The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA continued and further strengthened its positive business performance over the first six months of the current business year.

National Coatings Corp. (NCC), a manufacturer of weatherproofing materials for commercial and industrial buildings, has announced the appointment of Lixsa Lopez as the newest customer/sales support team member.

The Dow Chemical Co. has reported sales of $13.6 billion in the second quarter of 2010, a 26 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

Malvern Instruments is extending its direct operations in Japan and has concluded an agreement with Sysmex Corp., the current distributor of its laboratory-based particle characterization systems, to transfer responsibility for sales and support to Malvern Instruments Japan.

A task group under ASTM D.01.46 Subcommittee is asking for volunteers to participate in testing of ASTM D7234 - 05 Standard Test Method for Pull-Off Adhesion Strength of Coatings on Concrete Using Portable Pull-Off Adhesion Testers.

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council has issued a call for entries for the Polyurethanes 2010 “Polyurethane Innovation Award” nominations.

British Airways is the recipient of the 500th new aircraft painted with the Desothane® selectively strippable aircraft exterior coatings system by PPG Industries’ aerospace coatings group.

Gelest Inc. has announced that effective June 1, 2010, Sudhir Makim has been appointed the exclusive distributor for the government and all industrial markets for the complete line of Gelest silane, metal-organic and silicone products serving India.

Michelman Inc. has announced a number of key additions to its management team at the company’s Singapore manufacturing plant.

The global market for functional additives and barrier coatings for plastic packaging is set to grow by 4.3 percent in the 2009-2014 period, according to a new study by Pira International.