Effective February 2012, Dowd and Guild Inc. will represent ITP Inc.’s full line of Orisil fumed silica in the southwest United States.

The RAHN-Group, Zurich, Switzerland, has established a subsidiary in China.

The cornerstone of the new EUR 100 million Clariant Innovation Center was officially laid during a ceremony at the Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt.

The UK-based Long Term Development Group of Becker Industrial Coatings has become one of the first laboratories in the world to gain ISO 17025 (General Requirements for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories) accreditation for the testing of solar reflectance and other thermal properties of coatings and painted surfaces according to the ASTM Methods E 903, C 1371 and E 1980.

NSL Analytical Services Inc., Cleveland, announced that its Chemistry Division has been re-certified as a materials testing laboratory by Nadcap, a worldwide cooperative program that designates a reliable supply base for the global aerospace industry.

As previously announced, the GEA Group has acquired Nu-Con Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand, a global supplier of powder handling components, complete powder handling systems and bulk filling lines.

Pixelligent and Brewer Science Inc. announced the development of a new spin-on hardmask technology.

Executives in manufacturing worldwide will gather at the eighth annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit to discuss “The Future Manufacturer: Change the Rules, Rule the Future.” The summit, hosted by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, will take place April 29-May 2 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL.

Viking Pump announced the appointment of Kerry Baskins to Vice President of Sales.

Fitz Chem Corp., a Midwest distributor and sales agent of raw materials to the coatings, plastics, ink, construction, adhesives and personal care industries, announced that Terri Dwyer has joined the company’s Customer Service Department as a Customer Service Representative.