Akzo Nobel is to boost its coatings activities in Germany with the acquisition of the ICI Group's wood finishes business Zweihorn Gmbh, which is based in Hilden.

Magic Rack/Production Plus Corp. , Columbus, Ohio, redesigned and expanded its web site. Located at www.Magic Rack.com, the user-friendly site offers easy and secure online purchases of its standard line

The Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) installed its 2005-2006 officers and national board members during its 2005 annual meeting held in Tucson, Ariz., in June. Chapter User and Supplier of the Year and 25-year members also were honored during CCAI's awards luncheon held in conjunction with the annual meeting. Chapters recognize a user and supplier member for their year-long service and dedication to their respective Chapter.

Creating Zones We apply powder coating to a very large assembly that includes some heavy steel (a 2" thick steel plate) and some light gauge metal (16 gauge steel braces).

In June, Fusion UV Systems Inc., Gaithersburg, Md., was granted U.S. patent 6,908,586 B1, "Free Radical Polymerization Method Having Reduced Premature Termination, Apparatus for Performing the Method, and Product Formed Thereby." The patent supports the company's Light Hammer line of high intensity UV lamps for industrial UV curing.

The surface characteristics of a painted product greatly influence the first impression. For many products, consistent color and uniform gloss are important decorative quality criteria, which play a role in a purchase decision. One has to be aware that both effects are overlapping each other and influence the visual perception.

Manufacturers must now produce products that are better, less expensive and more durable than ever before. Coating 2005 is the place where you can learn about a range of finishing technologies. This is your opportunity to research and compare today's latest innovations and meet with other industrial finishers who are facing the same issues that you do.

Global Matrechs Inc., Ridgefield, Conn., is pleased to announce that its licensed HNIPU flooring and corrosion-protection products have become eligible for importation into the United States in accordance with the rules promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). HNIPU is a group of new chemical substances that had no previous registration with the EPA. The company holds an exclusive worldwide license from Eurotech Ltd. to market, manufacture and sell all HNIPU products, including the flooring binders and coatings version of the chemical.

SpecialChem and Dow Corning Corp. offer the latest advancements and solutions in silanes and siloxanes via the SpecialChem Polymer Additives and Colors web platform.

Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based Raabe Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest Specialty Chemicals Inc., announced today the acquisition of Foxcolor Inc., located in Oshkosh, Wis. Raabe is a manufacturer of branded custom matched touch-up paint and provider of private label aerosol paint filling services.