Mitsuba introduces the most efficient & user friendly Automatic Powder Spray System with NEW advanced features to provide the user the ability to achieve the highest level of finish.     AUTOMATIC POWDER SYSTEM   FEATURE: Modular Concept, Easy to customize Complete plug in-plug out design Both Corona & Tribo guns can be operated from the same control Interlocking available between the modules and external systems. Meets IP54 standards.     COMPONENTS : Master Control panel (MCP) Individual Gun Control Panels (GCP) with performance monitor Air Distribution Panel (ADP) Interlocking Control Panel (ICP). Reciprocator Control Panel (RCP) Integrated 100KV Infiniti ™ Automatic Corona Guns Centralized powder Hopper with powder pumps.     Infiniti™ Auto Corona Gun ( U.S. Patent No. 5678770) Automatic Infiniti™ powder spray guns have a 100KV generator in the gun itself. It also has the trend setting re-settable cascade system. In case of an unlikely event of mal functioning of a high voltage generator, the user does not need to change the entire barrel. Just replace the power cartridge on the spot and in 5 minutes you are back to work. This saves you time, money and headaches.The gun can also include an air rinse system to clean electrodes & deflector/flat spray nozzles to optimize transfer efficiency.           ELECTRO-MECHANICAL RECIPROCATOR The Electro-Mechanical Reciprocator manufactured by MITSUBA SYSTEMS, possesses the capability to vary the speed and the stroke length of reciprocation. The Reciprocator is electrically driven via an AC geared motor, giving gentle and distinct motion thus enduring the best possible coating result. The movement of the carriage is controlled by a most update AC frequency drive and advanced digital controller to achieve the desired stroke and speed. The control panel incorporates a user-friendly key pad so that operator can simply punch in required stroke length and speed. The Automatic guns on the reciprocator can be coupled with a state of art Magic Eye System to control the critical process parameters.              To know more about MITSUBA products please visit  www.powdergun.com   OR   Contact Us:   MITSUBA SYSTEMS (INDIA) PVT. LTD.,   34/H, Laxmi Industrial Estate,   New Link Road, Andheri (W),   Mumbai– 400 053. INDIA   Tel:  +91-22-2631 8633/2633 4735/56924151/52/53       Fax:  +91-22-56924154.   Email:   mitsuba@vsnl.com

Nerolac Paints to tap potential in rural market
With the rural sector contributing only about 10 per cent of the overall paints market, Nerolac Paints is gearing up to make inroads into the rural market in a major way.

The company will focus on Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh (MP), as it has, through a study, found out that the rural population in each of these three states has a sizeable disposable income.

To begin with, Nerolac is putting its distribution network in place in these rural areas in line with the FMCG model. The company is looking at setting up 25 distributors in the these regions. <more>


Innovative New Products Fill More Than Customer Needs
Shercon, Inc. leaders in masking solutions, announced the release of seven newly developed masking solutions. The Engineering Solutions Team at Shercon designed, developed, and tested these new solutions under various finishing processes; powder coating, plating, anodizing, E-coating and wet paint.


Santa Fe Springs, CA, November 30, 2005 --(PR.COM)-- Shercon, Inc. leaders in masking solutions, announced the release of seven newly developed masking solutions. The Engineering Solutions Team at Shercon designed, developed, and tested these new solutions under various finishing processes; powder coating, plating, anodizing, E-coating and wet paint. 

The new solutions range from multi-flanged plugs to dual-purpose plugs. The star of the new products is the versatile Ultrabake™ Venting Cap-Plug (UVCP for short). Not only does the new mask double as a cap for studs and as a plug for threaded and non-threaded holes, it also is designed with a vented release system to keep it from blowing off from built up air pressure. All newly developed masking solutions are made from the highest grade of Shercon’s proprietary Ultrabake™ compound. 

Nerolac to review Big B's contract

Mumbai: Paints major, Goodlass Nerolac, is reviewing its need to have a brand ambassador for its flagship brand - Nerolac.
Having appointed Amitabh Bachchan for the past two years, the paint company has been trying to bridge the gap in the decorative segment with the market leader - Asian Paints. <more>

`Growth story for paints is here'— Booming economy drives domestic market to the fore
An 8 per cent GDP growth has a cascading effect on all sectors of the economy, including prime consumers of paints such as the housing and industrial sectors and the automobile industry. INDIA's GDP growth of 8 per cent during the July-September 2005 quarter has made the country an important market for the paints industry. "The growth story for paints is in India. We do not need to look anywhere else,'' the top official of a paint manufacturer who did not wish to be named, said. While his company had production facilities in several countries and a growing international business, the booming domestic economy had clearly thrust home market to the fore.

Strictly in terms of growth rate, West Asia ruled the roost on his market portfolio. But in India, you have a major economy and a market that is the second most populous globally. Simply put, it cannot be overlooked now. Cascading effect: An 8 per cent GDP growth has a cascading effect on all sectors of the economy, including prime consumers of paints such as the housing and industrial sectors and the automobile industry. According to Mr Ashwin Dani, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Paints Ltd, the industry is expected to grow by 15 per cent in value terms in the current fiscal. India, a predominantly decorative paints market, had been seeing a big growth in the industrial paints segment propelled in part by the surge in automobile buying. The automobile segment accounts for 50 per cent of the demand for industrial paints.

Though the automobile segment has betrayed signs of cooling down during the current financial year, demand for other industrial paints is surging, paint company officials said. "Consumer buying of various goods is going up. Therefore, demand for various industrial paints is also going up. Be it floor coatings for the pharmaceutical or foods industry, road marking paints, high performance coatings for the petrochemical and other related sectors, powder coating for doors — offtake of all these paints are on an upward move," the official said. <more>

Asian Paints eyes Middle East acquisitions
Asian Paints on November 5 said it was looking to acquire companies in the Middle East and South East Asia as part of its international expansion plan. <more>

Berger Paints clarifies
Berger Paints India has clarified that it has no information on reports that Kansai Paints, a Korea-based paints company, was planning to acquire a stake in it.  Business Standard had reported on December 3 that the buying interest at the Berger Paints counter on December 2 was fuelled by reports of Kansai Paints planning to acquire a stake in Berger Paints India.<more>

Paint firms may raise prices in December
Domestic paint firms are likely to hike prices in December, a move that was on a hold owing to the recent festive demand. The industry had last hiked prices by 7 per cent between December 2004 and early January 2005.

M R Rajaram, chief financial officer and executive director, ICI India, said, “The industry is evaluating the possibility of a price revision. Paint companies could not correct prices owing to the festive season which ended with Diwali.” <more>

Turkish powder coatings company IBA Kimya expands
Coatings Flash - December 19, 2005
IBA Kimya A.S., headquartered in Ankara, Turkey, acquired EKB-Penta, a company with a turnover of EUR 3.0 million and 36 employees which is located in Gebze, Turkey. By transferring this business to its company IBA Kimya owns three production facilities. The company is active in the field of powder coatings as a licensee of Protech/Oxyplast since 1995.The powder coatings producer aims at expanding total sales as well as export business. Currently, IBA Kimya exports to 15 countries and is active in domestic appliances, metal furniture, architectural applications, and general industry. IBA Kimya is planning further investments like a new powder coatings facility in Ankara and a liquid paint factory for wood and industrial coatings with a Spanish shareholder. These two facilities will be in operation in
1,5 years time.

Rohm and Haas closes powder coatings plant
Coatings Flash - December 19, 2005
Rohm and Haas Powder Coatings will consolidate its manufacturing facilities in Europe into three sites, resulting in the closure of its Aldridge, UK, plant. Production will be transferred to its other European sites in Germany, Italy and Spain. The consolidation of sites is in response to the business' commitment to reducing fixed costs and providing the most efficient and low cost manufacturing model. Robert Linsdell, European general manager, said the decision was an extremely difficult one to make but it was necessary to refocus the company's efforts on strategic and operational excellence and in global and regional profitability. Approximately
70 employees at the Rohm and Haas Aldridge site will be affected. As many employees as possible will be considered for positions in other company facilities.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals markets antimicrobial products
Coatings Flash - December 19, 2005
Ciba Specialty Chemicals has formed a worldwide marketing cooperation with Bio-Gate Bioinnovative Materials GmbH, Germany. Bio-Gate has developed a silver-based technology portfolio and a powerful testing method for screening antimicrobial efficacy and for quality
assurance of antimicrobial products for a variety of industries. With the marketing cooperation, Ciba Specialty Chemicals becomes the worldwide exclusive marketer of these antimicrobial products and services based on high porosity elemental silver. The "Hygate" antimicrobial technology is tailored for high value polymer markets such as plastics used in food processing, fibers for textiles, and specialty industrial hygienic coating applications.

Akzo Nobel receives offer for Ink and Adhesive Resins
Coatings Flash - December 05, 2005
Akzo Nobel has received an offer from Hexion Specialty Chemicals for its Ink and Adhesive Resins business for EUR 88 million free of cash and debt. The offer involves all assets and all current employees of the business. If completed, the deal would represent the first major divestment to be completed following the company's strategic realignment of its Chemicals portfolio, which was announced early this year. The business, which had 2004 sales of EUR 166 million, employs around 560 people and has its global headquarters in Maastricht, the Netherlands, along with production sites in seven countries, including Portugal, New Zealand, the USA, China and Argentina. Products manufactured by the Ink and Adhesive Resins business include printing ink resins, rubber emulsifiers, alkyd resins and solid tackifier resins.

Jotun Strengthens it's position by growing within Indonesia
Coatings Flash - December 05, 2005
November 23, 2005 marked the official grand opening of paint manufacturer Jotun's new $US 11 million plant, located in Kawasan Industri Cikarang Barat, Bekasi. The opening strengthens Jotun as the leader in marine paints and industrial coatings in Indonesia. "The increasing demand and the strong growth in the Indonesian market for paints and coatings have led us to invest in the new Bekasi Plant," explained President Director, Terje Lunde. To answer the growing needs of high quality paint in the tropical countries in Asia, Jotun has developed a line of products specifically for tropical climates, contributing to their success in Asia Pacific markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia. All these high-quality paints are now manufactured in Indonesia to be distributed to the Asia Pacific market.

Nuplex acquires and divests
Coatings Flash - December 12, 2005
Nuplex Industries has taken two new strategic initiatives to become a specialist, international coating and regional composites resin business with a strong Australasian specialties base. It has purchased the chemicals and plastic raw material agency and distribution business of PML Holdings Limited for USD 44 million, and sold its Environmental Services business to ASX listed Transpacific Group Industries Limited for USD 56 million. Both transactions are effective from 1 December 2005. The raw materials business being purchased trades in New Zealand as Polychem Marketing, and has offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. In Australia it trades as Multichem, and operates from offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. In the financial year ending 31 December, 2005, sales are expected to be close to USD 100 million and EBITDA in the range USD 7 - 8 million.

BASF Increases Capacity for High-quality Yellow Pigments at the Ludwigshafen site
Coatings Flash - December 12, 2005
BASF has increased its production capacity for quinophthalone pigments at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany to 1,400 metric tons per annum. The company is registering growing worldwide demand for these high-grade yellow pigments, which are marketed under the brand name "Paliotol". The investment will ensure that BASF continues to provide high delivery reliability while maintaining the excellent quality standard of its "Paliotol" pigments. These pigments are high-performance pigments with an outstanding standard of fastness. The fields of application are very diverse, ranging from coatings, with the emphasis on industrial coatings, through to the coloration of polymer fibres, films and injection mouldings and the manufacture of high-grade printing inks for tin printing, inkjet printing and colour filters.

BASF interested in acquiring Degussa's construction chemicals business
Coatings Flash - December 26, 2005
BASF is interested in acquiring Degussa's construction chemicals division to expand its own portfolio in a high-growth market through forward integration. With the approval of its Supervisory Board BASF's Board of Executive Directors has proposed to Degussa's Board of Management to conduct exclusive negotiations on the possible transaction. Following a detailed review of the business case, BASF plans to make a concrete offer for Degussa's business. BASF wishes to start the review as quickly as possible. The global construction chemicals market is valued at around EUR 13 billion and is attractive in view of annual growth of about 4 %, relatively stable margins and high potential for innovation. The acquisition of Degussa's business would give BASF rapid access to additional industrial customers and end-users.

RAG announces complete takeover of Degussa
Coatings Flash - December 26, 2005
RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen, Germany, which holds a 50.1 % interest in Degussa AG (Degussa) through its wholly owned subsidiary RAG Projektgesellschaft mbH (RPG), announced today that it intends to acquire all remaining shares in Degussa. In a basic agreement signed, RAG and E.ON AG have apparently agreed on the divestment of the 42.86 % of Degussa's capital stock held by E.ON to RPG effective 1 July 2006. According to the notification from RAG, the contracts to be concluded with E.ON will be subject to the proviso, inter alia, that approval is obtained from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia.


Visit
During a recent visit to Indore, Mr Bhavesh Desai visited our office. It is always interesting to meet face to face with our virtual visitors. such discussions help us to embed the right contents to our newsletters and our website.


During the discussions we discussed about the role of the internet in modern business. He appreciated the efforts of India Powder Coating in this. "IPC has provided a common platform to all the people in this field and its playing a unique role for the powder coating Industry", he said.



Berger organizes young painters' art competition
New Nation (Bangladesh Independent News Source)
Berger Young Painters' Art Competition celebrated a decade long festivity of creativity. The prize giving ceremony of 10th Berger Young Painters' Art Competition 2005 was held at a city Hotel on Tuesday. To celebrate this decade marking colorful event, many young, veteran and eminent artists, art connoisseurs, art lovers and important citizens of the country graced the occasion.

From the beginning till the end this award giving ceremony of Berger Young Painters' Art Competition was altogether different from earlier ones. The ceremony began with a documentary show where the glorious moments from the past Berger Young Painters' All Competitions were documented. Afterwards, Managing Director of Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd. and renowned educationist Dr. Anisuzzaman handed crests and presents to those personalities who were members of the jury committee over the last ten years.
In his welcoming speech, Masih UI Karim, Managing Director, Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd., said, "If the critics analyse the art works of the participants of last 10 years' Berger Young Painters' Art Competition, in addition to the artistic distinction, they will find a continuity of our nation's hopes, dreams and aspirations. <more>

 

Testing is performed on the finished film to confirm that it has all of the performance properties that the material is supposed to provide. Testing confirms that the pretreatment process is working correctly, providing the necessary properties to the substrate prior to coating application. Testing also confirms that the powder has been properly applied and cured. Initial testing of a coating process is used to establish a standard. Periodic testing is done to confirm that the process is able to maintain the standard.

Panels for coating tests are run through the washer and then coated the same as production parts. The panels are usually aged for 24 hours at room temperature prior to testing.

Test methods must be standardized in order to provide a common method of communication and accurate measurement of the coating. There are organizations that produce standard test methods for coatings analysis. They establish guidelines for what the test means, how it is done, what is used for the test, and how the results are measured and recorded. There are national organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the German Industrial Standards (DIN). There are also international organizations such as the International Standardization Organization (ISO). Trade associations,  such as the Powder Coating Institute PCI), sometimes publish recommended test procedures. The important thing is that a seller and a buyer agree to a standard method of confirming the finished coating.

The precise match of color and gloss can be a very critical part of the operation. Matching color and gloss requires consistent material from the supplier. Incoming batches of powder should be tested to confirm that the color and gloss are correct. Consistent operation of the powder system is also important. Differences in the film thickness or cure cycle may have an impact on color and gloss.
Color can be tested by visual inspection or computerized methods. Visual inspection is useful for spot checking and comparing a part to a visual sample. To confirm visual results and for greater accuracy a color measurement device is used

For color, a colorimeter is the most common device used to measure color. A colorimeter produces a measurement in three numbers called tristimulus values. The values are the amount of primary colors in the coating ñ red (X), green (Y), and blue (Z). Each color has its own tristimulus values that distinguish it from any other color. These values can be measured to determine if a color match is accurate. They can also be used to determine the direction and amount of any color difference

In many cases the XYZ values of a coating are converted to the Hunter L, a, b scale. The ”L“ is for lightness, the ”a“ is for redness-greenness, and the ”b“ is for yellowish-bluish. Numbers for the L, a, b scale are established for a given color and a numerical tolerance is established. A typical tolerance might be +/– .5. For example, a measurement of  –.5 on the L axis would indicate that the color is .5 points too light. More stringent tolerance might be required in some industries. However, the human eye cannot detect slight color differences so some tolerance is acceptable.

To be sure of correct color matching from batch to batch, start out with a practical tolerance that satisfies the needs of the product and is reproducible by the coating manufacturer. Check for any differences between your colorimeter and the one used by the coating supplier. Measurement will vary from one device to another, even if they are made by the same manufacturer. Keep the color measurement device accurately calibrated. Keep a master sample of a color and make visual matches to the master panel.

Have the powder supplier include a sample panel from each batch of powder or spray a sample before putting the material into production. Take a color measurement from the sample to verify that the color is accurate. This will ensure that a poor color-matched batch of powder is never used on production parts.

Remember that a color may look different in different lighting and at different angles. As a result, two samples may match under one set of viewing conditions but not match in another. This phenomenon, called metamerism, can cause an operator to make a mistake if they rely on one visual inspection without varying the light source, viewing distance, or angle of the part. Visual testing of panels is usually done in acontrolled space such as a light booth. The light booth uses different light sources to visually evaluate color differences. The International Commission on Illumination (ICI) has standardized on North Daylight as illuminant D65 and Incandescent as illuminant A. Cool White Fluorescent is the third light source and it has not been standardized by ICI.

The texture and gloss of the panel can also cause a false reading. The gloss should be checked with a glossmeter and the texture should be visually inspected.

The basic unit of color is measurement is a Just Noticable Difference (JND). A difference of one JND is a very close match. Beyond one JND begins to be noticeable to the human eye. Color difference equations calculate the difference between a desired sample and a test part in units of E. The color difference is referred to as the delta E.

Color  Glossary

1. Appearance – the way an object looks; the color, gloss and texture.

2. Color – visual response to light consisting of hue, saturation, and lightness.

3. Color Difference – magnitude and character of the difference between two colors.

4. Color Tolerance – limit of color difference from a standard which is acceptable.

5. CIE LAB of L*a*b* E – the color difference based upon the 1976 CIE color difference equation. On CIE LAB E is approximately 2 JND units of color.
DL – designates lightness difference
Da – designates redness-greenness
Db – designates yellowness-blueness
DE – a unit of color difference. It is the total difference in hue, saturation, lightness

6. FMC 2 E – color difference based on the Friele, MacAdam, Chickering Color difference equation. One FMC 2 E is approximately
equal to one JND of color difference. Color & Gloss Measurement

7. Gloss – subjective term used to describe the relative amount and nature of mirror-like reflection. Different types of gloss are frequently arbitrarily differentiated, such as sheen, distinctness-ofimage gloss, etc.

Trade practice recognizes the following stages, in increasing order on gloss:

Flat or matte – practically free of sheen, less than 15 on an 850
meter.
Eggshell – usually 20-35 on a 600 meter.
Semi-gloss – usually 35-70 on 600 meter.
Full-gloss – smooth and almost mirror-like surface when viewed from all angles; usually above 70 on a 600 meter.

8. Geometric Metamerism – phenomenon exhibited by a pair of colors that appear to be a color match at one angle of illumination and viewing but that no longer match when the angle of illumination or viewing is changed; caused by gloss and/or texture differences.

9. Hue – color variable denoted by red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, and purple.

10. HUNTER Lab E – the color difference based on Hunter’s color difference equation. One Hunter Lab E is approximately 3 JND
units of color.

11. Lightness – color variable denoted by neutral gray scale from white to black.

12. Metamerism – when two or more samples match under on set of viewing conditions but do not match under a different set of
viewing conditions for the same person.

13. Saturation – color variable denoted by purity or departure from grayness  For measurement of gloss, a glossmeter is used. Gloss is a measurement of the amount of light that is reflected to a viewerís eye. The light reflected is converted to an electronic signal by a phototube. The
strength of the signal is related to the amount of light reflected. The reflected light is compared to the original light falling on the surface to
measure the gloss. The angle of reflection may be 20, 45, 60 or 90°. 20 or 60 are the most common angles for gloss measurement.