Top Industry News                                 August 10, 2008 Issue

Color Choice Ranked as First Consumer Painting Concern
While the intent to purchase paint remains undaunted in the slow economy, consumers are paying increased attention to finding the right paint color ... More

Overview of Marine and Protective Coatings Market Published
Information Research (IRL) has published a new study, "An Overview of the Global Marine and Protective Coatings Markets." The publication covers the world marine sector and the global protective coatings sector ... More

ASTM Announces New Edition of International Standards on Color and Appearance Measurement
A new edition of ASTM International Standards on Color and Appearance Measurement is now available in print and online ... More

Acquisition Action Report

Sherwin-Williams Acquires Inchem Holdings in Asia
The Sherwin-Williams Co. has completed the acquisition of the Liquid Coatings Subsidiaries of Inchem Holdings of Inchem Holdings International Limited ... More

Emerald Performance Materials Appoints Gotch and Donnelly
Emerald Performance Materials has appointed Edward T. Gotch as President of its Emerald Kalama Chemical business unit and Jim Donnelly as President of its Specialties business unit ... More 

Buckman Laboratories Names Two Board Members
James (Jim) A. Shepherd and Phil Shannon have been elected to the Bulab Holdings, Inc. Board of Directors. Bulab Holdings is the parent company of Buckman Laboratories ... More

National Coatings Appoints Jeff Poe
National Coatings Corp. (NCC) has appointed Jeff Poe as a Technical Sales Representative ... More

Business Barometer

Clariant Reports Improved Operating Margin
Clariant has reported a four-percent increase in sales in local currency for the first half of 2008 ... More

ALTANA Shows Growth in First Half of 2008
The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA AG increased sales and earnings in the first half of 2008 ... More 

Hexion Specialty Chemicals Plans Brazil Expansion 
The Brazilian subsidiary of Hexion Specialty Chemicals , Hexion Quimica Industria e Comercio Ltda., has begun construction of a formaldehyde and resins manufacturing complex ... More

Elcometer Strengthens Global Brand
Elcometer has changed its name to Elcometer Limited. The name change reflects the company's global position and reinforces the Elcometer brand ... More

RBP Chemical Technology Names Central American Distributor
RBP Chemical Technology has named UltechGraph as distributor for its line of printing industry chemicals in Central America. Based in Managua, Nicaragua, UltechGraph provides printing-industry-consumable products to newspapers and commercial printers in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Fitz Chem Honored with Award
Fitz Chem Corp. has been recognized for its performance by earning Rio Tinto Minerals/Luzenac America Inc. 2007 Distributor of the Year Award. Fitz Chem has been a Rio Tinto Minerals/Luzenac American distributor for over 15 years and covers the sales territory of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

PPG Offers Training on Liquid, Powder Coatings
PPG Industries' industrial coatings business is offering a program called Architectural Applications for Liquid & Powder Fluoropolymer Coatings ... More 

RNT Adds Distribution in Japan and Southeast Asia
Reactive NanoTechnologies, Inc. has reached an agreement with Ito Corp., a distributor of electronic materials and components headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, to distribute RNT's NanoFoil^® products ... More 

NETZSCH Now Offers In-Stock Equipment
NETZSCH Fine Particle Technology is offering its line of mixing and dispersing equipment in stock for industrial manufacturers that do not need custom-designed systems ... More 

INX Enters Agreement With Italy's Anteprima SRL
Sakata INX worldwide operations has announced that Italy's Anteprima SRL will become a member of INX Digital ... More

Sun Chemical Increases Price of Specialty Inks
Faced with continued increases in raw materials and operating costs, Sun Chemical's Specialty Inks Group will increase prices by 6 to 10 percent on all products sold in North America effective Sept. 1, 2008.

Valspar Announces Additional Price Increases
The Valspar Corp. will raise the price of its products up to 20 percent beginning Aug. 1 ... More

Huber Increases Price for Silica and Silicate Grades
Huber Engineered Materials, part of J.M. Huber Corp., has announced a global price increase for its dental, paper and specialty silica, and silicate grades ... More 

Alberdingk Boley Inc. Announces Surcharge
Due to the ongoing increase of raw material costs, Alberdingk Boley, Inc. will apply a surcharge to all products starting Aug. 1, 2008. The surcharge for all orders will be $0.03/lb and will continue to be applied until further notice.

Cognis Announces Price Increase
Effective Sept. 1, 2008, or as provided by individual contracts, Cognis Corp. is announcing a 5- to 12-percent price increase for its Photomer^® and Bisomer^™ range of UV/EB-cure products.

Wacker Polymer Systems Increases Price of Solid Resins
Effective Sept. 15, 2008, Wacker Polymer Systems, L.P. will implement a price increase of up to 10 percent, or as contracts permit, on all prices for its solid resin products sold under the VINNOL^® and VINNAPAS^® brands sold in the Americas region.    

Sartomer Raises Monomer and Oligomer Prices
Effective Sept. 1, 2008, global specialty chemicals manufacturer Sartomer Co. will increase by 15 percent the price of its acrylate and methacrylate monomers and oligomers 3 percent. Increases will vary based on the product line.    

Dow Oxygenated Solvents to Increase Prices
The Dow Chemical Co. will raise prices in North America for products in the Oxygenated Solvents portfolio effective Sept. 1, 2008, or as contracts allow. For additional information, visit www.dow.com.

Association News 

FutureCoat! Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for FutureCoat! 2008. to be held Oct. 14-16, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, IL  ... More

Meetings, Courses and Other Events