MINNEAPOLIS - The Valspar Corp. announced the appointment of three key industrial-coatings executives - Hugh Cates, Al Dunlop and Brian Falline - as corporate vice presidents.

Cates, vice president-Wood Coatings, joined Valspar as a result of the company's acquisition of Lilly Industries Inc. in 2000, and has led the integration of the Lilly and Valspar wood-coatings businesses. He formerly headed Lilly's wood-coatings business, and had previously worked for Valspar before joining Lilly.

Dunlop, vice president-Coil and Extrusion Coatings, joined Valspar in 1993 as Coil and Extrusion general manager, and was named a division vice president in 1997. He is given credit for leading a significant expansion of the company's coil-coatings business. Dunlop previously held management positions with The Glidden Co. and Novacor Chemicals.

Falline, vice president-General Industrial Coatings, joined Valspar in 1996 as division vice president of General Industrial, with responsibility for the company's industrial coatings business. He was previously a business director for Lilly, and joined that company when it acquired Guardsman Products Inc. in 1996. He also has worked for Moline Paint Manufacturing Co., which was acquired by Guardsman in 1994.