Paint & Coatings Industry - December 2008 - (Page 10)

I NDUSTRY NEWS Silver Tops Car Color Choice TROY, MI – According to annual automotive color popularity data released by PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, PA, silver is once again the world’s most popular car color. However, other shades are gaining ground, especially in North America. While silver is still the most popular car color globally – capturing 20 percent in North America, 35 percent in Europe and 37 percent in Asia Pacific – white and black are close on its heels in North America, tying silver in popularity in certain vehicle segments. In North America, silver was followed closely by white and black, which was up two percentage points from last year. These were followed by red, blue, naturals, other/niche market colors and green. “Although silver is the most popular car color overall, we’re not dealing with the same old silvers anymore,” said Jane E. Harrington, PPG Manager, Color Styling, Automotive Coatings. “With advances in technology and design, silver shades continue to evolve with the incorporation of hue shifts, color tints, aluminum flake size and appearance. Silver, along with black and white, is offered on every vehicle line as part of the core color palette, which also increases its popularity.” In Europe, silver was followed by black, blue, white, red, naturals, green and other/niche colors. In the Asia-Pacific region, silver was followed by white, black, blue, red, naturals, other/niche colors and green. Blue is being pegged as the most vital color focus for the global automotive industry going forward. “Blue will be the new major color area for the coming years,” said Reiner Mueller-Koerber, PPG Manager, Color Styling, Europe. “Dark blues have the potential to replace traditional dark grays and blacks, while lighter blues can be seen as variations of tinted silvers. Blue has the ability to cover the spectrum, from rich and deep to clean and fresh.” Mi Hwa Lee, Color Stylist, PPG Korea, said, “Although silver, white and black are still overwhelmingly popular, it is obvious that many blue tones are increasing in popularity, especially in China. For that reason, various tones of blue in hues from medium to dark are being developed specifically for the Asia-Pacific region.” NCCA Members Meet Increased Demand CLEVELAND – In order to meet growing demand for coilcoated metal, National Coil Coating Association (NCCA) members have invested capital to build strategically located new production facilities. The new plants have added muchneeded production capacity to better serve customers’ growing needs for coil-coated metal. To support growth in the Southeast, Precoat Metals, St. Louis, MO, has opened a 150,000-square-foot facility in Hueytown, AL, near Birmingham. Roll Coater, Indianapolis, IN, has also expanded operations to serve the southern United States with a new facility in Armorel, AK, which opened in August 2007. A third company, Steel Dynamics Inc., Fort Wayne, IN, also recently expanded capabilities. The company invested approximately $40 million in plant and equipment at its Jeffersonville, IN, facility and now is producing prepainted steel, acrylic-coated steel and 55-percent aluminum-zincalloy-coated steel. 10 DECEMBER 2008 | W W W . P C I M A G . C O M Dates Announced for uv.eb West 2009 BETHESDA, MD – The Association for UV & EB Curing Technology has announced its return to the West Coast for uv.eb WEST 2009, held Feb. 17-18, 2009, at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles, CA. This will be the third installment of this event, which educates current and potential users on the benefits and application of UV- and EB-curable technology. For more information on attending or exhibiting, e-mail Mickey Fortune at mickey@radtech.org. Further details on the event are available at www.uvebwest.com. Kansas City Society for Coatings Technology Announces Symposium Plans KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City Society for Coatings Technology has announced plans for a technical symposium to be held on May 14, 2009. The symposium, titled Biotechnology & Sustainability – A Future We Can Live With, will be held at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in North Kansas City, MO. http://www.uvebwest.com http://WWW.PCIMAG.COM

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Paint &�Coatings Industry - December 2008 Contents Viewpoint Industry News Company News Closed-Loop Recycling: A Sustainable Packaging Solution for the Coatings Industry Calculating VOCs: Not All Low VOCs are Created Equal Products Supplier Showcase Buyers’ Guide Index Product Listings Supplier Listings Distributor Listings Classifieds Advertiser Index

Paint & Coatings Industry - December 2008

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