Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced that its Colors Division has appointed Burks distributor of Ciba’s organic pigments and dyes in parts of the southeastern United States.

Cabot announced a cost-reduction program designed to boost earnings, and said it has cut 250 jobs from a total work force of 4,500.

BASF said Saturn selected a special “gold-green” color supplied by BASF for its 1999 “Homecoming Commemorative Edition SL2” car.

BASF said its Industrial Coatings business group has opened an office in Houston to support the business’s activities in the North American oil and gas pipeline market.

Lubrizol said its coating and ink additives business unit started operations at a new manufacturing unit near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

International Specialty Products announced a restructuring of business operations in Europe.

The Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology and Inpra Latina magazine announced plans for ANDINA Paint 2000.

The Forum de la Connaissance 1999 is scheduled for Dec. 1-2 in Paris.

The Inter-Society Color Council issued a call for papers for the International Colour Association’s 9th Quadrennial Congress, scheduled for June 24-29, 2001, in Rochester, NY.

The Electrocoat Association announced preliminary plans for Electrocoat 2000.