Powder Coating 2013: That’s a Wrap!
St. Louis welcomed the Powder Coating Institute (PCI®) with open arms
during the association’s annual tradeshow and conference, which was held at
America’s Center from October 8-10. More than 1,300 attendees took part in
Powder Coating 2013, which focused only on powder, making it the first show of
its kind. With more than 91 exhibitors, 56 presenters and countless volunteers and
sponsors, the event was a success.
The show offered unique opportunities to network with peers, make contact
with key powder coating professionals, enhance professional development, and do
business with leading manufacturers, distributors and suppliers, all there for one
reason—powder.
Going Once, Going Twice, Sold!
Introduced in 2012,
the Live Auction, a
charitable event for the
PCI® Scholarship Fund,
allowed attendees to create
connections, offered buying
power opportunities to
purchase industry and nonindustry
related items at a
low price, and let exhibitors
to put their products and
services in front of a live
audience—all to support the powder coatings industry. The event, which was
sponsored by DSM Powder Coating Resins, raised more than $6,000 for the PCI®
Scholarship Fund.
New Product Innovation Award
The New Product Showcase was the launching pad for
the hottest new products and services making their debut
at Powder Coating 2013. Exhibitors who entered became
eligible for the prestigious New Product Innovation Award,
which recognizes the top innovative product of the year.
This year’s winner was Nordson
Corporation for its Encore HD
automatic powder spray guns, the
third and most advanced, generation
dense-phase powder spray guns.
(See page 41 for a full product
description.)
Mark Your Calendar! Powder Coating 2014
Coming to Indy September 16-18, 2014!
Axalta Star Coaters Host Bi-Annual 20-Group Meetings
Representatives
of the powder
coatings division
of Axalta Coating
Systems recently
visited Imperial Metal Solutions in
Cleveland, Ohio, and Kettle Moraine
Coatings in Jackson, Wis., as part of
the company’s Star Coaters business
exchange program. Axalta Star Coater
program manager Trena Benson
facilitates this alliance of non-competing
custom powder coaters, also known
as a 20-group, who gather twice a year
to discuss ideas, identify best practices
and help each other address business
challenges. The host companies also get
the added benefit of a peer evaluation of
their shops.
Both Kettle Moraine Coatings
and Imperial Metal Solutions hosted
their own 20-group as part of their
participation in the program. The Star
Coaters are members of Axalta’s 10-yearold
loyalty program, open to custom
powder coaters. Members receive
numerous benefits including: points for
assistance with business improvement
purchases, a certification program,
industry supplier discounts and have
the option of joining a 20-group.
Axalta’s Star Coater program
continues to promote best practices and
help members to improve their business
in every aspect. To learn more about the
Star Coater Program, visit www.powder.dupont.com.
World Powder Coating Study Receives Praise
The Chemark Consulting
Group completed its comprehensive
World Powder Coating Study for The
Powder Coating Institute (PCI®) in
September and has received high
praise from its subscribers.
“Based on the paradigm
transformation yielded by Project
Expand, the decision to invest in
the new World Powder Coating Study
was a given,” says Chris Reding,
president of PCI®.
“The authoritative work goes
beyond regurgitating a mass of data
points to masterfully convey the
realities and possibilities. With the
publication of this study, the world’s
authority on what it takes to win
in the powder coating industry has
again raised the bar (among industry
studies). For organizations seeking
to both understand and shape the
future, there is no substitute for
Chemark’s World Powder Coating
Study.”
Visit www.chemarkconsulting.net.
Hentzen Announces Business Launch
In Mexico
Hentzen Coatings Inc. announces the founding of
Hentzen de Mexico, based in Queretaro, Mexico. Carlos
Lopez joined the company as general manager for the
Mexican general industrial business. Lopex reports to Kirk
Pigatto, sales manager, General Industrial. Lopez, who is
based in Houston, is supported by Eduardo Corral Diaz,
technical sales manager for Mexico, and Aidee Jasel Azpeitia,
customer service manager. Diaz and Azpeitia are based at
Hentzen’s Queretaro facility.
Mike Hentzen, vp of sales and marketing, notes, “We have
been pleased by our ability to build business in Mexico. We
are very excited about the potential of the Mexican market,
and feel confident that the launch of Hentzen de Mexico,
supported by local sales and technical staff and a stocking
point in the heart of the country’s industrial sector, will
enable us to accelerate our growth in this market.”
Lopez brings to Hentzen more than 25 years of experience
in the coatings industry. Visit www.hentzen.com.
Safer Consumer Products
Regulations
The Safer Consumer Products regulations were
approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on
August 28, 2013 (OAL File No. 2013-0718-03 S), and
were subsequently filed with the Secretary of State. The
regulations took
effect on October 1,
2013. They require
manufacturers or
other responsible
entities to seek
safer alternatives
to harmful chemical ingredients in widely used products,
offering California the opportunity to lead the way in
producing safer versions of goods already in demand around
the world. Visit www.dtsc.ca.gov/SCPRegulations.cfm
New Pilot Coating Line
R&D, Test & Short Runs
Radiant Energy Systems Inc. recently added a second
pilot line to its research and development laboratory. The line
is designed for laminating webs such as nonwovens using
powder or web adhesives. Webs run on this line include
films, nonwovens and fabrics.
The line consists of an unwind roll for the primary
substrate, a powder adhesive spreader, a belt to carry the
product through an infrared heater to melt the powder, an
unwind for the second web, a laminating nip and a rewind.
Webs up to 30” wide can be run. The line can be rented
for any period of time and customers are encouraged to
participate in testing. Visit www.radiantenergy.com.
Elcometer Expansion Plans
Six years after doubling
their U.K. manufacturing facility,
Elcometer recently confirmed
that they will commence work
to expand their production
capability in Manchester, UK.
Elcometer’s additional 17,200ft2 (1600m2) of
manufacturing space will allow Elcometer to meet increasing
demand for their coating inspection and ultrasonic NDT
range of test equipment.
“In recent years Elcometer has launched a number of new
products which have significantly increased the demands
on our existing production facilities around the World,”
says managing director, Michael Sellars. “This expansion
allows Elcometer to meet the growing demand for our test
equipment and widen our product portfolio, enabling us to
enter new markets ahead of our strategic plan.”
This expansion to Elcometer’s Manchester facility is
in addition to their existing production facilities in Liege,
Belgium (manufacturing a wide range of test equipment for
testing the physical properties of coating’s formulations), and
in California, where Elcometer’s range of Ultrasonic thickness
gauges and flaw detectors are designed and manufactured.
Visit www.elcometer.com.
Finishing. “They had a contract for a large parts washer
system that needed powder coating. Full coverage was critical
making post finishing assembly questionable. Due to the size
of our oven and crane capacity, they not only could ship us
the tanks fully fabricated before finishing, we were able to
run several of them in succession and allowed them to meet
the project deadline.”
Visit www.acemetalfinishing.com.
PCI® Welcomes Melissa Woolsey
Melissa has joined PCI® as administrative
assistant at the Montgomery, Texas, office. Her
areas of focus are on bookkeeping, product
inventory, executive assistance and reception.
Her background is in accounting, bookkeeping
and office administration, with most recent
experience as the bookkeeper at both St. James Episcopal
Church and Gemini Estate Plan.
Melissa lives in Conroe, Texas, where she assists her
fiancé with his handyman service business. Her hobbies
include, camping, fishing, cooking, reading, and volunteering
at church. In addition, she enjoys spending time with her
family: fiancé, son, daughter, and extended family of 5 dogs
and 3 cats.
Melissa can be reached via email at mwoolsey@powdercoating.org
Ace Powder Coats Large,
14-ft. Tanks
Ace Metal Finishing
announces the
successful completion
of a powder coating
job of large tanks to be
used in industrial parts
washing. These 500-lb.
formed and welded tanks
measure 14 feet long, 4
feet wide, and 8 feet high.
When the customer approached Ace about the job they
were searching for a solution to their problem. They needed
eight very large tanks all powder coated with an architectural
fluro-polymer custom color. These tanks needed to withstand
high heat, high pressure, humidity, and have good chemical
resistance as these were to be used in the parts washing
industry.
Because Ace has the capacity to powder coat large objects,
up to 24 feet long and up to 3,000 lb., the client was able
to fabricate their tanks prior to powder coating. This ability
improved the client’s efficiency and lead time.
“This customer came to Ace looking for a solution,”
says Mike Bataglia, vp of sales and marketing at Ace Metal.
Say Hello to Newest PCI® Members
Custom Coaters
Everbrite, LLC
Pardeeville, WI • 608-429-2121
Kern Steel Fabrication, Inc.
Bakersfield, CA • 661-327-9588 • www.kernsteel.com
Texas Powder / Division of Inwesco Inc.
Ft. Worth, TX • 817-834-3310 • www.inwesco.com
Auxiliary Equipment
Alabama Power Company
Calera, AL • 205-664-6458 • www.alabamapower.com
Pretreatment Equipment Manufacturing, Inc. (P.E.M., Inc.)
Mankato, MN • 507-345-1512 • www.spraywand.com
Vulcan Catalytic Systems, Ltd.
Portsmouth, RI • 401-683-2070 • www.powder-coating-ovens.com
OEM
Coiling Technologies, Inc.
Houston, TX • 713-849-4000 • www.coilingtech.com
Moco Engineering and Fabrication
Spokane Valley, WA • 509-226-0199 • www.mocoeng.com
Powder Innovations, LLC
Paris, TX • 903-784-7980
StyleLine Div. of Bavaro Ltd.
Monroe, WI • 608-325-7707 • www.styleline.biz