During its Annual Meeting in late October, the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA), Washington, acknowledged its 2006 Safety Award recipients - those association members with outstanding safety records.

Silver surpassed all colors among North American vehicles produced in the 2006 model year with 24 percent, down 2 percent from last year.

The PPG Global Design and Color Marketing Team developed 110 new concept colors for consideration by automotive designers for the 2009-2010 model years. The colors were recently unveiled to automakers as part of PPG's annual color show.

Rick Hille, vice president of operations for The Flood Company, Hudson, Ohio, and a past president of The Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT), was awarded the FSCT's highest honor, The 2006 George Baugh Heckel Award during the FSCT's Annual General Meeting (AGM) last month in New Orleans.

The Polymers and Coatings program at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, will offer a short course on Polymers and Coatings Science during the week of February 5-9, 2007.

Potential of Automotive-Related Coatings in Eastern Europe is a study that covers eight key automotive-producing economies in Eastern Europe and examines the markets of automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes, powder coatings and coatings for plastics in each.

A 2006 ASTM International Award of Merit and accompanying title of Fellow have been given to Thomas J. Sliva, vice president and technical director of DL Labs, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.

The issue of biocide marine antifouling coatings has become the top environmental regulatory issue for that segment of the industry.

Nine individuals were also recognized with Industry Statesman Awards during NPCA's 2006 Annual Meeting in Nashville.

CEPE, the European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink and Artists' Colours Industry, has published a "Code of Practice for Coated Articles Where the Food Contact Layer Is a Coating."