Posted in: Industry News
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Powder Perspective

Posted on Friday, February 1, 2013

Carlyle Group Completes Acquisition of DuPont Performance Coatings >>

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group L.P., has completed its acquisition of DuPont Performance Coatings for $4.9 billion, and announced that the company is being renamed Axalta Coating Systems. Axalta Coating Systems is a global supplier of coatings to the transportation and industrial sectors. The investment was funded primarily with equity from Carlyle Partners V and Carlyle Europe Partners III.

“We are excited to invest in Axalta Coating Systems and believe its strong market position and global footprint will enable the company to capitalize on opportunities in rapidly emerging markets such as China and Brazil. As experienced investors in the industrial and transportation sectors, the One Carlyle global network can help Axalta Coating Systems grow and create value,” says Martin Sumner, principal of The Carlyle Group.

Charlie Shaver, the company’s Chairman and CEO adds, “We look forward to this exciting next chapter for Axalta Coating Systems. Our global scale with 35 plants and seven technology centers around the world, combined with Carlyle’s industrial focus and global network, position us well for the future.”

As an independent company, Axalta Coating Systems will build on a foundation of more than 90 years in the coatings industry. The company serves more than 120,000 customers in 130 countries and provides customers with a full range of coating systems.

“In addition to driving performance and excellence, one of our greatest strengths is the systems-based approach we take with our customers,” says John G. McCool, president of Axalta Coating Systems.

Axalta Coating Systems will continue to do business as DuPont Performance Coatings for the next several months until the new name is formally launched in the second quarter of 2013. The company’s beta website AxaltaCoatingSystems.com is under development and will enable visitors to navigate to sites that contain information about its products and services.

Custom Coaters Summit ‘Round the Corner >>

On March 21-22, at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, the Custom Coaters Summit will allow custom coaters and OEMs to attend sessions on business solutions, new product technologies, PCI programs, roundtable discussions, and much more. It is an excellent networking opportunity that helps coaters gain new resources and tools to improve their business, as well as develop relationships with other powder coaters.

Day 1

• Software Solutions to Link Office and Shop Floor, Tom Marik, Amariko

• Continuous Improvement to Improve Paint Line Density, Transfer Efficiency, and First Pass Yield, Matt Kirchner, American Finishing Resources

• Basic Powder Coating Line Maintenance, Mike Wittenhagen, PCI

• Can Social Networking Build Your Coating Business?, Todd Luciano, Gardner Publications

• Round Table Discussions: Marketing, Troubleshooting/ Defects, Continuous Improvement, Processes, Materials and Curing Technology

Day 2

• PCI Certification Program & Updates, PCI

• What’s New in PCI, Dave Lurie, PCI

• Group Round Table Discussion

• Getting Specified, Architectural Applications for Powder Coatings!, Manny Mayer, TIGER Drylac USA, Inc.

• Innovations in Powder Coatings - How Disruptive Technology is Opening New Markets, Kevin Biller, The Powder Coating Research Group

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, and wraps up at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Registration

The Custom Coater Summit is open exclusively to custom coaters and OEMs (unless you are a sponsor). PCI Star/Diamond Member: $0.00 (Diamond, 2 per company; Star, 1 per company); PCI Member: $249; Non-Member: $399

Discover the 2nd Annual PC Summit this June in Columbus

For the second year, the PC Summit brings together the greatest minds in our industry’s technical and commercial communities for a two-day event that is guaranteed to energize new directions to inspire growth in powder coating technology. Slated for June 18-19 at The Westin Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, event features will include:

• A day-long symposium with talks on the emerging technologies that are changing the industry. The program boasts raw material technologists, pretreatment experts as well as renowned formulators.

• Full-day tutorial illuminating the fundamentals of powder coating technology will be available to the coatings professional. This includes a live demonstration of the powder coating manufacturing process from raw material selection, through extrusion, pulverizing and the ultimate application and curing. Instrumentation experts will guide the participants on how to measure critical coating properties such as film thickness, gloss, adhesion, surface profile and film performance.

• Networking opportunity with powder coating professionals during the table top exhibits and networking reception, sponsored by various suppliers and manufacturers in the powder coating industry

Who Should Attend?

• Analytical testing personnel

• Applicators and raw material suppliers

• Chemists

• Coating formulators

• Finishing engineers

• Materials scientists

• Raw material technologis

• Technicians

• Technical directors

Tabletop Exhibitors

DeFelsko Corporation Keyland Polymer Ltd. DSM Powder Coating Resins Gema USA Inc. Anderson Development KMI Systems Throughput/Bluestreak Wagner Industrial Solutions BigC: Dino-Lite Scopes Nordson Corp. Decoral Systems, USA

Visit www.powdercoating.org/index.cfm/events/powdercoating- summit, for more info and to register.

PCI® Certification

PCI® has developed the PCI® 3000 Certification Program, which is available to all custom coaters applying powder coatings, to acknowledge coaters who can meet a standard of product quality that fits their market and meets or exceeds all of their market needs and advertised standards. In addition, PCI® offers the PCI® 4000 Certification Program, which is designed and offered to all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) applying powder coatings.

The audit process exposes the powder coater to a thorough examination of their equipment and process used for application. It also examines their business operation from raw materials to finished products. This includes the safety culture within the company, inventory control, quality control, process control, and customer satisfaction. The entire operation is examined to make sure that the powder coater can deliver their expressed level of quality on a regular basis. In addition to the initial audit, the coater is required to perform routine internal audits and they are required to schedule an annual audit by PCI® to reaffirm their continued compliance with the goals of the program.

During the auditing process PCI® closely examine each of 12 operating elements. These elements include:

1. Pretreatment of the substrate

2. Ovens used for drying and curing

3. Application of the powder coating

4. Incoming material quality control

5. Training practices and competencies

6. Maintenance of the system

7. Customer satisfaction

8. Safety record and practices within the operation

9. Process control

10. Warranties, guarantees and performance expectations

11. Final quality control practices

12. Loading, unloading and packaging

Within each element, the powder coater must meet a minimum required score in order to receive the approval of PCI® and become certified.

PCI® is currently retooling all certification activities. While no new certifications will be granted for the next few months, look for a program relaunch later in 2013.

Meet Us in St. Louis This Fall!

POWDER COATING 2013 is coming to America’s Center in St. Louis from October 8-10. This show has been formulated to serve companies whose primary business is powder coating or those who are looking to use powder coating in the future. Already recognized as the leading resource for technical and applied technology forums as well as new product innovations and developments, this is your single best opportunity to meet and interact with the leading professionals from the powder coating industry

POWDER COATING 2013 provides exceptional opportunities to make face-to-face contact with key coating professionals as well as introduce attendees to education and current and future trends. The event offers an indepth and comprehensive technical program led by key representatives in the powder coating industry.

Technical Conference. Innovation, strategy and solutions to your manufacturing challenges are presented with more than 56 hours and 60 sessions on topics such as new powder coating technologies, productivity gains in powder coating, coating expense reduction and much, much more specifically geared to the powder coating industry

Targeted Audience and Networking Solutions. Attendees and exhibitors have only one goal: to enhance their knowledge and understanding of powder coatings. POWDER COATING 2013 recognizes that networking with a diverse group of professionals is essential. In 2013, social events include Show Floor Happy Hours, Hospitality Reception and Live Auction, all designed to bring professions together in an informal setting. You will have the chance to interact with 1,500+ attendees such as coating engineers, finishing professionals, contractors and applicators, quality control managers and corporate decision makers.

Resources from The Powder Coating Institute. Only the industry’s major trade organization can bring together the leading experts in the industry. PCI brings experience from hundreds of hours of workshops all over the country, as well as its partners from manufacturing to consulting, to produce a first-class, must-attend event.

Troy Expands to Southeast Asia Market

Troy Corporation, Florham Park, N.J., announces the expansion of its facilities to serve the Asia-Pacific market. Troy recently unveiled a state-of-the-art logistics center to service customers in Asia. Troy has also doubled the size of its Thailand manufacturing site, significantly increasing the versatility and capacity of production. In the first quarter of 2013, Troy will inaugurate a new Technical Service and R&D Center located near the Bangkok International Airport

Radiant Expands Manufacturing Capabilities

Radiant Energy Systems Inc., Hawthorne, N.J., a custom manufacturer of process heating systems, has announced the expansion of its New Jersey plant. The addition reflects the company’s continued technological advancements and requirements for increased production capacity. The northern New Jersey facility increased production area by 50 percent in size with 5,500 more square feet of manufacturing space and new engineering offices.

The new production area will help Radiant Energy Systems keep up with increased international demand,” says Bob Narang, president. Visit www.radiantenergy.com/prod.htm.

Put a Stamp on It

Due to a significant shift in the world’s interest in environmental friendliness and carbon footprint of the products they use, PCI®’s Stamp logo underwent a redesign nearly four years ago to reflect this trend, as it is one of the most important benefits of powder coating. The logo continues to reflect the durability of powder coating, but also emphasizes the environmental sustainability it represents. For more details and to register to use the Stamp logo, visit www.powdercoating.org. As of press time, the following companies have registered to use the new Stamp