Ecology Coatings, Inc., a manufacturer of ultraviolet (UV)-curable, cleantechnology advanced materials, and Write-On-It! LLC, a producer of write-on-metals technologies, have jointly developed product applications designed to facilitate identification of metal products.

Datapaq will showcase its EasyTrack2 temperature profiling system at Coating 2008, booth #1011. Designed specifically for paint and powder coaters, this system has twice the choice, power, speed and accuracy as the original EasyTrack, and features a rapid sampling interval of 0.5 seconds, greater accuracy of ±0.9°F (±0.5°C), and USB communication.

A new military vehicle coating capable of protecting against small bombs could be closer to commercialization, thanks to an infusion of cash from a special earmark in the federal budget. The coating, called Kryptolite, was developed by Lakewood, NJ-based Milspray Military Technologies.

The US Environmental Protection Agency is amending the F019 hazardous waste listing to facilitate the use of aluminum in automobiles, light trucks and utility vehicles. This action is intended to encourage motor vehicle manufacturers to use more aluminum parts, producing vehicles that are lighter. Lighter vehicles are capable of increased gas mileage and decreased exhaust air emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions.

BASF Coatings has received a Ford World Excellence Recognition of Achievement Award in the area of Corporate Responsibility. One of Ford’s top international suppliers, BASF received this special recognition at the carmaker’s tenth annual World Excellence Awards ceremony.

When South Africa stages the World Cup soccer event in 2010, its stadiums will be protected with coatings from AkzoNobel’s Marine & Protective Coatings business. Around 198 gal (750,000 liters) of the company’s International Paint products have been used to provide a protective coating for more than 30,000 tons of steel in three brand new venues. International also has supplied coatings for five existing facilities that are being expanded, including the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, which will host the final on July 11, 2010.

DUX Area, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial spray equipment, has been selected as a finalist for the Challengers Distinguished Achievement Award® presented by the International Woodworking Fair (IWF). DUX was selected as one of 20 finalists from a field of 126 applications submitted by 93 different companies.

NV Bekaert SA plans to sell its Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coating activities to Switzerland-based Sulzer. The DLC business is part of Bekaert’s advanced coatings business segment and hosts six production plants.

The LaFontaine Automotive Group, Highland, MI, has converted from using a solvent-based system for vehicle paint repairs to using Envirobase high-performance waterborne basecoat by PPG Industries' automotive refinish business. The transition is part of an overall initiative to sell, service and repair vehicles in an environmentally friendly way, according to LaFontaine. The company is one of the first in Michigan to move to a waterborne system.

Enerize Corp. has developed a new design for photovoltaic (PV) modules using a proprietary transparent polymer material that reportedly outperforms the glass conventionally used as a protective covering. The proprietary polymer material is highly transparent and stable under UV and ionizing radiation exposure.