The Dow Chemical Co. (Dow) has increased its propylene glycol (PG) capacity by an additional 10 kilotons per annum (KTA) at its Stade, Germany, plant after completion of equipment optimization during scheduled routine maintenance.

Cray Valley Resins, a business that is now part of Arkema Coating Resins, was awarded the Ringier Technology Innovation prize for its Synaqua® 4804 alkyd emulsion in China in June.

Color-Logic, developer of the Process Metallic Color System™, was named one of seven companies honored for new product innovation at Labelexpo Europe 2011.

CeralUSA LLC, manufacturer of environmentally friendly coatings, and Liburdi Engineering Limited, a provider of specialized technologies, systems and repair services to industry, have formed a strategic alliance focused on making Liburdi’s chrome-free Aluminum Silicon Sermaloy J alternative available to the coatings industry.

Dürr is building the prototype of the Green Paint Shop for BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) in Shenyang, China.

Stiles Machinery is hosting a grand opening October 4-6, 2011, highlighting Stiles Finishing Technologies at its High Point, NC, regional showroom.

The European Coatings Conference, Adhesives for Wind and Solar Technology, will take place November 22-23, 2011, in Berlin Germany.

Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., recently began construction on a new nonionic synthetic thickener manufacturing facility in Alizay, France.

The Dow Chemical Co. and the Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) are planning a joint venture, Sadara Chemical Co., to build and operate a world-scale, fully integrated chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

AkzoNobel has announced its intention to acquire coatings manufacturer Schramm Holding AG and the coatings activities operated by Schramm’s largest shareholder, Korean company SSCP.