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18th- 20th May, 2009 China Import and Export Fair (Pazhou) Complex

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Infomercial from Nordson               Fast Color Change for powder Coating The Form and Substance of Fast-Color-Change booths Contributed by Nordson Corp., Powder Systems Group How fast can I change colors? That’s one concern holding back some finishers from switching to powder coating. What the question really means is, “How long does it take to clean my system so there’s no old powder left to contaminate the next color?” The added labor cost and lost production time of lengthy color changes can mean the difference between success and failure for paint operations where frequent color change is a fact of life. Not long ago color changes could take a couple of hours. Today, changing from one reclaim color to another can be done in a matter of minutes. What has made this dramatic reduction in color-change time possible? Certainly a great deal of attention has focused on making equipment easier to clean. Following is a small sampling of some innovations that shave valuable time off the process. The Color-Change road Map Any place that old powder can come in contact with new powder is a potential hot spot for contamination. Take a look at the route powder follows on your powder line, and you’ll understand where improvements have been needed along the way (Figure 1). First, powder is delivered to the system in boxes and must be fluidized and pumped to the spray guns. Most of the powder sprayed from the gun goes on the parts—but some doesn’t. This over-sprayed powder must be collected and recirculated back to the delivery system. Changing colors means cleaning all of the previous powder from the powder feed equipment, booth and recovery system The modern feed center minimizes the number of surfaces required to deliver powder, and provides mechanisms for their easy cleanup (see Figure 2). By centralizing  all the delivery apparatus, a single operator can easily inspect, clean and reconnect the delivery equipment for color change. Equipment is made more accessible by mounting it so that it can pivot into a convenient cleaning position and be relocated precisely when finished The feed center can be equipped to supply powder from bags, boxes, totes or  any other type of powder container. The latest cyclone recovery systems are designed to funnel over-sprayed powder into a small chamber that is easy for operators to access for proper cleaning. Opening  a hinged door in the booth wall can actually access the cyclone ductwork. This provision makes complete cleanup of the ductwork a simple matter (Figure 3). New Powder Booth Dsigns There has been an evolution in booth design. At first, designers concerned themselves with the mechanical aspects of the booth. They focused on how to make spray booths lighter, easier to install and less expensive to purchase. These booth designers experimented with a range of commercially available materials from stainless steel to plastics like PVC and polycarbonate. In the next phase of booth design, engineers began to design booths that were easier to clean and provided greater visibility for painters. Everybody realizes that it’s easier to clean something that’s free of tight corners, seams and ledges where powder can accumulate. Existing booth materials were fashioned into better shapes to eliminate hard-to-clean areas. Sloped surfaces, even curved booth walls, have been integrated into many of the latest booth designs (Figure 4). The latest generations of booths literally break down the walls between the booth and ductwork by creating designs that use a single wall for both the collector and booth wall (Figure 5). An operator opens a hingedpanel inside the booth and has complete unfettered access to clean the collector. An area of booth design that has benefited from advances in computer-aided design tools is airflow inside the booth. Air in a powder booth creates a complex set of problems. On one hand, airflow must contain powder within the booth and keep it from escaping through booth openings. Air can be used to draw powder to the collector so reclaim is enhanced. However, airflow around the part should be as gentle as possible since it can draw powder away from the part, decreasing system transfer efficiency. Designing for better airflow has two objectives. First, creating a “quiet” zone around the gun and the part so electrostatics can draw powder to the part without being disrupted by air currents. And, airflow should help to direct over-sprayed powder to the collection system. New Materials For Booth Construction The latest development in booth design is in actually creating new booth materials that have the most desirable combination of  physical properties and cleanability What role does booth material play in color change? Figure 6 shows various common booth materials that have been sprayed with powder and then blown off with compressed air just as they would in a color-change operation. Each panel shows how much powder is left behind. Powder that’s left behind is a reject waiting to happen—since the powder will ultimately become airborne and contaminate a part’s finish. Another test performed on common booth materials reveals that wiping down the walls of a booth may not remove enough powder to prevent contamination. In this test, booth wall sections made of single-skin and double-skin PVC and proprietary composite material were wiped with a cloth after being blown clean of powder . . The rag was then analyzed for powder contamination. The chart shows the weight of powder of each cloth after wiping a supposedly clean booth wall surface applications, composite materials now offer the best of all worlds. The latest materials have been engineered to have low attraction to powder coatings while exhibiting all the desirable properties of a booth material. In the plant, booths can take a beating— from tow motors to falling parts. Some materials (like stainless steel) are extremely resistant to impact while others (like polycarbonate plastic) crack and shatter easily with impact. New materials are composites designed for high-impact resistance. The proprietary composite material is actually designed around the structure of an I-beam (Figure 8). With two skins separated by a lightweight core, the wall is able to withstand great impact and flexing pressures. Figure 9 shows a comparison of IZOD (ASTM D 256) test data for the proprietary composite material compared with standard impact data for various common booth materials. An advantage of the I-beam construction is that lightweight materials combine to form an exceptionally tough panel. The proprietary composite material weighs only 1.38 lb/sq ft—less than half the weight of a hollow PVC panel built with conventional 3/16-inch skins. These lightweight panels are  self-supporting, eliminating bulky, expensive and obtrusive framework usually required to support plastic canopies.  The light weight of the material also makes it possible to fabricate larger-sized panels so a booth can be built with fewer sections and seams. Mating of panels inevitably leads to  places for powder to collect.   Another consideration in booth materials is lighting and visibility, since they play an important role in making good parts. Today’s booths are designed to be well-illuminated, as bright paint booths make it easy for operator to see what they are doing. A few years ago, clear, see-though plastics became popular since they allowed light inside the booth. One problem with some seethrough materials, however, is how quickly they become obscured with powder once the spray guns are triggered. This is especially true of materials that have a high electrostatic affinity for charged powder. Another factor that reduces the usefulness of see-through materials is that they may be prone to becoming “sandblasted” during use. Powder coatings are abrasive and spraying them against a clear panel, wiping, squeegeeing them off, spraying and cleaning repeatedly wears the surface This wearing of the surface has two effects. First, it affects the cosmetic appearance since scratches reduce the clarity of the material. More importantly, the scratches create a more porous material for powder to cling to and create possible contamination. The ideal booth wall is smooth with no nooks-and-crannies for powder to collect in. Table I indicates the hardness (measured using ASTM D 785-98) of various booth materials compared to a composite like the proprietar y composite material formulated specifically for powder booth applications. In summary, fast color change requires a booth that can be cleaned quickly and easily. Since the earliest days when a powder booth was a big metal box to spray into, advances have been made with better collectors and modern feed centers Now the booth itself has become the focus for improvement. Modern powder booths can optimize transfer efficiency through engineered airflow throughout the booth. New, specially designed composite materials offer the best combination of physical properties and cleanability. These composites can be fabricated into shapes tailored to provide the best clean-ability and larger sections to eliminate joints and seams and facilitate installation. Reprinted from 2008 PRODUCTS FINISHING DIRECTORY Magazine  and Copyright © 2008 by Gardner Publications, Inc., 6915 Valley Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45244-3029.Reprinted from 2008 PRODUCTS FINISHING DIReCTORy Magazine and Copyright © 2008 by Gardner Publications, Inc., 6915 Valley Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45244-3029.         Main Office for South Asia 143 A, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Bangalore - 560 09 Tel: +91 80 4021 3600 Fax: +91 80 4021 3601 New Delhi Branch Office B4, Greater Kailash Enclave, Part II, New Delhi - 110 048 Tel: +91 11 2922 9211 Fax: +91 11 2922 9210   Pune Branch Office 101, Megh Apartments 39/33, Lane No. 9, Prabhat Road, Erandawane, Pune - 411 004 Tel: +91 20 2541 0752/3 Chennai Branch Office C-3, No. 861, Poonamallee High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai - 600 010     United States of America Amherst, Ohio Telephone: +1 440.985.4000 Facsimile: +1 440.985.1096 Fax: +91 20 2541 2450 © 2003 Nordson Corporation All Rights Reserved PWL-03-0697 Revised 5/03 For more information, talk with your Nordson representative or contact your Nordson regional headquarters office. Nordson reserves the right to make design changes to products to improve their function. These changes may occur between printings. Tel: +91 44 4353 9024/5 Fax: +91 44 4353 9026 www.nordson.co.in  nordsonindia@nordson.com

Infomercial from Vijay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd Vijay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Vijay Enterprises is a leading manufacture of powder coating materials (PCM) in India. VIJAY COAT today stands as a Reliable source of High Quality and Durable Powder Coating materials at very reasonable prices. Vijay's PCM find extensive application for industrial and other demanding applications. Vijay enterprises was incorporated in 1995 with a view to supplying quality PCMs to Indian industry. Vijay's manufacturing set up is equipped with best machines from M/s Buss AG Switzerland who are world's largest manufacturer of Powder Coating Machines. Vijay has now established itself and earned a name for its quality supplies and prompt delivery at very economic prices. VIJAY has multi-locational production facilities near Ahmedabad in western India and at Silvassa in the U T of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, 200 Kms off Mumbai. This makes it a competitive source of PCMs to all customers.  Vijay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Admin. Office : 103, Gita Bhavan, 1st Floor, Opp. Vijay Transport, Narol Char Rasta, AHMEDABAD 382 405. GUJARAT. INDIA. Telephone: +91-79-2532 9057, 25329374,Fax: +91-79-2535 9481 Email: vijaycoat@gmail.com  web: vijay-powdercoat.com

EPA Issues NESHAP Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing national emission standards regarding the control of hazardous air pollutants for nine metal fabrication and finishing area source categories. This final rule, which went into effect on July 23, establishes emission standards in the form of management practices and equipment standards for new and existing operations of dry abrasive blasting, machining, dry grinding, and dry polishing with machines, spray painting, and other spray coating, as well as welding operations.

This final rule applies to area sources where the primary activity of their facilities is in one of the following nine source categories: (1) electrical and electronic equipment finishing operations; (2) fabricated metal products; (3) fabricated plate work (boiler shops); (4) fabricated structural metal manufacturing; (5) heating equipment, except electric; (6) industrial machinery and equipment finishing operations; (7) iron and steel forging; (8) primary metal products manufacturing; and (9) valves and pipe fittings. More specifically, this rule applies to area sources in these nine source categories that use or have the potential to emit compounds of cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, or nickel from metal fabrication or finishing operations.

Facilities affected by this final rule are not subject to the miscellaneous coating requirements in 40 CFR part 63, subpart HHHHHH, "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations at Area Sources," for their affected source(s) that are subject to the requirements of this final rule. There potentially may be other operations at the area sources that are not subject to the requirements of this final rule, but are instead subject to subpart HHHHHH of this part.


Also, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is opening a 30-day public comment period on its recommendations for areas to be designated as "out of compliance" with the agency's 24-hour fine particle standards. Earlier this month EPA notified states and tribes of its recommendations for areas to be designated as "attainment" or "nonattainment" for fine particle pollution, also called PM2.5. Exposure to fine particle pollution is linked to a variety of serious health problems, including aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, nonfatal heart attacks, and premature death. States and tribes have an opportunity to respond to the EPA's recommendations and provide new information or analyses, if appropriate. The EPA will consider those responses, along with the public comment, before making its final decisions. The EPA must issue final designations by Dec. 18, 2008. The EPA will accept public comment for 30 days after a notice is published in the Federal Register. Instructions for submitting comments are available at www.epa.gov/pmdesignations.


Testing "green" nonstick pans
Ever since EPA researchers in 2006 called a chemical used to make Teflon coatings a "likely carcinogen'' nervous consumers have been questioning the wisdom of continuing to use the non-stick pans they've long counted on in the kitchen.

They don't want to risk toxic fumes, but they're not ready to give up the convenience and easy clean up, feeling a bit guilty about the indulgence.

A new generation of "green" pans now promises slippery cooking surfaces without the threat of toxics. They're coated with a variety of ceramic-based materials that manufacturers say do not contain perfluorooctanoic acid -- more commonly known as PFOA -- that might be released when empty pans are heated to extremely high temperatures.

We tried three of these new skillets to see how they measured up against the more familiar Teflon. (DuPont says that Teflon-coated cookware is not a health threat when used at temperatures below 500 degrees. The EPA also says there's no indication the public is being exposed to PFOA through the use of nonstick cookware. Still, DuPont has joined with seven other manufacturers of nonstick coatings in a pact with the EPA to virtually eliminate trace amounts of PFOA in consumer products by 2015.)<more>

Bioplastics: Environment friendly biopolymers from microbes
Prolegomenon
Ugly is the word that comes to the mind! The world is littered with plastics made from petrochemicals. They are everywhere and a veritable nuisance: be it home, office, market, riverside or mountain or other tourist spots. They are not biodegradable and won’t go away soon even though you hate the sight of them. More importantly they harm the environment making it ugly, causing soil infertility and choking water bodies. They cause disposal problems, incineration and recycling being the only available options (which can still be harmful to both human health and the environment). But the former is expensive and recycling is cumbersome. Moreover some plastics cannot be incinerated or recycled due to pigments or other additives. So then what is the solution? When you have a problem, microbes seem to have a handy solution. In this case it comes in the form of biodegradable polymers accumulated by certain microorganisms called bioplastics.
What are bioplastics?
Bioplastics are a special type of biomaterials. Plastics derived from plant sources-soybean oil, hemp oil, or corn starch etc.-or microbial sources, rather than traditional petrochemical-derived plastics are called bioplastics. Though bioplastics have been made from both plants and microbes, our focus in this column is on microbial ones. Microbial bioplastics are polyesters that are produced by a range of microorganisms cultivated under various growth and nutrient conditions. These polymers, usually lipids, accumulate as storage materials (as mobile, amorphous, liquid granules) meant for microbial survival under stressful conditions.
The number and size of the granules, monomer composition, polymer structure, and physico-chemical properties vary upon the producing microbe.
Bioplastics are made from a compound called polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA. Bacteria accumulate PHA in the presence of excess carbon source, similar to how humans accumulate fat deposits on their bodies after consuming excess food. Thus microbial PHA accumulators are microorganismal versions of Sumo wrestlers, accumulating storage biopolymers after consuming excess nutrients. Poly 3-hydroxy butyric acid (PHB) is the most common microbial PHA.<more>

Environmentalism Sprouts Up On Corporate Boards
More U.S. corporate boards are going green.
Amid rising investor worries over global warming and shrinking natural resources, directors are keeping a closer watch on environmental issues. Boards at Integrys Energy Group Inc., Quicksilver Resources Inc., Tesoro Corp. and elsewhere recently have created separate environmental panels -- joining long-established ones at DuPont Co., Occidental Petroleum Corp. and Rohm & Haas Co. Other companies cover environmental issues with an existing board committee.
About 25% of Fortune 500 companies now have a board committee overseeing the environment, compared with fewer than 10% five years ago, estimates Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, a national coalition of activists, investors and others concerned with the environment. Such panels typically try to make sure that executives effectively handle conservation efforts, new environmentally friendly ventures like wind power, compliance with environmental regulations and related business risks.<more>

A fresh look at car paint
Noxious paint fumes and the whirring of agitating paint cans are conspicuously absent at Wilson's Auto Collision Inc.

The lack of traditional smells and sounds of an auto body shop doesn't mean owner Ray Wilson doesn't have any work. It means he's joined a growing industry trend.

A few months ago, Wilson stopped using solvent-based paint to repair damaged vehicles at his 22-year-old shop on East Platte Avenue and started using water-based paint.

Although European automakers have been applying water-based paint on new vehicles for more than a decade and domestic car manufacturers have jumped on board in the last few years, the more environmentally friendly product is just now making its way into the automotive aftermarket.

Auto body shops only recently started switching because water-based products weren't readily available from manufacturers and what was on the market was expensive, said Dale Francis, body shop manager at Red Noland Collision Center.

Now, "it's a break-even deal," said Francis, who said his shop plans to change systems by the end of this year. "It's a great marketing tool if you can combine waterborne with recycling in your shop - it attracts people who are green-conscious."

Only a handful of collision repair shops in Colorado use water-based paint, said Richard Turner, a Colorado territory manager for PPG Industries, which manufactures automotive finishes. Wilson's shop is the first in southern Colorado. <more>

 

Infomercial from Mitsuba Systems            MANUAL POWDER SPRAY EQUIPMENT     MANUAL POWDER SPRAY EQUIPMENT Mitsuba presents the Sprayright 700 Premium, a world class powder spray system designed for the customer who is price conscious and yet demands the highest quality. It includes a unique injection moulded corona gun which delivers 100 KV at the gun tip. This high voltage gun eliminates powder wastage and ensures excellent results which are critical for powder coating. Sprayright 700 is ATEX as well as CE certified for operator safety. The Easy to use control panel is IP54 rated for being perfectly and completely dust proof. This standard equipment includes a three piece stainless steel hopper in a special easy to dismantle design. This allows for a really fast and perfect cleaning during colour change operations. The entire system is trolley mounted for convenient handling. The Sprayright 700 gun can be used with Round spray nozzle as well as Flat Spray nozzle. With correct use of the nozzle you can reduce the powder wastage and increase your profit. With exceptional technology and dedication to customer satisfaction, Mitsuba is now the largest manufacturer and exporter of Powder Coating Equipment in this part of the world. Click here or the "play"  button For more information on Mitsuba Products please feel free to contact us at: Mitsuba Systems (I) P Ltd, 34/H, Laxmi Indl Estate, New Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai - 400 053 Tel: 2631 8633 /66924151/2/3 Fax-66924154 Email: mitsuba@vsnl.com  Website: www.powdergun.com

Green Living Tips

Special requirements of FBE “Pipe coating” system for External coating:
By S.R.Chaphekar

External steel pipe coating is a specialized operation and does not match with any other powder coating operation.

The process starts with shot or/and grit blasting if the pipe. Different size of grits/shots are used for blasting. A mixture also could be specified to get the required anchor pattern.

A phosphoric acid wash is then given to the pipe surface to remove the salts, deposited on it during transit either in the form of sheets or in the form of pipes. This is followed by passivation. Passivating solution is dripped on the surface, while the pipe is kept rotating.

The pipes then are passed to the heating zone. The heating is done by either induction heating or by LPG fired heating unit.

Powder is now sprayed on these hot pipes. The pipe diameters vary generally from 400 mm to 1800 or even more. The traveling speed of these pipes may be around 6000 mm / minute. Or it also means the area to be covered per minute is about 30 to 40 sq. Mts. / min.

The thickness specified mostly is 1 mm. This means the powder to be sprayed per minute is about 60 to 80 Kg. The length of booth recommended is 2 to 3 Mts. to achieve the coating operation.

A standard powder guns can spray about 300 Gms. of powder per minute. With this capacity the gun required will be about 200, an impossible figure. High output guns are specially designed and manufactured for this purpose with spray capacity of 3 kg. per minute. This needs the additional features as higher current capacity, provision of cooling facility as the guns are in the vicinity of 300 Deg C.

These guns are fixed on the side bars fixed on the booth. Powder is fed to these guns by a high capacity fluidized bed powder hopper. The hoper has a capacity to accept about 20 guns. An automatic powder management arrangement feeds the powder from the cold storage and recovery system after filtration and proportionateing.

At every place special care is necessary as the powder to air mixture may exceed the minimum explosive limit and may be bellow the maximum explosive limit. Automatic fire extinguishing system is almost always attached to booth and recovery. Creating inert gas atmosphere may be more economical solution to this problem.

The powder gets cured due to pre heating and the pipes are then passed on to adhesive coating and PE coating or are cooled by pouring water on it

Price Rise
DuPont CoatingSolutions has announced a price increase of up to 10% on powder and liquid industrial coatings in the United States and Canada, effective Sept. 1. Dave Lazzeri, business director, Americas-DuPont Industrial CoatingSolutions, said the price increases are driven partly by high prices for raw materials and feedstocks derived from petroleum, especially epoxy-based materials, polyester resins, and solvents. Availability of these materials is also an issue due to insufficient capacity and production problems at some suppliers.

Berger Paints will raise prices from August
Daily News & Analysis - Mumbai,India
KOLKATA: Berger Paints will increase prices of its decorative paints for the third month in a row from August following a 15% rise in raw material costs<more>

Paint-makers shift focus to smaller cities
So far, it was the urban consumer who would experiment with premium textures, colours and designs solutions. But now, paint-makers feel that consumers in tier-II and III cities are fast taking to the concept.

Companies are mapping aggressive plans to tap the demand in the non-metros as this premium segment is growing at around 30 per cent annually as against the industry average of 12-15 per cent.
sales of the industry, experts believe that with the increasing number of real estate projects, it is the smaller towns that will be of more importance to the sector.

“The income distribution pattern has changed in the tier-II & III cities and the consumer there has more purchasing power, which in turn fuels demand. A lot of real estate development is also happening in these cities adding to the demand,” says ICI India Director M R Rajaram.

Industry observers too believe that the consumers in these cities do not mind paying premium for innovative products and services, even if they are 10-20 per cent more expensive than economy products.

With more consumers willing to experiment, the premium segment now commands 15-20 per cent of the Rs 11,000 crore paints market in India, as against 5 per cent two years ago.

Meanwhile, Kansai Nerolac is also bullish about its premium brands especially ‘Impressions’ doing good business in tier-II cities such as Lucknow, Dehradun, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

“The consumer in tier-II and III cities are opening up to experimenting with designs and styles and hence are upgrading to the premium end. We are constantly innovating new products to suit the need of these markets. Even metallic-finish paints and designer textures are finding favour,” says Anuj Jain, Vice President-Marketing & Sales (Decorative), Kansai Nerolac Paints. The company offers style guides to help the consumers understand the different designs and products available.

Jotun India, part of Norway’s Jotun group will dedicate around 7-8 per cent of its turnover on marketing its products in the smaller cities with a special focus on the premium end.

“There is a growing demand for semi-premium and premium acrylics and emulsions in these markets and we are trying to create more awareness around products,” says Lopesh Dalal,marketing manager, Jotun India.

The company also plans to expand its concept stores — Multicolour stores — which provide colour solutions and an aspirational ambience. The company is also investing in educating the local paint contractors and retailers about the various options available. ICI paints plans to set up 300 design studios in three years in the country. <more>

DuPont Titanium Technologies Announces a Price Increase
Polymerupdate.com (subscription) - Mumbai,Maharashtra,India
DuPont Titanium Technologies on Wednesday announced a price increase for DuPont(TM) Ti-Pure® titanium dioxide grades sold in Western and Central Europe, <more>

DuPont venture opens R&D center in Russia
DuPont Russian Coatings LLC has opened the largest technical center in Russia dedicated to the development of high-performance automotive coatings. The $3 million facility is located at the Yaroslav headquarters of DuPont Russian Coatings, a joint venture established in 2006 by DuPont and Russkie-Kraski to supply coatings to manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Kansai Nerolac net profit down by 7 per cent
NEW DELHI: Paint manufacturing major Kansai Nerolac Paints on Monday said its net profit has dipped 7 per cent to Rs 30.19 crore during the first quarter of this fiscal, against Rs 32.47 crore during the same period last year.

The company reported a gross sale of Rs 432.55 crore in the quarter under review, against Rs 387.7 crore reported during the first quarter of 2007-08, Kansai Nerolac Paints said in a statement.

"Increase in oil price, freight cost and other inflationary pressures affected our profits of this quarter," Kansai Nerolac Paints Managing Director H M Bharuka said. <more>

Kansai Nerolac is banking on the decorative segment
Kansai Nerolac is looking at maintaining its market share of about 14% in the decorative paints segment, despite increasing competition, and maintaining dominance in the industrial paints, managing director H M Bharuka said.

Kansai Nerolac board recommends 120% dividend

The Rs 1,425 crore Kansai Nerolac is 66% held by Japanese paints major Kansai.

It is the largest industrial paints player is the country with over 65% market share. In the decorative paints segment, it trails market leader Asian Paints which has over 35% market share. Currently, industrial and decorative paints contribute almost equally to the company's revenues.

Kansai Nerolac poised to ride the auto boom

Bharuka said near-term growth would be driven by decorative paints in the wake of slowdown in the auto and consumer durables sector, two major users of industrial paints.

This year the company expects to grow by 10-12% through mix of volume growth and price hikes, with industrial paints seen at same level as last year.

The company is planning to invest Rs 400 crore over the next four years to hike capacity, of which the upcoming Hosur facility alone is expected to soak up Rs 350 crore. <more>


DeVilbiss , ITW Industrial Finishing
DeVilbiss Announces Family of Automatic and Manual Compact Performance Series at 2008 International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair
Glendale Heights, IL - ITW Industrial Finishing, manufacturers of DeVilbiss industrial spray finishing equipment, will be showcasing the new Compact Performance Series spray guns at the 2008 International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair.

The Compact spray gun series provides a superior finish and high transfer efficiencies while optimizing energy savings through reduced air consumption. Using advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics, the innovative design is the result of extensive quantitative analysis and high performance modeling.
 
Powder coating trials
UK-based Xiom Europe shipped out its portable on-site Powder Coating machines to the Tenghis/Chevroil project in the southern steppes of the former Soviet Union, where oilmen from the US, Canada, Russia and Malaysia gathered to see the kit put through its paces in one of earth’s most weather-hostile environments.

In a land where winter temperatures fall to 40°C below and summer heat reaches 40°C above, where the ground is sub-sea level salt and sand, the need for optimum grade corrosion protection is paramount and the trials have excited much interest.

Coatings company DuPont has endorsed the equipment for application to pipeline of its flagship Napgard Red and Gold powders, and engineers are already predicting major cost savings through wider use of the system within the pipeline industry.

Project engineers have, for some time, sought more efficient and economical ways to apply anti-corrosion coatings to welded field joints in steel pipes.

Using traditional methods, operators have to first heat the pipe surface using induction coils powered by large on-site generators. Then they dry-spray powders onto the heated joints.

The powder melts, and is cured via a separate process. The procedure is lengthy, the plant expensive, and more than twenty per cent of the sprayed powder is wasted.

With the new system, which is up and running within an hour, operators use a light, hand-held spray gun powered by compressed air and propane and oxygen cylinders.

The gun melts powders to liquid so they hit the pipe surface wet, fusing and curing instantly.

Adhesion is excellent, waste is minimal and the surface to be coated does not need to be pre-heated to high temperature, so large on-site generators are not required. Thus capital and investment costs are greatly reduced.

Ultimately oil industry insiders believe they can adapt the new technology for application, not just to jointing, but to coat the external surfaces of whole pipes, on a large scale, in the field.

This is an enticing prospect since pipeline is currently pre-coated prior to the long haul ship out to sites like the Tenghis, and routinely arrives with the coating damaged and in need of high cost repair.

An on-site engineer put it this way: "Twelve metre lengths of pipe travel from England to factories in France where they're heat blasted in industrial ovens and sprayed with two fused-on protective coatings. They’re sent back to the UK to be shipped out first to Lithuania, then on to Kazakhstan.

"The extended transit costs are
high and negatively impact the environment, and damage caused by handling adds considerably to the bill.

"The ability to ship untreated pipeline direct to oilfields to be coated on-site would reduce repair and transport costs and also minimise environmental impact."

The new system can be used on site to repair damaged pipe. The process takes fifteen minutes from application to perfect, pinhole-free cure.

Traditional wet two pack epoxy applications take up to five hours to achieve a cure.

Xiom has developed a wide variety of functional and architectural coatings for use with the Xiom 1000. More than 25 types of coatings are available.

The Xiom coatings are proprietary, meaning they are specially formulated to work with the Xiom 1000 equipment. Regular powder coatings will not work with the system. <more>


Dow India Supports IIT Bombay’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations
(CSRwire) MUMBAI, INDIA - August 12, 2008 - The IIT Bombay Heritage fund organized a gala event in New York to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. The event titled, "Looking Ahead - The Next 50 Years" was sponsored by Dow India, through its sponsorship initiative and was co chaired by Citigroup retired Vice Chairman, Victor Menzes and Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani.

The golden jubilee celebrations of India's premier engineering institution, IIT Bombay were organized from July 18 – 20, 08 and was attended by over 1000 participants. Along with noted participants, Hank Kolhbrand, Director Engineering Processing, The Dow Chemical Company participated as a panel speaker at the session on 'technology in manufacturing from chemical perspective'.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr Ramesh Ramachandran, CEO Dow India said, "With over 50 IITs working at Dow, it made perfect sense for Dow to sponsor the alumni event. At Dow, we acknowledge the remarkable contribution IITians have made towards maintaining Dow's global leadership in the field of R&D." He further added, "We have great respect for Indian IIT's. It is our privilege to be a part of IIT Bombay's golden jubilee celebrations and would reaffirm our commitment towards supporting the various initiatives being undertaken by the pioneering institute."

The event, which started on July 18, 08, witnessed Jamie Dimon, Chairman of the Board, CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Frank G Wisner, Ex U.S Ambassador to India and Vice Chairman. External Affairs of AIG as the keynote speakers. Apart from those, prominent personalities like Ronen Sen, India’s Ambassador to United States and Rajat Gupta Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company were also prominent attendees of the event.<more>

Akzo Nobel expands in China
AkzoNobel has expanded its presence in China with the opening of a new site for the manufacture and sales of protective coatings in Suzhou, China, about 80 kilometres west of Shanghai.

At opening ceremonies on August 18, Leif Darner, the AkzoNobel Board of Management member responsible for Performance Coatings said, “China is clearly fundamental to our global strategic vision and we are committed to expanding our activities in what is one of the world’s most important markets,” said Darner. “Last year we outlined our new ambition to achieve revenues in China totalling US$ 2 billion by 2012 and this investment will contribute in reaching this goal.”

Marine & Protective Coatings’ General Manager Bill McPherson also spoke at the opening ceremonies. He pointed to the €23 million investment in the new facility as a clear sign of their commitment to China. “We have developed a business plan that will allow us to increase the capacity in steps over the next ten years and eventually reach an output of 50 million litres.”

He also stressed the importance of investing in laboratory facilities. “We see this step as an important one to support the growth of the business and meet customer requirements,” he added.

Crown back in British hands
Six hundred jobs at Crown paints in Darwen have been saved.

It follows a management buyout of the firm from Dutch owner Akzo Nobel - which was completed yesterday.

Workers at the Hollins road plant feared that they would be made redundant in November after Akzo was force to sell the business by the EU Competition Commission because of their acquistion of ICI and rival Dulux.

The 70 million pound deal is backed by private equity firm Endless investments and means the UKs second biggest paint producer back in British hands.

Sherwin-Williams Company Issues Color-Trend Forecast
The Sherwin-Williams Company issued “colormix ’09,” a color-trend forecast for the 2009 season that consists of 24 hues grouped in four “trends”: Techno-Color, Conscious Luxury, Local Momentum, and Global Tapestry.

“Our goal with colormix ‘09 is to empower designers to use the forecast colors in their own unique and creative way,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “Organized by color families rather than trends, the collection speaks to the dynamics behind several key market insights and how they influence the 2009 color forecast.”

In issuing the forecast, the company offered the following comment on the four trends:


AkzoNobel in China
AkzoNobel has expanded its presence in China with the opening of a new site for the manufacture and sales of protective coatings in Suzhou, China, about 80 kilometres west of Shanghai.

At opening ceremonies on August 18, Leif Darner, the AkzoNobel Board of Management member responsible for Performance Coatings said, “China is clearly fundamental to our global strategic vision and we are committed to expanding our activities in what is one of the world’s most important markets,” said Darner. “Last year we outlined our new ambition to achieve revenues in China totalling US$ 2 billion by 2012 and this investment will contribute in reaching this goal.”

Marine & Protective Coatings’ General Manager Bill McPherson also spoke at the opening ceremonies. He pointed to the €23 million investment in the new facility as a clear sign of their commitment to China. “We have developed a business plan that will allow us to increase the capacity in steps over the next ten years and eventually reach an output of 50 million litres.”

He also stressed the importance of investing in laboratory facilities. “We see this step as an important one to support the growth of the business and meet customer requirements,” he added

Aerospace Coatings
The U.S. and European airline industries are flying through rough turbulence.
When it comes to airplanes, the coatings that go on them represent a highly technical challenge for paint makers as they are the most demanding of all paint systems. They need to be able to deal with temperatures ranging from -48°F in the air to 120°F on the ground, as well as having to withstand strong UV exposure at 30,000 feet. In addition to coping with extreme temperature fluctuations they must resist cracking due to rapid changes in air pressure. They also need to resist erosion from air drag and deflect the impact of dust traveling at 500 mph, which has an effect similar to sandpaper. On the ground, aircraft coatings also have to withstand contact with aggressive fluids such as fuel, deicing fluids and hydraulic liquids.

That’s not all. Airplanes also have to look good. Attractive colors and unique paint schemes are how we’re able to identify and distinguish one airline from another. We can all tell the difference between Continental and FedEx carriers at a glance.<more>

Crown Paints close to £70m buyout
Private equity firm Endless is backing the management to buy the Lancashire company from Akzo NobelBen Marlow
SENIOR management of Crown Paints is close to completing a buyout of the British paint company for around £70m.

The deal is being led by managing director Howard Luft and backed by the private-equity house Endless Investments, which is thought to be taking a majority stake in the firm.

Endless is expected to invest in the company’s production facilities, support the modernisation of sites and the redevelopment of more than 100 Crown Decorating Centres — outlets where the paint is sold.

Crown employs 1,500 people and has annual sales of £190m. Factories at Darwen in Lancashire, Warrington, Hull, Belfast and Dublin are all likely to remain in operation.

Endless manages £300m of funds. Other investments include the discount book retailer The Works, electrical- goods retailer Homebuy and window maker Speed Frame.

The deal to buy Crown Paints follows its recent appointment as shirt sponsor to Blackburn football club on a three-year deal worth £5m to the team depending on performance.

The company was once famous for sponsoring shirts for Liverpool football club during the 1980s.

Lancashire-based Crown is being sold by the Dutch chemicals giant Akzo Nobel. Akzo also owns Dulux, which it acquired as part of an £8 billion takeover of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) last year. <more>

ASTM Approves Standard for Coated Rebar
ASTM International’s Committee A01 recently approved a new standard, ASTM A1055, Specification for Zinc and Epoxy Dual Coated Steel Reinforcing Bars [rebar]. Subcommittee A01.05 on Steel Reinforcement developed the standard under the jurisdiction of Committee A01 on Steel, Stainless Steel and Related Alloys.

ASTM A1055 will be most beneficial to state departments of transportation that require high-performance corrosion protection of reinforcing steel bars in coastal environments, as well as departments of transportation that use deicing salts on roads, bridges, and decks, according to Andrew Marquardt, product manager at Gerdau Ameristeel and a member of the task group that developed the new standard. He also noted that ASTM A1055 will meet the needs of design engineers specifying steel products for buildings along a coast, wastewater treatment plants, and facilities that use harsh chemicals.

Committee A01 is one of 138 standards-writing committees of West Conshohocken, PA-based ASTM International.

DuPont: New “Vespel” polyimide plant starts in Singapore
DuPont Engineering Polymers (Wilmington, Delaware / USA; www.dupont.com) officially started up its new USD 30m plant for “Vespel” polyimide parts and shapes at Singapore in mid-July.

This is DuPont’s US sixth plant for the products designed to replace metal and ceramics at lower cost, and it is planned to supply both local and global markets from the new Singapore site. Other facilities are in the US, Belgium and Japan. Polyimides are used in aerospace, semiconductor, transportation and oil and gas applications <more>

DuPont India to enter solar cells business news
Mumbai: DuPont India, subsidiary of the US-based $27 billion E I du Pont de Nemours and Company, is entering the photovoltaic (PV) market in India as it targets revenues of $1 billion by the year 2012 from all its businesses in the country.

The company has set up a new venture DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions (DPS), which would offer technical support to domestic customers in the PV industry and also support DuPont's global R&D initiatives in the segment.

''Globally, our PV business stands at close to $300 million. We are targeting revenues worth $30 million from the new PV division in India by 2010,'' DuPont India CEO Balvinder Singh Kalsi said at a conference.

''Besides, we would continue to focus on opportunities in renewable energy, agriculture, food and construction materials' sector. We are aiming to be a billion-dollar company by 2012,'' he added.

ICI cancer scare
WORKERS from Middleton and north Manchester who developed cancer after being exposed to chemicals at Blackley's giant ICI plant could be in line for thousands of pounds in compensation.

City centre law firm, Pannone, is looking into the case and is urging employees who worked at the site between 1950 and 1980 to get in touch.

Pannone said the enquiry was "in respect of people who have developed bladder cancer as a result of chemical exposure at that company".

The development is the latest in a long list of health scares surrounding the former chemical plant.

In 1979 a fume cupboard fire at one of the laboratories had a devastating impact on the firefighters who were called to tackle the blaze.

Kevin Brown, regional secretary for the Fire Brigade's Union in the north west, said: "It was only a small fire and firefighters extinguished the fire quickly. Some of them were sent up on the roof to block the air vent from the laboratory to prevent fumes from spreading to the surrounding area<more>

Powder coating company creates new jobs
FRANKFORT - Friday marked the official grand opening of ACO Xtreme Powder Coating in Frankfort. The new facility is already in full operation.

So far five new jobs have been created, and the general manager of ACP, Robert Butler says there are plans for future growth. "Hopefully more employees by the end of this year or the middle of next year," Butler said. "Hopefully we'll be up to nine employees instead of five."

Butler also says the product is "green," using no chemicals that are harmful to the environment.<more>

DuPont Performance Coatings launches new Web site
DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) launched a new Web site designed to give customers quick and easy access to information about all DPC brands.

The easy-to-navigate design presents content that is based on customer feedback, according to Fred Freestone, e-marketing manager. “We listened to comments and suggestions from jobbers and shops and incorporated them into the new site.”

The content is organized under each of DPC’s nine brands: DuPont Refinish, Standox, Spies Hecker, Nason Finishes, Hot Hues, DuPont Commercial Finishes, DuPont Industrial Coatings, DuPont Aviation Finishes and the newest brand — DuPont Marine Finishes. It includes comprehensive product, color and training information, as well as a new safety and environment section.

It also includes online formula retrieval, the DuPont Refinish Historical Color Library and e-Career Track. All pages are also printer-friendly, the company said. <more>

Fire damages New York Wire Co. in York

People were back at work at the New York Wire Company this morning, hours after a fire in the plant's tower.

Crews were called to the two-alarm blaze at the plant, in the 400 block of East Market Street, around 12:15 a.m., York Fire/Rescue Services Deputy Chief Steven Buffington said. When they arrived, they found the fire pouring from the tower.

Once inside, they had to work through narrow corridors and some falling debris, Buffington said. Three firefighters ran low on oxygen while fighting the fire and had to escape to the roof, he said, where fresh tanks were brought to them.

No firefighters were injured, and all plant workers were safely evacuated.

A plant manager declined to comment this morning.

The fire began in the powder coating system, Buffington said. The pressurized system that applies a coating to the screens made in the plant appeared to then back up, allowing the tower itself to catch fire, he said.<more>


Nail Polish
Classic formulas behind chip-free coatings slowly get a makeover
Carmen Drahl
YVONNE MILLNER'S CHOICE of car paint really shouldn't have been all that shocking. A few years ago, the South Carolina resident used hundreds of bottles of nail polish to decorate her 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage and received a din of media coverage in return. Although Millner's brightly colored handiwork was certainly attention-getting, the hullabaloo was misplaced from a scientific standpoint because nail polish and automobile paint have common chemical roots.

The key ingredient in nail polish is nitrocellulose, a long-lasting, film-forming agent derived from cellulose. But before nitrocellulose was put into nail polish, it was used as a component of automobile paint by chemists at DuPont. Shortly after the car paint's 1920 debut, nail enamel formulations containing nitrocellulose appeared in patent literature. The patents detail the deposit of a pigment-impregnated film on finger- and toenails just as on car surfaces. The nitrocellulose-containing paint was initially so popular that within four years it covered all of General Motors' cars. The auto industry has long since moved on to other coatings, says DuPont spokesman Rick Straitman. But nitrocellulose, which is also a component in fireworks known as "gun cotton," remains a constituent of many nail polishes today.

Nail polish was not a new idea in the 1920s, although in terms of technology, the period marked a "quantum leap in both formula and production," says history of science expert Gwen Kay at the State University of New York, Oswego. Records from 17th- and 18th-century European royal courts document the appearance of shiny, varnished nails, she says. In addition, 19th-century recipe books from both Britain and the U.S. contain instructions for making nail paints alongside recipes for bread.

The modern formula isn't likely to be in cookbooks because the ingredients aren't exactly tasty. According to Paul Bryson, director of research and development at professional nail care company OPI Products, nail polish also contains adhesive polymers, such as tosylamide-formaldehyde resin, that ensure the adherence of nitrocellulose to the nail surface. Plasticizers, such as camphor, embed between polymer chains, spacing them such that the polish is flexible and will not easily crack or chip.<more>

 

COPENMIND: Cleantech
1.9. - 3.9. 2008
Copenhagen/Denmark
Koelnmesse International

EC WebTutorial: Fire Retardant Coatings
3.9. - 4.9. 2008
Internet
Vincentz Network

3. Leverkusener Lacktreff GdCH/VILF
4.9. 2008
Leverkusen/Germany
VILF e.V

Colour Measurement & Colour Control
8.9. - 9.9. 2008
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre

Advanced Colour Measurement & Colour Control
10.9. - 11.9. 2008
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre

EC WebSeminar Coatings: Binders
15.9. - 18.9. 2008
Internet
Vincentz Network

NanoEurope 2008
16.9. - 17.9. 2008
St. Gallen/Switzerland
NanoEurope

Medical Grade Polymers 2008
16.9. - 17.9. 2008
Philadelphia, PA/USA
Applied Market Information, LLC

Coatings and Paint Technology: Formulation and Application Fundamentals
16.9. - 18.9. 2008
Ypsilanti, MI/USA
Eastern Michigan University

European Coatings Conference: Fire Retardant Coatings III
17.9. - 19.9. 2008
Berlin/Germany
Vincentz Network

Einführung in die Lacktechnik
18.9. - 19.9. 2008
Esslingen/Germany
Hochschule Esslingen, Prof. Dr. Peter Thometzek

PAINTINDIA 2008
18.9. - 20.9. 2008
Mumbai/India
Expocon International

Feica European Adhesives & Sealants Conference + EXPO 2008
19.9. - 11.9. 2008
Marseille/France
Feica

Pigmente - Aktueller Stand und neue Entwicklungen
22.9. - 25.9. 2008
Darmstadt/Germany
GDCh e.V.

Latincoat 2008
23.9. - 25.9. 2008
Sao Paulo/Brazil
Avila-Agnelo Editora.

Market Research in the Coatings Industry
23.9. 2008
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre

Coating 2008
23.9. - 25.9. 2008
Indianapolis,IN/USA
Goyer Management

4. Internationale klebtechnische Fachtagung
24.9. - 25.9. 2008
Vienna/Austria
ofi - Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik

CEPE - Annual Conference and General Assembly
24.9. - 26.9. 2008
Berlin/Germany
CEPE

Green Solvents
28.9. - 1.10. 2008
Friedrichshafen/Germany
Dechema e.V., Barbara Feißt


Polyurethanes 2008 Technical Conference, in partnership with Utech North America
29.9. - 1.10. 2008
San Antonio, TX/USA
Alliance for the Polyurthanes Industry


EC WebSeminar Coatings: Pigments & Fillers I
30.9. - 3.10. 2008
Internet
Vincentz Network

Eurocoat 2008
30.9. - 2.10. 2008
Lyon/France
Groupe E.T.A.I., Idexpo


CIS Coatings Market Conference
2.10. - 3.10. 2008
Alushta, Crimea/Ukraine
Business Forum LLC


WebSeminar Lacke: Modul Pigmente & Füllstoffe I
6.10. - 9.10. 2008
Internet
Vincentz Network

EC WebSeminar Coatings: Pigments & Fillers II
6.10. - 7.10. 2008
Internet
Vincentz Network

Print & Ink Technology
6.10. - 8.10. 2008
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre

Basics of Polyurethane Coatings
7.10. - 8.10. 2008
Ypsilanti, MI/USA
Eastern Michigan University

Grundlagenseminar Druckfarbe
7.10. 2008
Celle/Germany
Ink Academy

BCF REACH Update Seminar
8.10. 2008
Nottingham/UK
British Coatings Federation

Gefahrstoffbeauftragter
8.10. - 9.10. 2008
Munich/Germany
Haus der Technik e.V.



EC WebSeminar Coatings: Additives
13.10. - 16.10. 2008
Internet
Vincentz Network


Color Technology
14.10. - 15.10. 2008
Ypsilanti, MI/USA
Eastern Michigan University


North African Coatings Congress 2008
14.10. - 15.10. 2008
Casablanca/Morocco
The Coatings Group

Pigmente und Füllstoffe in Lacken und Beschichtungen, Teil 1: Grundlagenseminar
14.10. - 15.10. 2008
Wuppertal/Germany
Technische Akademie Wuppertal e.V.

6th International Woodcoatings Congress
14.10. - 15.10. 2008
Amsterdam/The Netherlands
PRA Paint Technology Centre

1st International Bitumen Conference
18.10. - 20.10. 2008
Tehran/Iran
Bitumen 2008

Mixing for Uniform Batches: Improving Product Quality and Productivity
20.10. - 21.10. 2008
Ypsilanti, MI/USA
Eastern Michigan University

Paint Technology
20.10. - 23.10. 2008
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre


Principles of Waterborne Coatings
28.10. - 29.10. 2008
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre


European Coatings Conference: Fighting Fakes
29.10. - 31.10. 2008
Berlin/Germany
Vincentz Network


Turkchem Turkcoat 2008
30.10. - 2.11. 2008
Istanbul/Turkey
Artkim Group

VILF-Tagung 2008
30.10. - 31.10. 2008
Neu-Isenburg/Germany
VILF - Verband der Ingenieure des Lack- und Farbenfaches e.V.


2nd International Advanced Materials (Tianjin) Summit
30.10. - 1.11. 2008
Tianjin/China
Dechema e. V., Mrs. Sinian Huang