HANNOVER, Germany - The European Coatings Show (ECS) 2005, held in April in Nürnberg, Germany, has grown substantially in comparison with the previous show in 2003, breaking all previous records. The percentage of exhibitors from abroad rose to 57.3 percent (2003: 50.8 percent), testifying to the show's growing international appeal. Some 836 attendees (2003: 701) took advantage of the highly varied congress program. The attendee numbers also set a new record, with 19,886 visitors (2003: 16,229), an increase of 23 percent. Surveys revealed very high levels of visitor and exhibitor satisfaction.

The European Coatings Award, honoring the best scientific paper of the congress, was given to Dr. Frederick Walker and his research team (Dr. T.J. Lim, Dr. E.C. Galgoci and Dr. K.A. Yoxheimer) from Air Products and Chemicals, Lehigh Valley, Pa. They reported on a N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP)-free, waterborne urethane acrylate hybrid dispersion that, when combined with added surfactants, leads to a VOC content of less than 100 g/l in the paint formulation. Paint systems of this kind should have properties superior to those with a higher VOC content.