News of the Month – February 2008

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PRA Activities/News

2nd Waterborne & High Solids Coatings Conference – Hotel Bloom, Brussels, 11–12 March 2008

Time is running out to register for this conference, where over 20 papers will be presented, split into four sessions, covering technology trends, new technology for meeting EU VOC regulations, developments in polymer technology, and characterisation and testing. Last minute registration is still possible via the conference website, which contains details of the programme, including abstracts of all the papers.

A pre-conference survey of all participants is being conducted to obtain the collective opinion of the conference as to the most likely winning technology to replace conventional alkyds for decorative trim/gloss paints, compliant with the EU VOC regulations in 2010. The results of the survey will be presented at the beginning of the conference and will no doubt act as a stimulus for lively debate!

The conference provides an ideal opportunity for paint companies and their suppliers to review the latest technology and establish programmes to meet market needs in a timely fashion. Delegates are responsible for booking their own accommodation. To book accommodation please download the hotel booking form from the PRA website and return it to Hotel BLOOM by fax, e-mail or post.

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DEVELOPING SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE IN SURFACE COATINGS TECHNOLOGY

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Onwards and upwards

After almost 40 years at the PRA (serving under five managing directors) and head of Technical Services for more than 20 years, Norman Falla retired on 29 February 2008. Norman began work at PRA laboratories in Teddington in March 1970. During his time at the PRA, Norman not only oversaw routine testing, he also participated in research projects and technical consultancy and trained many students who went on into industry. Norman was also a focal contact point for both PRA Member and consumer enquiries, from the simple "What do I paint my shed with?", and what paint to safely use in a theatre production to the more technical and unusual queries. All at the PRA will miss Norman for his cheery smile and professional attitude, his role having evolved as PRA has done as an organisation through the years. The professional gentleman will now enjoy his retirement with a bit of star gazing, travelling and more time with the family. As mentioned in the January issue of news of the month, PRA now welcomes Peter Collins in the new role of Technical Director.

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Automotive Paints and Coatings

Now in its second edition and still the only book of its kind, this is an authoritative treatment of all stages of the coating process — from body materials, paint shop design, and pre-treatment, through primer surfacers and top coats. New topics of interest covered are colour control, specification and testing of coatings, as well as quality and supply concepts, while valuable information on capital and legislation aspects is given. Invaluable for engineers in the automotive and paints and coatings industry as well as for students in the field.

Automotive Paints and Coatings can be purchased via the PRA. To acquire a copy of the book, please complete a PRA books order form or email Richard Kennedy.

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Keep up to date with some of the latest developments in the Coatings Industry with Latest News. Recent headlines include:

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Information Services

Click on the links below to see highlights from the latest issues of PRA publications. For information about any of our technical publications please contact Richard Kennedy. For information about publications relating to market information (COMET and EPRN) please contact Glenda Thisdell. For information about our publication relating to regulatory information (SHE Alert) please contact Tina Walton.

MARKET INFORMATION

Coatings COMET - COmpanies, Markets and Economic Trends

COMET is the perfect market intelligence companion for busy coatings executives in such areas as: Marketing, Export Department, Business Planning, Product Development, Corporate Affairs and New Business Opportunities.

European Paint & Resin News (EPRN)

European Paint & Resin News contains the essential news of the global coatings industry, providing information in a clear and simple format.

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REGULATORY INFORMATION

SHE Alert - (Safety, Health and Environment Alert)

A monthly bulletin on global regulatory safety, health and environmental matters relevant to the coatings industry, also available online as a searchable database. See SHE Alert highlights for February 2008.

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LIBRARY AND DATABASE SERVICES

Paint Titles

Stay informed of all new scientific and technical knowledge with Paint Titles, PRA’s weekly alerting service covering paints, coatings, adhesives and inks. PRA Members can browse Paint Titles online or download the PDF version free of charge. For a fee, non-members can also subscribe to Paint Titles by contacting Dr Norman Morgan.

For details of our document delivery service, please contact the PRA library.

World Surface Coatings Abstracts (WSCA)

WSCA is the industry’s premier search tool for coatings related technical information. Produced monthly in print and as a CD-ROM, the electronic version of WSCA contains more than 300 000 coatings-related abstracts collated over the last 30 years. See recent WSCA highlights. WSCA also offers ‘personalised alerts’ and ‘one-off searches’. For further information contact Dr Norman Morgan.

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SPECIALIST TECHNICAL NEWS

Waterborne and High Solids Coatings

A monthly bulletin covering all aspects of waterborne and high solids technology from the properties of raw materials to the application and performance of the final coatings. See highlights from Waterborne and High Solids Coatings.

Dispersion Polymers: Technology & Applications

Dispersion Polymers: Technology & Applications provides critical reviews of developments in dispersion polymer technology, covering new latex compositions, polymer processes, physical properties and applications of dispersion polymers in paints, adhesives, membranes, non-woven fabrics, textiles and paper.

Polymer Curing Technologies

Polymer Curing Technologies offers a critical overview of journal and patent literature from the following topics: curing types, radiation cure, physical properties and test methods.

RADnews

PRA’s quarterly newsletter for the radiation curing industry, RADnews, provides extensive information on patents relevant to radiation curing, articles appearing in the technical press — from academic research to commercial developments — and new developments in products and equipment.

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Technical Services

Environmental Services

Practical, Independent and Quality Assured

PRA's Environmental Service offers measurement and testing as part of an integrated Health, Safety and Environmental Service specifically designed for the coatings industry. This service is intended to help companies comply with their obligations under legislation and company policy, while maintaining or improving process efficiency.

Testing

• Stack emissions
• Workplace exposure
• VOC content determination
• Local exhaust ventilation

Consultancy

• Regulation compliance
• Pollution control
• Stack height calculations

For further information contact Tim Sullivan, Environmental Services, PRA Coatings Technology Centre, 14 Castle Mews, High Street, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2NP. Tel: +44 20 8487 0806: Fax: +44 (0) 20 8487 0801.

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Networking and Learning

Radiation Curing Technology Training Course

This three day intensive course provides a firm foundation in the chemistry, principles and applications of ultraviolet and electron beam technologies.

The course, which embraces all aspects of radiation curing in surface coatings and other specialist areas, is intended for both newcomers and more experienced personnel from companies involved in, or intending to become involved in radiation curing technology – formulators, raw material suppliers, equipment manufacturers and end users.

The next Radiation Curing Technology Training Course is being held on 7-9 April 2008. Register online or contact the Training Manager, Elisabeth Brown (see contact details below).

View the Training Calendar for 2008.

Training courses are held at the PRA Coatings Technology Centre in Hampton, near London's Heathrow Airport. Customised courses can often be organised to suit your individual needs based on one of the courses in the training programme or on other topics. These customised courses may be held at your own site or at PRA. This can be an effective way of training a workforce. To find out more contact our Training Manager Elisabeth Brown by email or phone +44 20 8487 0815 (Fax: +44 20 8487 0805).

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PRA events

Additives for Coatings – Holiday Inn Conference Centre, Frankfurt, Germany, 20–21 May 2008

The programme has been issued for the Additives for Coatings conference, being held at the Holiday Inn conference centre, Frankfurt, on 20–21 May 2008. The conference has the theme 'Innovation in Formulation' and the programme consists of 20 papers split into four sessions, covering:

• Technology Trends
• Wetting and Dispersing Agents
• Additives for Unique Performance
• Functional Minerals

This range of papers comprising new information from respected suppliers and other organsations makes this a critical event to attend for developments in additive technology. Register before 31 March to qualify for the discounted 'early-bird' fee. To highlight the value of networking during the conference, the conference dinner is included in the cost of registration. The pre-dinner cocktail is being sponsored by BYK-Chemie.

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The 6th Woodcoatings Congress, Amsterdam, 14–15 October 2008

The Call for Papers has been issued for the sixth in the series of popular Woodcoatings Congresses to be organised by the PRA. The conference is being held this year at the Mercure Hotel Amsterdam Aan de Amstel. The theme is 'Preserve, Protect, Prolong', which emphasises that the scope includes developments in wood preservatives, as with suitable design, the preservative and coating can work together to give a complete wood protection package. Industrial wood coatings and interior wood applications are also important parts of the congress programme, which in previous years has required the use of parallel sesions to accommodate all interests.

In addition, a session is planned on surface treatments for new substrates, due to the increasing commercial use of new wood-based materials which are modified by various physical and chemical processes. Authors of new work describing developments in coatings and preservatives for interior and exterior wood are invited to submit papers to the congress organisers (speaker details and an abstract are required before 14 April 2008).

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available for suppliers who wish to be associated with this conference, for example, to raise the profile of their company to a targeted audience of key decision makers. For further details, please contact conferences@pra-world.com.

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For information on PRA Conferences or to obtain copies of Proceedings from recent PRA Conferences, please contact Janet Saraty, Tel:  +44 (0)20 8487 0811, Fax:  +44 (0)20 8487 0801.

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Other Conferences/Exhibitions

A list of other conferences, exhibitions and events is also available in our Coatings Events Diary.

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European Conferences / Exhibitions

Waterborne & High Solids Coatings
11–12 March 2008, Brussels, Belgium. Contact: Janet Saraty; Tel: +44 (0)20 8487 0811; Fax: +44 (0)20 8487 0801; e-mail: conferences@pra-world.com

PaintExpo – New
11–14 March 2008, Karlsruhe, Germany. Over 260 exhibitors, more than at any other specialised European event for coatings technology, will present innovative products and target oriented services which make painting and powder coating processes more flexible, more reliable, more economical and more environmentally sound. Register online via the TicketShop

Medical coatings and adhesives
10–11 April 2008, Berlin, Germany. Contact: Mareike Bäumlein, Vincentz Network; Tel: +49 511 9910-273; Fax: +49 511 9910-279; e-mail: mareike.baumlein@coatings.de

Boya//Paint 2008 – New
10–12 April 2008, Istanbul, Turkey. 7th International Paint & Auxiliary Products Industry Congress & Exhibition. The main theme of the Paint 2008 congress is 'Environment Friendly Coating Technologies'. A forum is aimed, where scientific developments and new technologies for paint, auxiliary products, and production and control equipment will be shared with international and local participants. Contact: Kimya Mühendisleri Odasi; Tel: +90 216 449 37 10-12; Fax: +90 216 449 37 13; e-mail: info@boya-paint.org

British Coatings Federation Annual Conference
15–16 May 2008, Stratford upon Avon, UK. The BCF website will be updated as presenters / topics are confirmed. Contact: BCF; Tel: +44 (0)1372 360660; Fax: +44 (0)20 (0)1372 376069; e-mail: tracy.jagger@bcf.co.uk

IntAIRCOAT – New
15–16 May 2008, Munich, Germany. Be part of the first IntAIRCOAT forum in Munich discussing the vision 'Aircraft surface treatment 2020' against the backdrop of feasible solutions today and tomorrow! Leading experts on manufacture and maintenance of aerospace coating processes will inform you on new materials, processes and strategies, providing you with future-proof insights into technologies and concepts. Contact: Vincentz Network (Mareike Bäumlein); Tel: +49 (0)511 99 10 273; Fax: +49 (0)511 99 10 279; e-mail: mareike.baeumlein@coatings.de

Surfex 2008
3–4 June 2008, Harrogate International Centre, UK. SURFEX 2008 - Evolving Together - The UK Exhibition for the Surface Coatings, Printing Inks, Adhesives, Corrosion and Construction Communities. SURFEX is the ideal exhibition for any company involved in the coatings industry. Contact: Yvonne Waterman; Tel: +44 (0)20 8908 1086; Fax: +44 (0)20 8908 1219; e-mail: surfex@occa.org.uk

6th International Strategy Conference on Car Body Painting
26–27 June 2008, Berlin, Germany. Contact: Vincentz Network, Friederike Plasswich, Tel: 49 511 9910-274; Fax: 49 511 9910-279; e-mail: friederike.plasswich@coatings.de

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American / Canadian Conferences / Exhibitions

Nanotechnology in Coatings: 'Emerging Applications'
26–28 March 2008, Orlando, FL, USA. This conference will explore emerging applications in nanotechnology and discuss ways that these technologies will impact the user by providing competitive advantages in the development of new coatings products. Contact: Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, Tel: 1 610 940 0777; Fax: 1 610 940 0292; e-mail: fsct@coatingstech.org

Global Legislation for Food Contact Packaging
2–4 April 2008, Washington, DC, USA. Contact: Chris Smith, Conference Producer, Tel: 1 207 781 9635; e-mail: chris.smith@pira-international.com

11th Annual International Coatings for Plastics Symposium – New
21–23 April 2008, Chicago, USA. This 2-day technical symposium, with a welcoming reception opening the conference on Monday night, will touch on the latest trends in coatings for plastics in manufacturing today. The event will feature 35-minute paper presentations with industry professionals. For information on how to register, visit the confrence website.

RadTech UV&EB 2008
4–7 May 2008, Chicago, Illinois, USA. RadTech UV/EB 2008 is the World's Largest UV & EB Event. Contact: RadTech International, North America, Tel: 240 497 1243; Fax: 240 209 2337; e-mail: mickey@radtech.org

ECOAT 2008 – New
14–16 May 2008, Indianapolis, USA. In the line-up for Electrocoat 2008 are three very strong and explorative keynote addresses hitting hard some of the issues facing today's manufacturing world. The Conference will kick-off with a powerful economic outlook provided by Dr. M. Ray Perryman of The Perryman Group. The second day will convene with Mr. Viktor Sekmakas of PPG Industries tackling the topic of Global Aspects of E-coat. The final day will bring a dynamic presentation from Mr. Matt Kirchner of ABQC Corporation, a large metal finishing facility in Milwaukee, WI. Contact: The Electrcoat Association; Tel: 816 496 2308; Fax: 513 527 8801; e-mail: kmcglothlin@electrocoat.org

American Coatings Conference
2–3 June 2008, Charlotte, NC, USA. Sponsored by the National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) and Vincentz Network, the American Coatings Conference will take the industry to 'The Next Level'. Contact: Vincentz Network, Friederike Plasswich, Tel: 49 511 9910-274; Fax: 49 511 9910-279; e-mail: friederike.plasswich@coatings.de

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Asian Conferences / Exhibitions

Korean Coatings Show 2008
24–25 April 2008, Seoul, Korea. The Korean Coatings Show 2008 will be officially hosted by KPIC (the Korean Paint & Printing Ink Industry Cooperative) and will feature an exhibition as well as a technical conference overseen by KPIC. Contact: Oceana Ou: Tel: +44 (0)1737 855578; e-mail: oceanaou@dmgworldmedia.com; David Roberts: Tel: +44 (0)1737 855062; e-mail: Davidroberts@dmgworldmedia.com

Asia Pacific Coatings Show 2008 – New
24–26 June 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Asia Pacific Coatings Show continues to be the leading coatings exhibition in South East Asia and the Pacific Rim for raw materials suppliers and equipment manufacturers for the coatings industry. Contact: Danielle Wolstencroft, Marketing and Conference Executive: Tel: +44 (0)1737 855360; e-mail: daniellewolstencroft@dmgworldmedia.com

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Other Conferences / Exhibitions

Middle East Coatings Show 2008
10–12 March 2008, Dubai. The Middle East Coatings Show 2008, now in its 15th year, is still the only dedicated coatings event in the Middle East and Gulf Region for raw materials suppliers and equipment manufacturers for the coatings industry. Contact: Jeff Montgomery, Sales Manager: Tel: +44 (0)1737 855078; Fax: +44 (0)1737 855034 2256; e-mail: jeffmontgomery@uk.dmgworldmedia.com

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