The EPA's recently published 2004 "Sector Strategies Performance Report" recognizes significant environmental progress made by the paint and coatings industry in the areas of reduced air emissions and environmental-management programs.
Bayer MaterialScience AG announces the start of construction of polyurethane and coatings raw materials production plants near Shanghai, with the plants scheduled to begin production in 2006.
DSM Eternal Resins, Kunshan, China, announced plans for a production expansion for polyester powder-coatings resins, with new capacity expected to go on stream in the second half of 2005.
Sico Inc. has sold its 50% stake in the Sico-Becker joint venture business to its European partner, Becker Industrie S.A., in a move Sico said reflects a plan to boost profits and focus on the North American market.
With some variations, a group of five Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia have finalized stringent new VOC regulations on architectural and industrial maintenance coatings, with a set of VOC limits as low as 100 grams per liter scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.
The Wildlife Habitat Council announced the certification of the comprehensive wildlife habitat management program at BASF's Coatings Technical Support Center in Whitehouse, Ohio.
Grace Davison has donated $5,000 to the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology's Coatings Industry Education Foundation (CIEF) "Project Tomorrow" scholarship and grants program for students pursuing careers as coatings scientists.
Akzo Nobel's International Paint business, reported to be the world's largest supplier of marine and protective coatings, formally initiated operations in Japan with the launch of International Paint Japan.
Dow Chemical's UCAR Emulsions Systems business unit announced plans to build a major new latex emulsions production plant, which the company said would be the largest in North America.