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Teknos celebration
F O C U S Dimet should see boost from US contracts Dimet (Siam) is forecasting growth of at least 10% in its revenue in 2008, following the signing of a manufacturing contract with PPG Coating (Thailand). The deal covers the export of PPG Coating’s protective coating paint. US parent PPG Coating has also awarded Dimet a 3 year contract covering the distribution of all PPG products in Thailand. PPG has placed a Baht 2 M order with Dimet for the export of paint to the Philippines. Dimet’s managing director says that the link with PPG should boost Dimet’s exports to 5% of total revenue (currently 2%). Dimet has a coatings output of 70,000 litres/month. This is likely to be increased if the alliance with PPG is successful. Bangkok Post, 31 Jan 2008, (Website: http://www.Bangkokpost.net)
Akzo Nobel opens historic plant in Dubai Akzo Nobel Powder Coatings has opened a landmark facility in Dubai. The new factory is the company’s first manufacturing site in the United Arab Emirates. The investment, which represents an acceleration of the company’s Middle East growth plans, follows on from the recent acquisition of ICI and underlines the strategic importance of the region to the Powder Coatings business. “As the world’s largest coatings company and the global leader in powder coatings we are committed to expanding in key markets around the world,” said Akzo Nobel CEO Hans Wijers. “This investment will therefore ensure that we further establish ourselves at the heart of an increasingly attractive region.” Added Powder Coatings General Manager Rob Molenaar: “There is huge growth potential in the Middle East, particularly in the architectural sector, which 4
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accounts for around 60% of the area’s powder coatings market. We offer an extensive range of powder and liquid technologies and we are keen to utilize our scale and expertise in order to meet all the needs of our customers.” Located in Jebel Ali, 35 kilometers south west of Dubai, the new site offers a full range of services and products, including color matching, rapid made-to-order products, and technical support. Press release from: Akzo Nobel, Velperweg 76, PO Box 9300, 6800 SB Arnhem, the Netherlands, tel: +31 26 366 43 43, website: http://www.akzonobel.com (24 Jan 2008)
DuPont opens R&D centre DuPont plans to construct and equip a global research and development (R&D) hub at Hyderabad in southern India with an investment of more than Rup 2 bn ($51 M). The investment was initially pegged at $25 M, but a wider scope for R&D and increased building expenses have increased the capital outlay. The facility will be designed to accommodate 600 staff, but the centre will open with 200 employees initially. The R&D centre, which will mainly work on agrochemicals and coatings, is scheduled to be inaugurated in Jun 2008. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Jan 2008, 198 (4520), 6
Teknos celebration Teknos €17 M powder coating plant in Rajamaki, Finland, has formally opened. The company also held an evening reception, which was attended by 700 guests, to market the inauguration. The plant is the biggest of its kind in the Nordic region at 10,000 sq ft. The opening also coincided with Teknos’ 60th anniversary. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Jan 2008, 198 (4520), 10
C OAT I N G S
NEW PRODUCTS PPG launches green Zircobond pretreatment PPG Industries (PPG) has announced the launch of a new, environmentally responsible automotive pretreatment technology at CAMI Automotive’s (CAMI) production facility in Ingersoll, ON, Canada. CAMI, an independently incorporated joint venture of Suzuki Motor Corp and General Motors of Canada Ltd, began processing vehicles with Zircobond pretreatment in early Jan 2008 and moved to full-scale production 14 Jan 2008. Metal pretreatment cleans and provides corrosion protection to automotive body surfaces. However, traditional zinc-phosphate pretreatment processes generate sludge containing heavy metals such as nickel, zinc and manganese, making them subject to environmental regulations. As a result, PPG has developed Zircobond pretreatment, an alternative pretreatment based on zirconium chemistry and a proprietary blend of additives. Zircobond pretreatment cuts sludge by-product from the pretreatment process by at least 80% compared to zinc-phosphatebased products, and it can be used in existing pretreatment lines. Additionally, estimates show that facilities using Zircobond pretreatment can realize annual savings of up to several hundred thousand dollars on energy, maintenance and labour costs. Savings potential is even greater in greenfield applications, where fewer process stages could generate as much as several millions dollars in savings on new facility capital investments. The commercial launch of Zircobond pretreatment is a significant step for PPG, CAMI and an automotive industry striving to be greener. Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, MARCH 2008
Akzo Nobel opens historic plant in Dubai Akzo Nobel Powder Coatings has opened a landmark facility in Dubai. The new factory is the company’s first manufacturing site in the United Arab Emirates. The investment, which represents an acceleration of the company’s Middle East growth plans, follows on from the recent acquisition of ICI and underlines the strategic importance of the region to the Powder Coatings business. “As the world’s largest coatings company and the global leader in powder coatings we are committed to expanding in key markets around the world,” said Akzo Nobel CEO Hans Wijers. “This investment will therefore ensure that we further establish ourselves at the heart of an increasingly attractive region.” Added Powder Coatings General Manager Rob Molenaar: “There is huge growth potential in the Middle East, particularly in the architectural sector, which 4
O N
POWDER
accounts for around 60% of the area’s powder coatings market. We offer an extensive range of powder and liquid technologies and we are keen to utilize our scale and expertise in order to meet all the needs of our customers.” Located in Jebel Ali, 35 kilometers south west of Dubai, the new site offers a full range of services and products, including color matching, rapid made-to-order products, and technical support. Press release from: Akzo Nobel, Velperweg 76, PO Box 9300, 6800 SB Arnhem, the Netherlands, tel: +31 26 366 43 43, website: http://www.akzonobel.com (24 Jan 2008)
DuPont opens R&D centre DuPont plans to construct and equip a global research and development (R&D) hub at Hyderabad in southern India with an investment of more than Rup 2 bn ($51 M). The investment was initially pegged at $25 M, but a wider scope for R&D and increased building expenses have increased the capital outlay. The facility will be designed to accommodate 600 staff, but the centre will open with 200 employees initially. The R&D centre, which will mainly work on agrochemicals and coatings, is scheduled to be inaugurated in Jun 2008. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Jan 2008, 198 (4520), 6
Teknos celebration Teknos €17 M powder coating plant in Rajamaki, Finland, has formally opened. The company also held an evening reception, which was attended by 700 guests, to market the inauguration. The plant is the biggest of its kind in the Nordic region at 10,000 sq ft. The opening also coincided with Teknos’ 60th anniversary. PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Jan 2008, 198 (4520), 10
C OAT I N G S
NEW PRODUCTS PPG launches green Zircobond pretreatment PPG Industries (PPG) has announced the launch of a new, environmentally responsible automotive pretreatment technology at CAMI Automotive’s (CAMI) production facility in Ingersoll, ON, Canada. CAMI, an independently incorporated joint venture of Suzuki Motor Corp and General Motors of Canada Ltd, began processing vehicles with Zircobond pretreatment in early Jan 2008 and moved to full-scale production 14 Jan 2008. Metal pretreatment cleans and provides corrosion protection to automotive body surfaces. However, traditional zinc-phosphate pretreatment processes generate sludge containing heavy metals such as nickel, zinc and manganese, making them subject to environmental regulations. As a result, PPG has developed Zircobond pretreatment, an alternative pretreatment based on zirconium chemistry and a proprietary blend of additives. Zircobond pretreatment cuts sludge by-product from the pretreatment process by at least 80% compared to zinc-phosphatebased products, and it can be used in existing pretreatment lines. Additionally, estimates show that facilities using Zircobond pretreatment can realize annual savings of up to several hundred thousand dollars on energy, maintenance and labour costs. Savings potential is even greater in greenfield applications, where fewer process stages could generate as much as several millions dollars in savings on new facility capital investments. The commercial launch of Zircobond pretreatment is a significant step for PPG, CAMI and an automotive industry striving to be greener. Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, MARCH 2008