Lin general manager, Asia/Pacific Rim...more

 - 14 September 2007 -
In brief...BASF AG’s chief financial officer, Kurt Bock, said the company plans to invest close to 11 billion euros ($15.2 billion)between 2007 and 2011, pointing to the increase of production capacity for insulating materials at its Ludwigshafen headquarters, as well as an expansion of its facilities in Nanjing, China. Likewise, the company predicted continued consolidation in the chemical industry. Analysts say BASF gained about 13 billion euros ($18 billion) in sales through its acquisitions over the past 10 years, but the company had also sold off businesses with about 11 billion euros in sales in the same period.

 - 14 September 2007 -
In brief...Hannover Messe International GmbH, organizers of the Metalworking and CNC Machine Tool Show—slated for Nov. 6 – 10 in Shanghai, China—predicts record-breaking attendance. The event, now in its eighth year, features more than 500 international vendors spanning three exhibition halls. The Metalworking and CNC Machine Tool Show is billed as the premier international showcase for Asia's booming metal industry. Total 2006 machine tool imports valued at $7.24 billon, making China the world's biggest importer of machine tools over the past five years. CNC machining centers account for about 73.4 percent of that total, which translates to a 19% upswing in CNC sales to China.

- 31 August 2007 -
In brief...BASF AG announced it is raising prices in Europe for coating resins by up to 15%-- depending on the product line—to offset higher costs for raw materials, energy and transportation. The price increase affects the entire coatings resins portfolio, which comprises resins used in the automotive, wood and industrial coatings markets.

- 31 August 2007 -
In brief... PPG Industries, a leading U.S. plate glass and coating producer, earlier this week opened a research center in Suzhou city, Jiangsu Province.
 
- 31 August 2007 -
In brief...The Hong Kong Auto Parts Industry Association will present the Dongguan International Exhibition for Auto Parts & Accessories, Technology and Materials for Auto Manufacturing Industries 2007 October 18-21. The event will will be staged at Guangdong Modern International Exhibition Center , the manufacturing base of China. The event is also highly recognized for its marketing competent, which is jointly organised by Hong Kong Electro-plating Merchants Association, Dongguan Automotive Parts Trade Association and Dongguan Automobile Service Profession Association, and supported by more than 10 globally renowned trade associations in Automotive and Auto Parts industry.

- 24 August 2007 -
China’s Industrial Production Rises By Double Digits in July; Government Seeks to Keep Growth in Check
China's industrial production rose 18% in July, according to information provided by the Statistics Bureau. This on the heels of an economic expansion of 11.9% in the second quarter, the fastest pace in 12 years...more

- 20 July 2007 -
Paint supplier PPG Industries Inc., has offered to buy Dutch coatings producer SigmaKalon Group from private investment firm Bain Capital. PPG put the value of the bid at 2.2 billion euros ($3.04 billion), including assumed debt. Additional details on the bid were not provided. Bain Capital, which acquired SigmaKalon in 2003, has granted PPG a period of exclusivity and plans to respond after discussing the offer with employee representatives, PPG said. Any deal would be subject to regulatory and other closing conditions. SigmaKalon had revenue of about 2 billion euros ($2.76 billion) in 2006, PPG said.

Cytec Industries says it will increase global capacity of its Crylcoat powder coating resins by 20,000 m.t./year over the course of this year, bringing its total capacity to 200,000 m.t./year. The increase will be achieved through debottlenecking projects at its facilities at Romano, Italy; Fenxiang, China; and Rayong, Thailand. "This investment is especially strategic in supporting the growth in emerging markets, including China, the Mideast, and Eastern Europe," said Wim Vanderghinste, global business director/powder coatings at Cytec.

- 13 July 2007 -
DuPont has announced the opening of its second office in Russia (St. Petersburg). The new location, which follows significant expansions of the company's offices in Moscow and Kiev in the Ukraine — as well as the launch of an office in Almaty, Kazakhstan — will focus specifically on strengthening the company's relationships with and support for the automotive industry. "DuPont has had a presence in Russia for more than 30 years," said Ian Hudson, president, DuPont Europe, Middle East and Africa. "The company's innovative solutions, materials and technologies are widely applied in Russia's leading industries, including oil and gas, automotive, medical, agriculture and construction. Eastern Europe is a critical growth area for us as we expand our market reach." Russia 's northwest region has seen rapid growth in the automotive industry in recent years. Boasting highly qualified manpower, low production costs and robust economic growth rates, this region has been steadily attracting domestic and foreign automotive manufacturers as well as their suppliers. According to analysts, continued growth is expected in the industry, with financial turnover expanding at an annual rate of almost 7% until 2010.

Chemicals group Akzo Nobel has invested 13 million euro in a powder paint factory close to Moscow while expanding its Russian sales outlets. The new facility is situated in the industrial belt surrounding Moscow at Orekhovo-Zuevo and is Akzo Nobel’s first production plant in Russia. The company hopes to capture the Central and Eastern European market for industrial coatings, of which Russia has a 46% share. As well as recently expanding its site at Opava in the Czech Republic—the first phase of a five million Euro refurbishment— Powder Coatings has also inaugurated a dedicated state-of-the-art distribution warehouse in Poland, while another warehouse has been established in Hungary.

China's industrial-company profits swelled 42.1% in the first five months from a year earlier, hampering government efforts to cool investment in the world's fastest-growing major economy. Combined net income increased to 902.6 billion yuan ($119 billion), the National Bureau of Statistics reported this week. Sales jumped 27.4% to 14.2 trillion yuan. Premier Wen Jiabao is trying to prevent a rebound in factory investment that would increase the risk of overcapacity. Besides curbs on bank lending, the government has ordered state companies to start paying dividends to trim the money available for investment. China has also tightened project approvals, curbed land use, increased energy costs, and cut export rebates. The central bank has raised interest rates twice this year. Source: Bloomberg News

In support of the new REACH legislation, which went into effect June 1, the Oil and Colour Chemists' Association (OCCA) and ATIPIC (Belgian Association of Technicians in the Paint and Associated Industries) with the support of NVVT (Dutch Society of Coating Specialists) and FSCT (Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology) have planned a joint conference in Brussels on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, at the Hotel Bedford, 135-137 rue du Midi. According to the associations, REACH is the most significant legislation that the chemical and chemical using industries have faced for many years and will have a major impact upon those manufacturing in and importing chemicals into the EU, with significant consequences for the operations of downstream users of chemicals such as paint, printing ink and artists' colours manufacturers. For more details, please visit www.occa.org.uk or www.surfex.net.

- 15 June 2007 -
Specialty chemical supplier Sartomer Co. has appointed Laurent Suspene, former general manager of Sartomer Europe, as its new vice president in Asia. Since 2003, Suspene has been general manager, photocure and functional additives, for the Sartomer Europe Division of Cray Valley, based in Paris. Suspene joined Cray Valley in 1988 as a research scientist. Since then he has worked as a technical director and managing director in multiple locations, including Malaysia, Korea, and Spain. He also worked in the United States as a technical director with Cook Composites and Polymers, Kansas City, Mo. He earned a doctorate in Macromolecular Science in 1988 from INSA (National Institute of Applied Sciences, Lyon, France). Suspene replaces David Long, who was assigned new responsibilities within the TOTAL group. Philippe Thepot takes over Suspene’s previous responsibilities.

Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials celebrates the official opening of its new five-story Chonan R&D Center in Korea. Part of the recent $30 million expansion of the company’s Microelectronic Technologies site in Chonan, the R&D center adds to Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials’ global advanced research and development capabilities for 193 nm photoresists as well as organic- and silicon-based anti-reflectants. “The acceleration of our research programs in Chonan begins here with this opening ceremony,” said Dr. Hoe-Sik Chung, president of the Microelectronic Technologies for Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials Korea, during the May 29 ceremony. “Coupled with our manufacturing capabilities of advanced products, the growing strength of our R&D infrastructure makes us well positioned to serve the semiconductor materials needs in this region.”

Akzo Nobel has increased its presence in the northern China market via the recent opening of a new Decorative Coatings site in the Langfang region. The site, which has been in pilot operation since February, will help the company meet increased demand and allow Decorative Coatings to further improve service to its customers in the north. Furthermore, it provides new jobs for more than 70 people, according to the company.

Columbia Chemical has appointed Ebara Udylite America, S. A., headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico, to represent its products across north, central and western portions of Mexico. “Columbia is proud to be affiliated with Ebara Udylite's well-equipped and expertly staffed service lab,” said Columbia Chemical president Bill Rosenberg. Ebara Udylite’s team boasts 10 knowledgeable individuals, with decades of experience in the metal plating field. Raymundo Gonzalez, Ebara Udylite general manager, said his company has made inroads to some key zinc accounts because of Columbia's quality products and reasonable market pricing. “To date, Colzinc ACF-II and Extreme Acid Zinc processes are the most requested products in Mexico,” he said.

Chelyabinsk Zinc, Russia's largest zinc producer, has agreed to buy British zinc alloy supplier Brock Metal from Alumasc Group Plc for about $16.1 million. Chelyabinsk Zinc said in a statement the transaction was worth 0.35 million British pounds ($691,700), plus another 7.8 million pounds ($15.41 million) that equals the estimated working capital. The deal should be complete by the end of June. “We consider the acquisition of Brock Metal, a supplier of premium zinc alloys with a strong UK and European presence, as an opportunity for further downstream integration," said Sergei Moiseyev. Chelyabinsk Zinc chairman. He said all jobs at Brock Metal would remain secure and that the acquisition would boost Chelyabinsk's sales of value-added zinc alloys in Europe.

- 22 May 2007 -
Global specialty chemicals manufacturer Sartomer Company has announced its plans to open a new technical center and office space in Yokohama, Japan, in December 2007. The new facility will include a research lab for developing new photocure materials for the electronics, plastics, optical media, and flat-panel display industries in Japan and Asia. The remaining space will be dedicated to meeting rooms and storage.

Akzo Nobel has reinforced its commitment to the Canadian market with the grand opening of the first corporate Sico Paints warehouse in the Western provinces. Based in Calgary, the 29,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will service Sico’s 500-plus customers from Manitoba to British Columbia, distributing in excess of three million litres of paint annually. Sico is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Akzo Nobel, which develops, manufactures and markets innovative, high-quality products and services for most market segments.

China’s industrial output rose 17.4% in April after climbing 17.6% in March. Industrial production growth has accelerated this year after cooling in the final quarter of 2006, falling to a two-year low of 14.7% in October. For the first four months, output rose 18% from a year earlier. That activity is in line with the country’s spending on factories and property, which rose 29.6% in the first four months of last year. Meanwhile, exports jumped 26.8% in April, accelerating from the previous month, as the trade surplus swelled 63% from a year earlier to $16.9 billion. Banks extended 1.8 trillion yuan of new loans in the first four months—more than half the total for all last year. China's economy, the world's fourth largest, grew 10.7% in 2006, the biggest increase in 11 years.

- 10 May 2007 -
Rohm & Haas Unit Sale Completes Divestiture
Rohm and Haas has signed a definitive agreement to sell its European Automotive Coatings business, including its manufacturing site in Strullendorf, Germany, to the Mader Group, a leading independent manufacturer of hi-tech industrial paints and coatings based in Lille, France, with operations throughout Europe. The transaction is expected to close later this year...more

- 10 May 2007 -
Chinese Government Concerned about Country’s Rapid Industrial Growth
With its economy rapidly accelerating, China could experience challenges managing growth if its industrial output continues to speed up, according to an article published this week by The Shanghai Daily...more

- 10 May 2007 -
IN BRIEF…Akzo Nobel has signed an agreement to acquire the worldwide Ceilcote business from the German-based KCH Group for close to EUR 12 million ($16.25 million). Ceilcote, a major international brand used to coat concrete and steel structures—particularly in the petrochemical and power industries—specializes in high performance, polymer-based corrosion control solutions for both new construction and maintenance projects…BASF AG recently received the European Coatings Award 2007 for its new AQAGloss product. AGloss, a brand-new, dispersion-based binder for the manufacture of high-gloss water-based coatings, is positioned as an alternative to conventional solvent-based architectural coatings and complies with the stringent EU Directive 2004/42/EC.

- 20 April 2007 -
European Commission Initiates RoHS Review
The European Commission has initiated a review of its Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulation introduced in July 2006 to control hazardous substances used in the electronics industry. Experts say the review could lead to new controls on substances used in the electronics sector not currently restricted by RoHS and could also lead to a broadening of the legislation to other manufacturing sectors...more