India's Powder manufacturing capacity.
Moderator : Our subscribers must be waiting for the anaylisis we normally in the May issue of our IPC e newsletter. Due to the non availability of the production figures of some of the powder manufactures we will be analysing the size of Indian Powder market in the next issue of our newsletter. Meanwhile we invite you to vote you opinion through this opinion poll


 

IPC Classified
M/S Western Commercial Corporation Barite a natural Barium Sulphate from Ankerports N.V. Nederlands Portaryte ® B and Diamelia ® are produced from carefully selected very white Barite which is natural Barium Suphate  because of its Good Dispersibility Low Binder Absorption Chemical Inertia High Whiteness High Loading Low Abrasivity Are succesfuly used in Industrial Coatings Marine Coating, Colour Master Batches, Powder Coatings, Automative Applications HIghly Filled Plastics Diamelia ® 40/10 is specially developed for Matt and semi glossy powder coating finishes and Diamelia ® 3 in High Gloss Industrial Coatings Please contact us for more information M/S Western Commercial Corporation 502 Vishwananak, 5th Floor, Chakala Andheri (East) Mumbai 400099 Tele  91 - 22 - 2839 44 41 / 42 / 43 Fax  91 - 22 - 2821 98 71 Email  acorp@dishnetdsl.net   acorp@vsnl.in	Awishkar Associates Distributers for Kudko Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. Korea .  A world renowned manufacturer and considered to be Super Market for Epoxy Resins, Hardner and Polypols for all kinds of applications including powder coating. We can cater from ready stock or on High Seas Sale basis for LCL and direct supply from Korea for FCL requirement. We look forward to receiving  inquiries from genuine powder manufacturers. Awishkar Associates 26, 1st Main SR Nagar Banglore 560027 Tel  080-22226408/ 22237977. Fax  080-22221779. Email awishkar@vsnl.com	Your message here You can reach thousands of people thorough our classified ads. Place your own classified text  ads. or messages  here Just for Rs 500 (USD 10) only Contact the moderator for details India Powder Coating Vivek Soley 3, Lalaram Nagar, Indore, 452001 MP India Phone 91 731 2492291 Mobile 9826297112 emails:   viveksoley@hotmail.com ,  viveksoley@ipconweb.com , indiapowdercoating@yahoo.com

 

Powder Coating FAQs from Marpol Private Limited 1. What is powder coating ? Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative and protective finish to a wide range of materials and products that are used by both industries and consumers. The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated by corona or tribo charging technique. The charged powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces until heated and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven. The result is a uniform, durable, high-quality, and attractive finish. Powder coating is the fastest-growing finishing technology. 2. Why pretreatment required for powder coatings? Powder coatings can provide improved performance over liquids when applied to a properly pretreated part. Solvent-borne paints are usually more forgiving of organic soils left on the work piece by sub-par cleaning. Because powder does not have solvents, you need to make sure the washer does a good cleaning job. This is just good operational practice and is not an unusual requirement. Iron phosphate is the most frequently encountered pretreatment used with powder coatings. However, if the highest level of performance is required, zinc phosphate will work admirably with powder as well. PROPER PRIOR  PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR POWDER PERFORMANCE. 3. What is the best cleaner for powder coating? There is no stock answer for this question. Many factors go into deciding which cleaner is the best for your application. Base metal of the work piece, soil being removed, bath temperature, contact time, oil removal capabilities, environmental considerations, etc. must be taken into account when deciding. The bottom line is that you need to get your parts clean, safely, so the steps following in the pretreatment process will function properly. Check with your pretreatment supplier to determine your best course of action. 4. What different technologies are available for cleaners? There are powdered and liquid cleaners. There are acid cleaners that may be best for inorganic (metallic) soils. Alkaline cleaners are often recommended for organic soils. Neutral cleaners may be used to remove soils on substrates that react with strong acids or alkalies (aluminum or zinc). Oil splitting cleaners may be desirable where high levels of oil build quickly in the process bath. Work with your pretreatment supplier to determine which cleaners are best for your application. 5. What is phosphating and why do I need it? The generic term “phosphating” is a process where an acid attacks the metal of the work piece and re-deposits a material that is a combination of the metal substrate (and other metals - like zinc) along with phosphate. This process creates a surface that is tightly adherent to the base metal, has more surface area, provides improved corrosion inhibition, and helps the powder coating stick better. It provides a good coating base so the finished part has increased usable life. 6. What causes powder to fall off parts in the oven? If powder is stored in a non-air-conditioned environment and the ambient air humidity in the storage area exceeds 60 percent, the powder particles can accumulate moisture on their surfaces. This moisture will affect the resistivity of powder particles and their ability to retain charge for a long period of time. If the charge bleeds off the powder-coating layer before it is cured, the electrostatic attraction between the powder particles and metal substrate weakens and the particles can fall off the part. An easy way to check for excessive humidity is to take a handful of powder and squeeze it. If the powder lumps together and does not break apart easily, a moisture problem exists. Excessive coating thickness. This may result in poor electrostatic attraction of the powder particles on the top layer of coating. This problem can occur if powder coating layer thickness exceeds 125 to 150 micron. 7. Why does powder build up excessively around edges of parts? This phenomenon is quite common in electrostatic powder coating and is referred to as “picture-frame effect.” It is caused by concentration of the electric field around sharp edges or protrusions. Picture-frame effect is most pronounced in conventional corona-charging systems where the electric field near the part’s surface is particularly strong. However this phenomenon can also be observed, to a lesser extent, in tribo-charging systems. 8. Why, at times, powder doesn’t adhere to a part? Many factors affect powder deposition on a part. However, there are some more common reasons for poor powder transfer efficiency. With corona-charging systems, a poorly grounded part is the most common cause of low transfer efficiency. In tribo-charging applications, insufficient charging of powder particles is the most common reason for poor powder deposition on a part. Insufficient charging is caused by several factors including powder formulation is not suitable for tribo-charging applications. Poor grounding of parts, Among other factors causing poor powder deposition on a part in both corona and tribocharging systems are. very close gun-to-part distance; 9. Why are inside corners or channels sometimes difficult to coat? The difficulty experienced when coating recessed areas is commonly called “Faraday cage  effect”. It is due to the fact that an electric field always goes to the nearest grounded surface and is strongest around sharp edges. The electric field from the gun concentrates on the edges of a recess and does not penetrate into deep corners, compromising powder deposition in those areas.In addition, aerodynamic turbulence inside a recess often works against effective powder deposition in that area. 10. What are the air humidity and temperature requirements in a powder coating operation? Ideal ambient conditions are temperatures between 15° to 27°C with 40 to 60 percent  humidity. Temperature and humidity of the compressed air are even more important. Here, for corona-charging systems, the pressure dew point of the compressed air should not exceed 3°C @ 100 psi line pressure. 11. Why do I need to add virgin powder to my reclaim? As virgin powder is applied, the larger particles more readily stick to the part. This leaves the over sprayed powder with a lower average particle size. As this occurs during each cycle through the system, the recovered material may become laden with fine particles.Eventually, the reclaimed material will be nearly unmanageable in both fluidization and  application. 12. What does proper fluidization look like? The fluidized material should take on fluid-like characteristics. It should have an appearance similar to that of water simmering on low heat. The material should not be boiling hard. 13. Is powder hazardous waste? Practically all powder coatings are not hazardous waste, disposal methods for waste powder are the same as for non-hazardous wastes. However, there may be some exceptions and your powder supplier should be contacted regarding proper disposal. 14. What is the best way to store my powder & How long can powder be stored? Powder storage for many months is often normal practice. Ideally, powder should be stored in the optimum conditions of less than 25°C and approximately 50 - 60% relative humidity. Under these conditions most powder should be readily usable for  at least a six month from date of manufacturing. Avoid placing powder inventory in close proximity to any heat source such as an oven, washer, furnace, space heater, etc. Powder packaging is designed to protect the contents from compression that can result in lumps that are not readily broken. Do not stack packages that are broken or collapsed. Some powders with special appearance, performance, or cure properties may have greater sensitivity to storage conditions, and should receive greater attention when stored to ensure the desired results. 15. How do I get good powder coverage into Faraday areas? Faraday cage effect defines a condition that occurs when parts are coated that have recesses, inside corners, channels, or protrusions on their surfaces. The Faraday cage is the area of the part where the external electrical field does not penetrate. Powder coating of recessed areas is often complicated. For the successful coating of Faraday areas, the following conditions must be met: powder has to be well charged, airflow must be sufficient to deliver the powder inside a recess but not excessive to preclude powder deposition, and the external electric field must be controlled to reduce the “push” for powder particles to deposit on the edges of a Faraday cage. Because most Faraday areas involve some type of “pocket “ areas, it is important that the method for direction the powder flow in allows for displacement of the air in the pocket area to allow penetration. 16. How do you know if powder is cured? There are two conditions that must be met to achieve proper cure of a powder coating. The first is temperature, referred to as metal temperature, and the second is time. The time/ temperature requirements of a particular powder material must be achieved to obtain a full cure. A cured thermoset powder coating will not re-melt upon further heating. To ensure proper time and temperature it is often best to test using a Datapaq or similar device to provide actual performance data. 17. Are there powders for interior or exterior use? One of the most important considerations in defining the end use performance is weatherability. Outdoor exposure results in absorption of ultraviolet energy. This energy can attack the organic binder and result in gloss loss and color change. Due to a tendency to chalk, epoxies and epoxy containing hybrids are generally not recommended for outdoor use when aesthetics is a primary concern. Polyesters and acrylics on the other hand provide excellent UV light stability and typically find use in architectural, automotive, lawn and garden as well as outdoor furniture markets. 18. What is the difference between oven cycle time and dwell time? The oven cycle time is comprised of the bring-up time plus the dwell time for a proper powder cure. The bring-up time is the time required to attain the desired substrate cure  temperature of the part. The dwell time is the time required to hold the substrate at cure temperature. These times and temperatures are available from the cure schedule for the powder coating. In some applications, shorter oven cycle times are possible by rapid heating of the substrate to a higher cure temperature for a shorter dwell time. 19. How clean should my compressed air be? Next to proper grounding, clean compressed air is the most important thing. Oil and water do not mix with powder. In a powder system, air plays a big role. Powder is fluidized with air, pumped to the guns with air, and the cartridge filters are back-pulsed with air. The equipment and powder manufacturer should be consulted regarding the air quality for optimal performance. In general, a minimum 2°C dew point and less than 0.1 ppm contaminate or oil is a good starting point. 20. How often should I clean my gun & powder hose ? Guns should be cleaned after each color change. At the end of the day, you should purge the gun, pump, and hose to prevent moisture from settling in the powder and clogging things up for the next use. Depending on the volume of powder sprayed and time between color changes, deep cleaning and worn part replacement should be reviewed weekly. It is  recommended that you change your powder hose at least once a six month, depending on wear caused by the powder or if you are having contamination problems. Frequently inspect for cracking or impact fusion that may shorten the hose life.

 

Infomercial from Kripton Powder Paints Pvt. Ltd We are totally committed to integrated growth through development of new shades  and finishes and provide quality products at competitive prices. The range of our products consists of over 350 color shades in different finishes i.e.Glossy, SemiGlossy,  Matt, Texture, Structure and Wrinkle which is available in all colors. Our Marketing network is spread all over the country with Authorized Distributors across major cities. Kripton is known for its capability to meet the growing market needs of Powder Coatings with quality. It has been a constant endeavor to continuously improve our product so as to keep up with improving international standards. Guaranteed properties of the product are ensured during the production process by planned Quality Control Schedule where various tests are carried out in accordance with the pertinent ASTM and IS Standards. Today Kripton enjoys a good brand name, reaching this stage has been possible due to the constant efforts for improvement and willingness to meet timely needs of our valuable customers all over. With the good record of up gradation and improved performance of our product we are fully geared to face all the challenges with a  firm belief of targeting to be leaders in the market. Contact Sales Office D-94,M.I.D.C.,Satpur Dist. , Nashik -422 007 Maharashtra,India Factory 527/A1,Gonde,Igatpuri - 422 403,Dist Nashik, Maharashtra,India. Tel : +91(253) 2363500/1/2 Fax : +91(253) 2363503 Email : enquiry@kripton.com

Asian Paints' new plant starts production
Wednesday, 19 April , 2006, 17:49
Mumbai: Asian Paints Ltd said on Wednesday that its new manufacturing plant in Himachal Pradesh has started production.
The plant owned by Asian Paints Industrial Coating Ltd (APICL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Asian Paints, is situated at Baddi, and would manufacture powder coating, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. |Vacation Travel: A summer special feature|
Asian Paints' shares were trading at Rs 625.05, up 1.55 per cent at the BSE.

Godrej launches refrigerators with 10-year warranty against rusting
20 April 2006
Mumbai: The Rs650-crore appliance division of Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd has launched a new range of refrigerators using ZOP (zinc oxide protection), with a 10-year warranty against rusting. The company says this is the first time that ZOP has been used in refrigerators.

The new range of refrigerators is now made with 100 per cent galvanized steel in contrast to regular cold rolled steel. During the galvanisation process, the steel is coated with zinc, which renders the surface resistant to corrosion. When atmospheric oxygen comes in contact with zinc, the formation of Zinc Oxide helps prevent the breakdown of the surface integrity of the base steel substrate, unlike the iron oxide (rust) in regular steel.

The refrigerators are further coated with epoxy powder. This dual process of galvanization and powder coating gives each refrigerator a double protection.

According to metallurgist Dr N C Jain, , "A Zinc coating has the unique property of preventing oxidation of the protected surface by forming a barrier and thus acting as a sacrificial anode. This process of galvanization is widely used in making cars and ships rust resistant.."

From April 2006, all refrigerators being manufactured by Godrej are made using ZOP technology and will carry the 10-year 'rust-free' warranty.

The Godrej Group is one of the largest manufacturers of home appliances in India and. in 1958, it became the first Indian company to manufacture refrigerators in the domestic market <more>

Goodlass Nerolac Board Approves Merger Plan, Name Change
Thursday, April 20, 2006;
Goodlass Nerolac Paints Ltd said that its Board approved the scheme of merger of GNP and Polycoat Powders Ltd. The Board resolved that 461 equity shares of Rs.10/- each fully paid up of GNP would be issued for every 1000 equity shares of Rs.10/- each fully paid up of Polycoat Powders. The merger is subject to the required statutory approvals, the company noted.

The Board also approved the proposal for change of name of the company to "Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited", subject to the approval of the shareholders and the statutory authorities.

Nerolac unit gutted
Press Trust Of India / New Delhi/ Kanpur April 06, 2006
Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed in a devastating fire which broke out in the Nerolac factory here, police said today.
About half a dozen fire tenders from the city as well as neighbouring Auriya and Jalaun districts were pressed into service and the flames were extinguished after six hours, police saad. The fire broke out when a boiler burst in the factory, the police said. <more>

V.I.P. Industries posts 53% exports growth in FY2005-06.
V.I.P. Industries has set up a new plant at Haridwar in Uttaranchal with injection moulding, frame manufacturing, anodizing and powder coating facilities. The installed capacity of this plant is about 2 million pieces per annum and has started commercial production from April 2006. This Plant will primarily cater to the Civil Market (Trade) and will lead to substantial income tax and excise duty benefits to the company. The company has incurred a capex of Rs. 16 crore on this facility.

Colors of Success
Ashwin Dani, VC & MD, Asian Paints, swears by accurate demand forecasting, powered by robust supply chain management. Dyed in IT, the multinational stays miles ahead of the competition.


Among the largest performers in the Indian paint industry, Asian Paints’ association with IT is over three decades old. Capturing precise information faster has been the paint company’s core mantra. This has enabled it to rank amongst the top-ten decorative coatings companies in the world. The Rs 2,560-crore multi-national harnesses a robust supply chain system to automate a wide spectrum of functions and increase demand forecasting accuracy.

Ashwin Dani, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Asian Paints, lays credit for the company’s growth rate at IT’s door. Even before the paint’s dried, he is already on his way, extending the supply chain to include the company’s entire force of 18,000 dealers, using it as a binder between people and teams.

Paint industry has grown to see a double-digit growth year-after-year
Ashwin Dani (AD), vice-chairman & managing director, Asian Paints Ltd and HM Bharuka (HM), managing director, Goodlass Nerolac Paints Ltd talk about the industry and its growth potential. <more>

Methode Network Bus Products Receives UL 746A Approval for Powder Coating
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill.--April 25, 2006--Methode Network Bus Products, a business unit of Methode Electronics, Inc., has received UL 746A approval for its epoxy powder coating bus bar insulation system. UL 746A is an important insulation requirement for motor drive, UPS, switchgear and other applications. The powder coating is used to electrically insulate Methode's bus bar and power distribution products.

Methode's powder coating is a high voltage insulation material that is applied to bus bars by an electro-static spray process on an automated production line, and cured in a high temperature chamber. The coating is flame resistant and meets stringent environmental thermal and moisture requirements. It has a high dielectric strength as it withstands voltages in excess of 3,000 Volts. With the automated production line, powder coating can be applied, cost effectively, to bus bars of virtually any size or shape. Methode has fully automated power coating production lines at both of their facilities in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, USA and Shanghai, China.

Powder coating is ideal for the switchgear, UPS, and motor drive industries meeting the requirements of UL for RTI (Relative Thermal Index), HWI (Hot Wire Ignition), High-Current Arc Resistance to Ignition (HAI) and Comparative Tracking Index (CTI).

In its end use, the UL 746A approved powder coated bus bar can be positioned in closer proximity to other powder coated bus bars, saving valuable space. Also, by using a powder coated bus bar, design engineers can realize a cost savings through a reduction in materials and insulation devices.

Powder coating is a key process used for Methode's new PowerRail(TM) system. The PowerRail is an innovative, pluggable power distribution system utilizing a rail bus bar and a quick connecting power cable and interconnect (or bus bar interconnect). The powder coating allows the PowerRail to operate with a dielectric strength of 3000 VDC, a maximum continuous operating temperature of 125 degrees C, and UL94 V-0 flammability rating. <more>

Polyurethane Resin Demand to Reach 7.6 Billion Pounds in 2009 Driven by Opportunities Based on Growing Demand for Building Insulation, Coatings and Adhesives
April 19, 2006
CLEVELAND, April 19, 2006 -- Polyurethane resin demand in the US is projected to rise 2.8 percent yearly to 7.6 billion pounds in 2009. Expansion will be driven by opportunities in the construction market based on growing demand for building insulation, coatings and adhesives. Flexible and rigid polyurethane foams will remain dominant, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of all polyurethane demand. Thermoplastic polyurethane will present the best growth prospects in industrial and motor vehicle uses such as gaskets, seals and hoses. The industry will also benefit from product innovations that permit product differentiation, greater end-user comfort and enhanced performance, with more environmentally friendly characteristics. Resin prices will grow at a slower rate due to moderating raw material prices, which will recede from the price spikes experienced in 2004 and 2005. These and other trends are presented in "Polyurethane," a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm. <more>

Methode Network Bus Products Receives UL 746A Approval for Powder Coating
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill.--April 25, 2006--Methode Network Bus Products, a business unit of Methode Electronics, Inc., has received UL 746A approval for its epoxy powder coating bus bar insulation system. UL 746A is an important insulation requirement for motor drive, UPS, switchgear and other applications. The powder coating is used to electrically insulate Methode's bus bar and power distribution products.

Methode's powder coating is a high voltage insulation material that is applied to bus bars by an electro-static spray process on an automated production line, and cured in a high temperature chamber. The coating is flame resistant and meets stringent environmental thermal and moisture requirements. It has a high dielectric strength as it withstands voltages in excess of 3,000 Volts. With the automated production line, powder coating can be applied, cost effectively, to bus bars of virtually any size or shape. Methode has fully automated power coating production lines at both of their facilities in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, USA and Shanghai, China. <more>

Keeping Your New Car Shining
(NAPSI)-One of the best things about owning a new car is its smooth, shiny "showroom" look. Maintaining that look-by washing and waxing your car regularly and touching up any scratches-can keep it looking new longer.

Fortunately, the latest cars are finished with a high-tech process that makes it easier for car owners to maintain that new-car look. Many cars on the market today have a powder coated finish that helps protect them from chips and scratches, as well as damage caused by UV rays, harsh weather, salt spray and acid rain.

A clearcoat can protect the car's high-gloss finish, which keeps your car looking new longer. <more>

Another tech transfer for Utek
Tampa Bay Business Journal - April 10, 2006
Utek Corp. has sold its subsidiary, Natural Adhesive Technologies Inc., to Trio Industries Group in a stock transaction.

Natural Adhesive holds an exclusive license to a lignin-based wood adhesive technology developed at the University of New Brunswick. Lignin binds to cellulose fibers and hardens and strengthens the cell walls of plants. The main advantage of the invention is that it is not made from petroleum derivatives and contains no formaldehyde. It also has a long shelf life and offers stable and predictable curing reactions.

Brought to you by Cingular Trio Industries' objective is to produce a high quality, formaldehyde-free adhesive to be used in the production of various board products, such as particleboards, fiberboards and flakeboards, a release said.

Dallas-based Trio Industries Group was founded in 2000 to capitalize on disruptive new coatings technologies developed by DuPont, and Rohm and Haas Company, two specialty chemical firms that patented powder coating applications that provide an enhanced performance acrylic coating finish to wood products. Such coated wood products are used in a variety of industries, including starter homes and multifamily housing developments, office furniture components and ready-to-assemble products such as bookcases and desks.

Utek is turning over companies at breakneck speed, having completed 14 technology transfers in 2005, which contributed to earnings of $5.9 million on revenue of $22.7 million.

Plant City-based Utek (AMEX: UTK) is a technology transfer company that enables companies to rapidly acquire innovative technologies from universities and research laboratories worldwide.


Ciba Specialty Chemicals forms development and licensing agreement with Biosignal
Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced the completion of a joint development and licensing agreement with Biosignal, Sydney, Australia to develop novel anti-microbial compounds for consumer and industrial products based upon Biosignal?s anti-biofilm technology. Biosignal has granted Ciba Specialty Chemicals an exclusive license in some of Ciba?s key markets including coatings, paints, plastics, fibres and paper products. Biosignal?s anti-biofilm technology is based on a discovery that the eastern Australian seaweed Delisea pulchra produces natural furanones that disable bacteria's ability to colonize. Development is expected to begin in May 2006 and testing will occur at Ciba?s laboratories in Basel, Switzerland and at Biosignal?s laboratories in Sydney, Australia.


ICI Paints Set to Open Second Vietnam Plant Mid Next Year
ICI Vietnam Ltd, an affiliate of UK-based ICI Paints, has begun construction of its second plant in the southern part of Vietnam. The new plant is being built on a six hectare site in My Phuoc Industrial Park in the the southern Binh Duong province. The new plant will be used to manufacture paints, coatings and other related materials and chemicals. The factory, valued at approximately $20 million and scheduled to come on line in the middle of next year, will have an annual capacity of 24 million liters of paint in its first phase

Contract worth USD 12 million for Jotun
Coatings Flash - April 03, 2006
During the next two years, Jotun Coatings will supply paint systems to Kashagan in the Caspian sea, the world's largest offshore oil field. Specifically, a contract worth USD 1.5?2 million is with Aker Kværner (a Norwegian supplier of engineering and construction services), which will design and build one of the platform decks. Jotun will supply all the coatings for this project. Also, Jotun Coatings in Norway will supply paint to Aker Kværner's part of the project in Kashagan, Jotun Italy secured a sizeabe part through Bonatti, one of the major contractors in Italy and Jotun Boya in Turkey will supply all the coatings for the construction of the North Caspian Consortium?s onshore facilities in Kashagan. That contract is worth USD 10 million, one of Jotun's largest ever contracts.


International Paint increases prices for marine coatings, reacting to dramatic new raw material cost base
Coatings Flash - April 03, 2006
"Unprecedented raw material costs" have led International Paint Ltd., part of Akzo Nobel, to initiate price increases for their marine coatings. "Over the last few years we have seen the costs of all of our key raw materials rise significantly and last year was no exception" said Mr Brian Smith, International Paints? Marine Coatings Commercial Director. Mr Smith explained that 2005 saw a near 50% increase in the price of oil, and a consequent 20% price rise for key solvent groups for marine products. In addition, even higher price increases have been established in the market for zinc (increase in 2005 over 50%), copper (40%) and aluminium metals (over 20%). These raw materials are a critical component of many marine coatings. "This new cost base looks set to stay, and therefore unfortunately we are left with no choice but to raise the prices of our Coatings" said Mr Smith.

Nippon Paint
Nippon Paint began production April 1 at its new 1,100-t/m facility for metal-finishing agents, Japan Chemical Week reports. The facility at Okayama (Okayama Prefecture), Japan, has twice the floor space of its existing facility at Osaka.