Volume growth has been more on decorative business: HM Bharuka of Kansai Nerolac
MD, Kansai Nerolac spoke about company's plan in the second quarter and also about the growth in volume.

ET Now: It has been a great quarter for you let us first talk about the top line what is the kind of volume growth that you have seen this quarter if you could highlight that for us?
HM Bharuka: The first quarter yes growth has been good, the volume growth has been about 14% for us more in decorative and less on the industrial side so overall it has been a good quarter with good growth yes.

ET Now: What is the split between decorative and industrial in terms of the volumes?
HM Bharuka: We have about 52% of our sale coming from decorative and rest on the industrial and industrial comprises of two sector auto as well as the general industrial and auto growth. It has been reasonably okay but general industrial growth which is infrastructure related <more>..

Kansai Nerolac to revamp Mumbai's Dadar station
Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited has adopted one of Mumbai's busiest central railway stations, Dadar for a refurbishing programme. Dadar sees a daily traffic of around 125,000 people. Suresh Prabhu, Rail Minister inaugurated the process of refurbishing this landmark station in the presence of HM Bharuka, Managing Director, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd and AK Shrivastava, GM Central Railway, at a ceremony held recently. The adoption of stations is a new concept initiated by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. To make the 'Swachh Rail' dream a reality, prominent social organisations and NGOs were contacted by Central and Western Railways. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swachh Bharat movement, the Indian Railways launched the 'Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.<more>

AMHERST - The Nordson Corp. building had to be evacuated Monday after a security officer called police because he thought he found a stick of dynamite.
Turns out, it was a clock that looked something like Wile E. Coyote might leave behind for the Roadrunner, said Lt. Dan Makruski.

Police arrived to the building at 300 Nordson Drive at 7:49 p.m. Monday, confirmed it was empty and created a safety perimeter around the building while waiting for the Fire Department to arrive.

A security officer spotted the clock on a desk in the human resources wing during patrol rounds of the building. Police told the security officer to evacuate the building.

Police examined the suspicious item and determined it to be fake dynamite and allowed the security and cleaning staff back inside.<more>

Berger Paints transfers car paint division to BNB Coatings
Hoping to penetrate the segment where it has a "negligible presence", city-based Berger Paints India Ltd. has transferred its paint division relating to passenger cars and three-wheelers to BNB Coatings India, company CEO Abhijit Roy said on Wednesday.

"We have entered into a non-binding understanding for transfer of our paint division related to four-wheeler passenger cars and SUV, three wheelers and related ancillaries to BNB Coatings India," said Roy at the company's 92nd annual general meeting here.


BNB is a joint venture where Japan's Nippon Paint Automotive Coatings holds 51 per cent while Berger has 49 per cent of the paid up capital.

"In most of the categories, be it decorative or protective, we are either number one or two. But in automotive segment we have been an insignificant player, in the car segment we have a negligible presence. This has largely been because of technology and approval issues," <more>

Berger Paints net profit jumps in first quarter
Kolkata, Aug 3 (IANS) Berger Paints India Ltd. posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 120.30 crore for the first quarter of the current fiscal, registering a jump of 54.6 per cent over the corresponding year-ago period, the company said on Wednesday.
"Income from operations for the quarter ended in June this year was Rs 1,246.10 crore against Rs 1,126.30 crore last year, an increase of 10.6 per cent," it said at its 92nd annual general meeting.
"Net profit for the quarter ended was Rs 120.30 crore against Rs 77.80 crore last year, representing an increase of 54.60 per cent," company chairman K.S. Dhingra said.
The company's standalone profits stood at Rs 114.20 crore against Rs 83.30 crore in the corresponding quarter, registering an increase of 37 per cent.<more>

Asian Paints to enhance manufacturing capacity Asian Paints would expand the manufacturing capacity of its two units based at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu and Ankaleshwar in Gujarat.
"The company is proposing to increase its water-based paint manufacturing capacity at its plant situated at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu from 1,40,000 KL per annum to 2,00,000 KL per annum," Asian Paints informed BSE today. Besides, the company is also proposing to alter product mix to augment the manufacturing capacity of synthetic resins and emulsions at its manufacturing facilities at Ankaleshwar, Gujarat by 35,000 MT.<more>

Asian Paints Q1 results: Stellar quarter, but priced in
Asian Paints faces risks of investments in new initiatives because of a sharp increase in prices of raw materials

For the third consecutive quarter, Asian Paints Ltd's volume grew in double digits, buoyed by the performance of the decorative paints segment. This is impressive, given the subdued consumer demand environment.

Consolidated revenue rose 9% on a year-on-year basis to Rs.3,590.16 crore and net profit increased by 18.5% year-on-year to Rs.552.56 crore. Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margins improved 220 basis points to 21.5%, courtesy benign raw material prices, but higher advertisement and employee costs restricted further improvement in operating margins. Revenue from the paint and industrial segments grew 10.03% and 23.68% year-on-year, respectively. A basis point is 0.01%.

It has been a stellar quarter for India's largest paint maker and that is reflected in its valuations and share price movement. Asian Paints is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.33, higher than peers Berger Paints India Ltd and Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. The stock has run-up nearly 30% on a year-to-date basis. But the key questions are- is such a premium valuation warranted? Is there more upside left?<more>

Akzo Nobel India is drawing an investment plan for the future, which could be placed before its board soon.
"We do have expansion plans but I cannot share it before I place it before the board," said Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, managing director of Akzo Nobel India Ltd.

The coating company has been consolidating for the last five years and has invested Rs 470 crore during the period.<more>

Akzo Nobel India Q1 PAT up 38% at Rs 64.3 cr
Paints and coatings firm Akzo Nobel India today reported 37.39 per cent increase in profit after tax at Rs 64.3 crore for the first quarter ended June 30.

The company had posted profit after tax of Rs 46.8 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Net sales during the period under review stood at Rs 691.1 crore as compared to Rs 633 crore of the year-ago quarter, a growth of 9.17 per cent, Akzo Nobel India said in a statement. <more>

Sale of metal-coated manjha banned in Delhi
In the wake of tragic deaths of two kids and a 22-year-old man on Independence Day due to 'manjha,' Delhi Police on Thursday issued prohibitory orders banning storage, sale and use of 'metal-coated' thread all over the national capital.
According to police keeping in view the unfortunate incidents causing danger to human life by using metallic coated manjha, the LG desired that suitable measures should be taken to prevent danger to human life. <more>


Deep red, silvery hues among BASF's top auto paint colors
Raingarden, Primordial Soup, Aerialist Wish -- these names sound like figments of the fevered imagination of a science fiction novelist.

But they are the names of automotive paint colors developed by BASF, the automotive paint and chemicals company, as part of BASF's North American collection of colors for the 2020 model year.

They're the top three predictions in the company's 2016-17 color study, which predicts what colors will be popular in three to five years.<more>

BASF opens first manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka
New plant, which will meet local demand for construction chemicals, will produce concrete admixtures from global Master Builders Solutions brand

German chemicals major BASF has opened its first manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka to meet the growing demand for construction chemicals. The plant, located at Sapugaskande (just outside Colombo), will produce standard and custom-made performance-based construction chemicals under the Master Builders Solutions brand. These include concrete admixtures product ranges such as MasterGlenium, MasterPolyheed, MasterRheobuild and MasterPozzolith. The new plant will allow BASF to better meet the increasing demand for construction chemicals to customers in Sri Lanka. The site is supported by an office, warehouse and a well-equipped testing lab that will deliver tailor-made recipes through formulation excellence.
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Axalta Coating Systems Completes Acquisition of Coil and Spray Coatings Manufacturer Dura Coat Products
Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in Dura Coat Products, a leading manufacturer of coatings for metal coil and aluminum extrusion markets in North America. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Dr. Myung Ki Hong will remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dura Coat to ensure a smooth transition of the business.

Founded in 1986, Dura Coat has developed a leadership position in the market via its singular focus on overcoming customer challenges through innovation. Well-known Dura Coat brands include Durapon, Ceranamel and the XT series of specialty coatings. Dura Coat's innovative product lines have been formulated to suit a variety of building construction needs, general industrial applications, and treatment of aluminum extrusions.<more>

Industry Groups Knock Proposal to Classify Titanium Dioxide as Carcinogen
European chemical industry groups decried the proposed classification of the common pigment titanium dioxide as a carcinogen.

French environmental officials last year sought to categorize the whitening agent --used in certain foods, personal care products and a variety of other applications -- as a 1B carcinogen, which would restrict its use in consumer products throughout the European Union.

Titanium dioxide is already classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a possible human carcinogen, and the French agency's filing with the European Chemicals Agency cited studies showing that rats developed lung tumors after inhaling the substance.<more>

Tronox Announces TiO2 Price Increases
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tronox Limited (NYSE: TROX) announced today on behalf of its subsidiary companies price increases for all Tronox titanium dioxide (TiO2) grades of: US$0.07 per pound in North America, effective September 1, 2016, or as contracts allow; Euro 150 per metric ton in European, Middle Eastern, and African markets, effective October 1, 2016, or as contracts allow; and, US$150 per metric ton in Asia Pacific and Latin American markets, effective October 1, 2016, or as contracts allow. <more>

Nasiol Nano Coating Products Have Protected One Million Vehicles Worldwide
STANBUL, TURKEY  01 Aug, 2016  Artekya Corporation based in Istanbul, Turkey that specializes in Nano Technology announces their line of Automotive Interior, and Exterior Protective Coatings and Detailing Products got used to safeguard and preserve over one million vehicles worldwide.

'We are excited that so many distributors and consumers have chosen our line of Automotive Nano Technology to protect the investment people have made in their cars,' says Selcuk Unal, CEO. 'Artekya has spent a significant amount of time developing our Nasiol Product Line to address some of the biggest issues with owning a car - preventing exterior rust spots and protecting the interior from damage caused by spilling beverages or accidentally leaving car windows open during a storm'

Artekya offers a broad range of Nano-Coatings for Automobile Surface Protection, Marine Surface Protection, Home Surface Protection, and Personal Surface Protection. By applying the recommended product for the application at hand, it makes the surface waterproof.<more>

Fire damage reported at Huron facility
HURON - The Huron Fire Department says a Monday morning fire at the Akzo-Nobel plant at 300 Sprowl Road caused damage to the plant's equipment.

Fire crews asked for mutual aid but then cancelled the request after they were able to quickly knock out the fire, said Capt. Mike Hohler of the Huron Fire Department.

"We received a fire alarm activation at 0918 hours. While en route we received a report of an actual fire in the boiler house, which houses a thermal oxidizer used in their manufacturing process. The responding crew could see smoke as they approached prompting the call for mutual aid companies based on the hazards present at this facility," Hohler wrote in an email to the Register.<more>


Uncertainty in Midland ahead of Dow-DuPont merger
Midland Up to three-quarters of the weekday lunch crowd at the restaurant Maria Batsios owns with- her husband, Bill, are Dow Chemical Co. employees.

She's not sure how that might change if the multibillion-dollar merger between Midland-based Dow and Delaware-based DuPont Co. is approved by antitrust authorities.

'We exist because of Dow,' said Batsios, who for 14 years has operated Cafe American Restaurant & Coffee Bar in a strip mall less than a mile from Dow's world headquarters. 'If Dow lays people off, of course it's not good for us. All we can do is stay on top of business.' <more>


Power of Pink Provides NASA with Pressure Pictures

They say you show your true colors when you're under pressure.

Turns out the old saying works for models being tested in wind tunnels as well, specifically those coated with a unique Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP) that NASA engineers have used for more than 25 years.

Today the bright pink paint is helping NASA's aeronautical innovators test new aircraft designs that could cut fuel use in half, pollution by some 75 percent and noise to nearly one-eighth of what it is today.<more>