California Polytechnic University-San Luis Obispo recently appointed Raymond Fernando, a former research chemist with Air Products and Chemicals Inc., as the first holder of the Arthur C. Edwards Endowed Chair for Coatings Technology and Ecology.

The industry's newsmakers

The 5th International Advances in Coatings Technology Conference clearly showed the direction in which coatings are headed in Eastern Europe: environmental aspects are becoming more important.

Unimin Corp. announced plans to expand production capacity for micronized nepheline syenite used in architectural and industrial coatings applications.

Netzsch Inc. announced the launch of a redesigned website offering simplified application questionnaires and laboratory request forms for the company's line of pumps, grinding and dispersion equipment, and filtration systems.

PPG Industries Inc. announced the induction of three individuals into the PPG Collegium, the company's highest honor for advances in research and development.

The California Supreme Court recently upheld an appeals-court decision that voided stringent new VOC limits on architectural and industrial maintenance coatings imposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).

Akzo Nobel announced plans to build a new non-stick coatings production facility in southern China, adjacent to a wood-coatings plant that began operation last year in Dongguan City.

Rohm and Haas Co. announced several key management appointments, including James Swanson as head of the company's North American Architectural and Functional Coatings business and M. Reginald Horne as Global Business director for Powder Coatings.

DuPont Co.'s Coatings & Color Technologies business announced plans to consolidate operations and reduce its work force by 650 positions in moves aimed at improving the productivity of the unit.