Press Releases

2008

2007

 

The National Paint and Coatings Association Objects to Misstatements, Unsafe Practices of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Episode

May 8, 2008, Washington, D.C. — In a letter to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) President J. Andrew Doyle expressed concern over misstatements made and unsafe work practices shown during the May 4 edition of the show, which focused on demolition and re-building of a home contaminated with lead.

The letter stated:

“…The misconceptions conveyed during the show were so glaring that they surely warrant a broadcast and web site correction prior to airing your next episode, so as to avert putting millions of viewers at risk.

First, the show gave the impression that any home containing lead paint would require total removal of lead paint from all surfaces before the home could be safe. This absolutely is not true in the majority of cases. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that intact lead-based paint is not a hazard, when preventive maintenance such as paint stabilization or repainting is properly done. In such cases, lead cannot “seep through 20 layers of paint” as show host Ty Pennington claimed!

The Rhode Island Health Department required the Silvas to completely abate the lead-contaminated areas of their property because they have foster children under their care. But, the methods used to tear down the home were dangerous and unhealthy to the individuals involved, and definitely were not consistent with lead-safe work practices outlined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and EPA. Should a contractor or homeowner who watched your show attempt to abate a lead-contaminated area in such a manner, such activity would not only exacerbate the problem, it would create an even worse lead hazard.

Removal of contaminated yard soil was depicted as “necessary” on the show, but Rhode Island law only requires removal and replacement of the top six inches, not the several feet of removal shown. Certainly the bare soil depicted in the show is very problematic, and was described as the most likely source of lead exposure. When contamination is suspected, bare soil in children’s play areas can be remedied in a number of other ways described by HUD and EPA, including restricting access (to bare areas), growing grass, and/or mulching a designated area. Your show mentioned none of these methods.

The nation has learned a valuable lesson from the asbestos clean-up problems in schools and other public and private buildings. Tearing out walls and full abatement models often backfire. That’s why EPA and HUD have refined complete lead-safe work protocols to avoid the inadvertent release of lead during remodeling and rehabilitation. These protocols have proven to be successful, but there was no hint of concern for safety among the workers on your show. 

The paint industry has been a partner with others supporting the non-profit, recognized, independent Community Lead Education and Reduction Corps (CLEARCorps USA) which, since 1995, has been in major urban centers (including Providence, Rhode Island) performing key education of the dangers of lead exposure and targeted remediation. CLEARCorps, which is part of the AmeriCorps® network, understands the practical aspects of the lead-in-residence threat, and would not advocate the type of abatement demonstrated on your program as either emblematic of the problem or a good demonstration of a solution, except in rare instances. I strongly encourage you to contact CLEARCorps USA Executive Director Sue Gunderson at 651-603-8000, 410-247-3339 or sue@clearcorps.org.

In addition, the paint industry has delivered free training for over four years using the approved EPA-HUD protocol in every state and Washington, D.C. to contractors, landlords, tenants, homeowners, state officials, local officials, and lead advocates.  In 700 full-day training sessions, 17,000 people have been trained and over 95% have completed a test to certify understanding of the protocol. This is training that your crew could, and should, take before attempting work on another lead-contaminated residence.

Participating in this training would ensure that they are properly protected during such projects and, most importantly, your viewing audience will see the work being performed in a safe and appropriate manner. These training classes are ongoing; go to www.leadsafetraining.org for schedules and further information, and to request a special class.

One thing that your show did not mention is that the incidence of childhood lead poisoning is on the decline nationally and in the state of Rhode Island. This is due, in large part, to the concerted efforts of government, advocacy groups, concerned parents and industry. In a recent Rhode Island Department of Health report, the incident rate of childhood lead poisoning had dropped over 80% in the last 10 years, and in the City of Warwick, out of 1,812 children who were screened for the first time last year, 15 cases of elevated blood lead levels were identified. This clearly demonstrates lead poisoning prevention policies that have been put in place in Rhode Island, and around the country, are working.  

Both EPA and HUD offer information for consumers online at www.epa.gov/lead and www.hud.gov/offices/lead/healthyhomes/lead.cfm. Every consumer paint can has a label with instructions for safe surface preparation and providing the EPA Hotline 1-800-424-LEAD. And, all retailers provide an EPA-HUD booklet in Spanish and English providing more detailed instructions. This is valuable information that should be made available to the public on your web site, so that they will have accurate information about dealing with such a critical issue.

The misstatements made during this episode of your show absolutely need to be corrected, for the safety and education of the viewing public. Doing so will lessen the risk of harm to those following the example witnessed on your show and will serve to clarify the gross inaccuracies presented therein.

An immediate on-air update plus postings to the ABC network, news and Good Morning America web sites will certainly help reach out to the millions of viewers who need to receive the correct, safe information.  

I look forward to your quick response and prompt correction before the next broadcast…”

The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA’s primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

For more information, please contact NPCA's Lisa Warren Román at (202) 462-6272.

 

NPCA and FSCT Sign Agreement to Merge, ICE to Be Combined with the American Coatings Show

Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2008 - The National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) and the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement, which outlines the details of a prospective merger of the two organizations. The agreement describes a "governance merger" that will consolidate the governance, management and administrative functions of both groups under NPCA, while preserving each organization’s separate identities, operations, functions and member services. NPCA and FSCT will remain as separate organizations managed through a common governing structure.
  
As part of the merger, FSCT and NPCA have agreed to combine the International Coatings Expo (ICE) with the American Coatings Show and Conference (ACS) to be held on June 2-5, 2008 in Charlotte, NC. With the combination of ICE into the ACS, ICE 2008 in Chicago will be cancelled. NPCA and FSCT will fully endorse and support the American Coatings Show as the premier industry exhibition for the coatings industry. In addition, NPCA and FSCT will endorse and support the FSCT’s international technology conference, FutureCoat!, which will continue as the signature science and technology event for the industry and a forum for the FSCT’s Annual Meeting. A complement to the American Coatings Conference, FutureCoat! will be held in the fall of  2008 in Chicago and feature multi-track educational programming focused on Globally Responsible Coatings. NPCA and FSCT have agreed to explore the possibility of holding FutureCoat! in conjunction and/or cooperation with future American Coatings Shows and American Coatings Conferences and/or the NPCA Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. NPCA and FSCT also have agreed to the coordinate future planning of the American Coatings Show and Conference and FutureCoat! to avoid conflicts for participants and to ensure the most effective and efficient use of industry resources.

NPCA President Andy Doyle and FSCT Executive Director Joe Pontoski issued the following joint statement:

"NPCA and FSCT view FSCT as the leading technical and scientific educational organization for the industry and NPCA as the leading advocacy and public policy based organization for the industry. NPCA and FSCT fully endorse membership in and the programs and activities of both organizations. NPCA and FSCT are committed to combining their resources and expertise for the greater benefit of the industry. The purpose of integrating the management and financial resources of both parties is to enhance the overall quality and breadth of programs and services provided to the industry and to efficiently and effectively apply resources to industry priorities. In addition, we recognize that an important aspect of a successful merger of our two organizations is a continued affiliation and effective interaction with the industry’s network of local societies, councils, and associations, and the Coatings Industry Education Fund. We not only expect our relationship with these groups to continue, but to be enhanced and expanded."

NPCA and FSCT have agreed to an action plan to finalize the merger. FSCT's Board of Directors has already approved the Memorandum of Agreement and has recommended approval to its membership; NPCA’s Board of Directors will take formal action on the Agreement at its meeting on March 19. Following a decision by NPCA’s Board, the Agreement will be submitted to the FSCT general membership for approval beginning on March 21. Voting by the FSCT membership will likely take place between April 21 through May 2, 2008, for all members of record as of February 29, 2008. All aspects of the merger are expected to be completed by June 3, 2008.
 

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA’s primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory, and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

The Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology is the leader in technical education and professional development for the international coatings industry. Founded in 1922 as the Federation of Paint and Varnish Production Clubs, the FSCT has grown to consist of 26 Constituent Societies: 22 in the United States, two in Canada, and one each in the United Kingdom and Mexico. The organization's membership is involved in research and development, supervisory production and engineering, and technical sales/service regarding the formulation, testing, and manufacture of coatings. FSCT sponsors globally recognized programs such as FutureCoat! and the Advancements in Coatings Series, and publishes the Journal of Coatings Technology and Research  and JCT CoatingsTech.

For more information, please contact NPCA's Andy Doyle, (202) 462-6272 or FSCT's Joe Pontoski, (610) 940-0777.

 

NPCA AND FSCT TO BEGIN MERGER DISCUSSIONS

Washington, D.C., Oct. 31, 2007 - The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) and the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) have agreed to enter into merger discussions.

FSCT representative Joe Brown presented a merger proposal to NPCA’s Board of Directors immediately prior to NPCA's Annual Meeting and Industry Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh. The NPCA Board agreed to move forward with discussions in an effort to complete a merger over the next few months.

NPCA President Andy Doyle stated, "The Boards of both organizations have agreed to begin a merger process that could lead to a final proposal by March 2008. If we are able to complete the details of the merger and reach a final agreement, ICE will be cancelled and combined with the 2008 American Coatings Show. In the meantime, NPCA is moving ahead with the American Coatings Show and American Coatings Conference for June 2-5, 2008 in Charlotte. The ACS will take place regardless of the outcome of our discussions with the FSCT. The ACS will become the premier event for the coatings industry occurring every two years in the spring alternating with the European Coatings Show. In addition, we will continue to push ahead with the development of our new Science and Technology Initiative as our work in this area will undoubtedly help us build a more effective program with the FSCT."

Both organizations have agreed to the following action plan:

  • FSCT and will meet with NPCA by Dec. 31, 2007 to complete the details of the merger and to develop an implementation plan for its completion.
  • A plan to promote and explain the details of the merger will be developed by Jan. 31, 2008.
  • A final merger plan will be presented to the FSCT and NPCA by March 1, 2008, with approvals to be completed by April 1, 2008.

Earlier this year, FSCT rejected a merger proposal initiated by NPCA.

According to FSCT's Oct. 28 statement, "The FSCT believes that this merger of the FSCT and NPCA would result in the strengthening of both organization’s programs and resources and provide the highest level of benefits and services to our members and the industry."

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA’s primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory, and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

 

CHARLES E. BENNETT RECEIVES NPCA'S HECKEL AWARD

Washington, D.C., Oct. 29, 2007 - On Oct. 29, during the Honors Luncheon of its 120th Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) presented Charles E. Bennett, CEO of Cook Composites and Polymers, with the George Baugh Heckel Award. This award is the association's highest honor.

Bennett has spent much of his life devoted to the industry, beginning in 1979 with a position at Guardsman Products. He held various positions at Guardsman, and was CEO and president upon his departure in 1996. At that time, he founded Polymer Products, Inc., a company that manufactured coatings resins. Two years later, he sold the company and took his current position of CEO at Cook Composites and Polymers in Kansas City.

His involvement with NPCA has been extensive, including stints on the Membership Committee, Coatings Care® Committee, Budget and Finance Committee, Chairman of the Industrial Coatings Committee, and more than 10 years on NPCA’s Board of Directors.

Bennett has also been active with other organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for the West Michigan YMCA and the Advisory Board of the Siedman School of Business at Grand Valley State University, Mich.

While he has accomplished much professionally, he has also led a fulfilling personal life. He and his wife Sandra have been married for 39 years and have two daughters, Renee and Nicole, and two granddaughters, Sydnee and Brooke. During his free time, he enjoys jogging, reading, playing golf, and collecting wine for his new wine cellar.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA’s primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

 

MICHAEL BESCHLOSS TO KEYNOTE NPCA’S 2007 ANNUAL MEETING

Washington, D.C., Oct. 1, 2007 - Michael Beschloss, award-winning author and presidential historian, will be the keynote speaker at the National Paint & Coatings Association’s (NPCA) 2007 Annual Meeting on Monday, Oct. 29 in Pittsburgh.

Beschloss will address the American Presidency, opening windows into the minds of the most powerful officials in the world. Discussing the leadership of presidents past and present, he will offer insights into the crucial moments in American history when courageous Presidents influenced the future of the country. Drawing on his latest book, Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789–1989, Beschloss will bring to life these flawed, complex men, their wives, their families, their friends, and their foes.

Beschloss has served as a historian on the staff of the Smithsonian Institution, was appointed a senior associate member at Oxford University in England, and was elected a senior fellow of the Annenberg Foundation. He is the recipient of the Order of Lincoln and the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award. In addition, he is a trustee of the White House Historical Association, the National Archives Foundation, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, and the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs.

He appears regularly on Meet the Press, the Today show, NBC Nightly News, and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. In September 2005, he was awarded an Emmy for creating the Discovery Channel series Decisions that Shook the World.

For more information on NPCA’s 2007 Annual Meeting, contact NPCA’s Dorothy Brawner at (202) 462-6272 or dbrawner@paint.org.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufactures, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA’s primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

 

NPCA ANNOUNCES COMPLETE LINE-UP OF 2007 ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKERS

Washington, D.C., September 26, 2007 - The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) has lined up a variety of expert speakers for its general and forum sessions, to be held during its 2007 Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, on Monday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday Oct. 30.

At 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, the Opening General Session will feature Sir Martin Gilbert, historian, author and official Winston Churchill biographer. Martin was appointed Churchill biographer in 1968, a task he continues to this day, having published six volumes of Churchill’s story, and 11 books of Churchill documents, as well as the one-volume Churchill: A Life. In his keynote presentation, Gilbert will discuss "Churchill on Leadership."

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 8:00 a.m., Steve Uzzell, a renowned advertising and corporate photographer, will deliver the final speaker presentation during the Closing General Session. Uzzell will deliver a presentation entitled "Open Roads, Open Minds," in which he will explore creative problem solving. Utilizing his striking photographs as metaphoric illustrations about possibility and creativity, Uzzell will share insights into the creative process. Uzzell has published two books of his own photography, his editorials have been featured in such publications as Newsweek, Time, Smithsonian, and U.S. News and World Report, and his cinematography has aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS.

The forum sessions kickoff on Monday, Oct. 29 at 7:15 a.m., with the Small Business Committee Forum. Featured speaker Thomas G. Murphy, executive vice president of Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution for RSM McGladrey Inc., will present the results from his company’s 2007 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution National Survey to small business breakfast attendees. Jonathan Littlefield, vice president and COO of Coatings Industry Services, Inc., will discuss successful insurance buying strategies. Littlefield will focus on the importance of insurance, and how insurance should provide "custom-fit" solutions for companies' demands.

At 10:45 a.m., the Industry Suppliers Forum gets rolling with Dr. Janet M. Mostowy, head of Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs for Bayer MaterialScience NAFTA, who will deliver an address entitled, "REACH: What It Means for You." In her discussion, Mostowy will explore the European Union's (EU) chemical control legislation known as REACH, and its direct impact on paint and coatings companies. She will focus less on the primary chemical producer, than what it means to downstream customers.

At 1:45 p.m., Dan Heath, director of Duke Corporate Education and co-author of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestselling business book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, will focus on the traits that link sticky ideas of all kinds, from urban legends to corporate mission statements to advertisements. Heath develops and designs curriculum, teaching and interfacing with clients to ensure their business outcomes are met. His clients include Wal-Mart, BAE Systems, Brown Brothers Harriman, Microsoft, Dow, and Home Depot.

The final forum session will take place at 3:15 p.m., where Blaine Brownell, architect, sustainable building advisor, and a researcher of materials with NBBJ in Seattle, will address harnessing the latest materials expertise to transform the way we make buildings and products. He is the author of Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine our Physical Environment, and was selected for a 2006 “40 Under 40” award by Building Design & Construction magazine.

For more information on NPCA’s 2007 Annual Meeting, including registration information, contact NPCA’s Dorothy Brawner at (202) 462-6272 or dbrawner@paint.org, or visit http://www.paint.org/meetings/annual.cfm.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA’s primary role is to serve as ally and advocate of legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

 

SIX INDIVIDUALS TO BE HONORED WITH NPCA INDUSTRY STATESMAN AWARDS

Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2007 - Six individuals will receive Industry Statesman Awards during the National Paint & Coatings Association's (NPCA) 2007 Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Oct. 28-30. The Industry Statesman Award is an honor given by NPCA to persons in recognition and appreciation of their long and devoted service to the paint and coatings industry.

The following are NPCA's 2007 Industry Statesman Award recipients.

Until his retirement at the end of August, Robert Berger, Cytec Industries' vice president of sales and marketing support for Surface Specialties, served the association on its Industry Suppliers Committee from 1985-2007, chairing the committee for a length of time, concurrently serving on NPCA's Board of Directors, from the 1990s through this year. Additionally, he was a member of the Industrial Coatings Committee from 1995-2007, and NPCA's Membership Committee in 1999. All the while, he encouraged the association to take a more active role in technology and industry related trade shows, and was a proponent and supporter of NPCA's new American Coatings Show, which will be launched in 2008. In his service to the association and industry, Berger held the title of captain of the Suppliers Team, undefeated in competition with the paint Manufacturers Team for the "Paint Pail."

Berger began his career in technical service for NL Industries from 1966-1970, after earning his B.A. from Seton Hall University and a year of post-graduate work in Chemistry. In 1970, he joined American Cyanamid (which formed Cytec Industries), working for over 36 years in various global sales, marketing and general management roles, with responsibility for products used in the coatings industry.

Of the industry, Berger says, "During my 40+ year career, I have watched the industry evolve into one of the most responsible stewards of their space in the value chain of manufactured products: toxicology, corrosion, appearance, and environmental leadership."

Berger credits his wife, Evelyn, as "the main reason for any success in my life," and is buoyed by his three daughters, son, and his four granddaughters. He is a director of North Jersey Junior Achievement, and a Eucharistic Minister for Roman Catholic Churches.

Ronald B. Child, vice president of compliance and regulatory affairs for California Products Corporation, began his career there in 1975 as technical director, and has been a stalwart member of the Massachusetts Paint Council since the council's inception in late 1991. He served as paint council chair for two terms during the past 16 years, for a total of 5 years as chair. He has testified on behalf of the coatings industry before committees of the Massachusetts State Legislature on many occasions. He is and has been willing to act on behalf of the industry at any time and can cover a multitude of issues in a professional manner. His willingness and ability to develop a strong relationship with his local state legislators has been of immense value to the industry in a state not known for its "pro-business" environment.

Additionally, Child was an active member of NPCA's State Affairs Committee from 1995-2003, and served on NPCA's Transportation and Distribution Subcommittee on the National Motor Freight Reclassification, as an advocate for a status quo of the paint industry's classification.

Child attended Northeastern University, earning his B.S., and spent a year at Brown University in 1960 on a National Science Foundation Academic Year Scholarship. In the interim, he taught biology and chemistry at Westwood High School in Westwood, Mass. He was also a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1959-1961. From 1961-1972, Child was technical director for the Dampney Co.'s industrial maintenance coatings unit. Before joining California Products, Child was Laboratory Manager for GE Coatings Laboratory for three years.

He and his wife Beverly have a daughter, two sons, and four grandchildren, and for the last 37 years have been residents of Boxford, Mass., where Ron serves as a Cubmaster for Boy Scouts of America. He also chaired the Site Assessment Subcommittee of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) in Cambridge, Mass. for 13 years, as well as for the Merrimac Valley Regional LEPC for six years.

Yvan Dupuy, chairman and CEO of Benjamin Moore & Co., has been an active NPCA member, serving on NPCA's Architectural Coatings Committee, its Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. Dupuy began his career in 1977 as a sales representative, working his way up to plant operations manager three years later. In 1982, Dupuy was promoted to district sales manager, becoming Montreal branch manager just two years later. In 1986, he served as the assistant vice president of marketing, and took on the role of vice president of sales and marketing in 1988, a position he held for seven years before becoming president and COO in 1995. In 2000 he was named CEO as well, and in 2001, became chairman, president and CEO.

Dennis Finn, who sadly passed away this spring, was vice president of environmental and regulatory affairs for RPM, Inc. Finn was the first chairman of NPCA's Coatings Care® Security Committee, which was formed post-9/11 to deal with increased concerns about the safety of chemical processing facilities. He spearheaded an effort involving many industry professionals that resulted in the detailed "Security Guide" under the industry's Coatings Care® program. The guidance Finn helped develop was recognized by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) as an exceptional program for assessing site vulnerability — a necessary first step in developing an effective security program.

Finn was also very active, since 1999, in NPCA's Product Stewardship Committee, as well as its Manufacturing Committee, where he was instrumental in bringing in expert speakers to address critical issues, and arranging site tours at RPM facilities. He also served on NPCA's Architectural Coatings, Industrial Coatings, and Occupational Safety and Health Committees.

Finn was a vigorous supporter of NPCA programs in the health, safety and environmental area, in particular working to make sure the Coatings Care® program served to direct management efforts. He was an industrious individual that never shied away from a challenge.

After graduating with a B.S. in Biology from Villanova University, Finn earned his M.S. in Environmental Science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He worked for IIT Research Institute in Chicago before joining Nalco Chemical Company in 1981, where he worked until 1990 when he joined Day-Glo Color Corp. as director of environmental health and safety. In 2000, he became corporate director of RPM's Environmental Health and Safety before taking on his last position in 2001.

Finn, a native of Pittsburgh, is survived by his wife Carole, and their children Brenna and Christopher. He enjoyed soccer, woodworking, reading and photography.

Robert Jurczyszyn, retired as product regulation manager for Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. after more than 42 years of service. Since 1990, he represented Akzo Nobel Coatings on various NPCA committees, including the Air Quality, Environmental Management, Occupational Health & Safety, Transportation & Distribution, Labeling, and Product Stewardship Committees. During that time he participated in various sub-committees involved with reviews of NPCA's Industry Labeling Guide and development of the Coating Care® program.

Jurczyszyn completed his B.S. in Chemistry at Wayne State University in 1960 before working for Wyandotte Paint Products Co. in various roles, including chemist, lab manager, technical director, and plant manager for two facilities before the acquisition of Wyandotte Paint by Akzo. Within Akzo he has been the manager of quality assurance, engineering, health safety & environment and product regulation for the last 12 years. He was a member of the Detroit Society of Coatings Technology and held various positions in the Detroit Paint Coatings Association, including serving as president. He represented Akzo at the Michigan Manufacturers Association and served twice as president of the Michigan Chemistry Council, in addition to being on their Board of Directors for 12 years. He is currently assisting Akzo as a part-time consultant.

Robert Torba, Akzo Nobel's general manager of the Industrial Finishes Business Unit, has retired from the company after some 30 years of service. Since 1995, Torba has been a member of NPCA's Board of Directors and Executive Committee for several years at a time. He has also been a member of NPCA's Industrial Coatings Committee beginning in 1994, serving as vice chair from 1996-1997 and chairman from 1998-1999. Additionally, he has been a member of NPCA's Coatings Care® and Membership Committees.

Torba's career in the industry began in 1977 when he joined Hanna's Columbus, Ohio operation as plant manager. After Hanna's acquisition by Reliance Universal in 1985, he was appointed vice president of the Wood Coatings division and later Executive Vice President of the Wood Coatings group. After the acquisition of Reliance by Akzo Nobel, Torba was appointed general manager of the Industrial Coatings business.

Torba leaves a legacy in Akzo Nobel of a thriving Industrial Finishes business on which he imprinted a clear entrepreneurial stamp with strong customer focus. During the past several years, Torba has resided in Shanghai in an effort to further develop the Asia Pacific region. His success as a business leader and his contribution to Akzo Nobel is widely recognized.

Torba earned his BE in Chemical engineering from Youngstown State University and his M.B.A. from Ohio University. Bob and his wife Fran have been married for 36 years and have three children: Julie, Bob and Brian.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate of legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

For more information, please contact NPCA's Dorothy Brawner at (202) 462-6272.

 

NPCA HONORS MEMBERS WITH INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2007 - Dunn-Edwards Corporations' Michael Rose and members of two National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) working groups - the International Paint and Printing Ink Council's (IPPIC) Anti-Fouling Working Group and the Transportation and Distribution Committee's National Motor Freight Transport Association (NMFTA) Working Group - will receive Industry Achievement Awards during NPCA's 2007 Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Oct. 28-30. The Industry Achievement Award is given in recognition of specific contributions to the paint and coatings industry.

Michael Rose, member of the Board of Directors of Dunn-Edwards Corporation, and former president and COO, has served on NPCA's Board of Directors, as well as its Budget and Finance and Architectural Coatings Committees since 2005. Over the past several years, Rose has been a very active advocate for the paint and coatings industry and has spearheaded several important advocacy efforts on behalf of NPCA, including the Paints and Architectural Coatings Environmental Study, or PACES. With the industry facing an ever increasing number of states and local air districts passing increasingly stringent "mass-based" VOC regulations, Rose was concerned that these regulations had a direct impact on coatings performance that can result in adverse environmental effects, including possible increased ozone formation, loss of substrate, increased solid waste generation and health/safety issues. At the 2005 NPCA Annual meeting, Rose personally solicited support from other members on the new study, PACES, to be completed at the University of California, Riverside. Based on his leadership and persistence, 11 member companies expressed interest in funding the PACES project and nine have contributed funds to date. The first phase of the PACES project has started and includes a life cycle assessment, atmospheric processes/availability measurements of Texanol in ambient air and coating application activity analysis. Ultimately, as a result of his efforts, the PACES study should bring about data and technical arguments that will be very useful for NPCA's VOC advocacy efforts in the future.

Another front on which Rose has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and participation is with the Paint Product Stewardship Initiative (PPSI). Ultimately, as a result of his work, NPCA's Board approved the resolution that authorized the association to continue with the PPSI dialogue for the expressed purpose of pursuing the development of a new, nationally coordinated system for the management of post-consumer waste paint.

Moreover, Rose has guided the industry to develop a consensus advocacy policy for AIM reactivity before various regulatory agencies.

 
IPPIC Antifouling Working Group

Neal Blossom, American Chemet Corporation
Julian Hunter, International Paint Limited
Robert Martin, Marine Paints for Arch Chemicals
John Kelly, Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc.'s International Marine Coatings Division

These four individuals have collectively demonstrated exceptional dedication and contributed greatly to the successful establishment of NPCA's Antifouling Working Group, the revitalization of its Marine Coatings Committee, and the establishment of IPPIC's International Marine Coatings Global Forum and its Antifouling Working Group subcommittee.

Their efforts greatly contributed to creating a vibrant force responsible for IPPIC's International Marine Coatings Global Forum being accepted on its initial application as a non-governmental organization delegate to the UN's International Maritime Organization at its June 2007 meeting in London.

These contributions have been exceptional in every respect, and have included preparation of testimony, intervention before national and international bodies, leading letter writing campaigns, and supervising the development of and advocating reasonable risk assessment models that should go far in creating more reasonable estimates of the environmental risks associated with marine coatings.

Above and beyond admission to the IMO, their recent achievements include the likely acceptance of an important effective risk assessment model by U.S. EPA, the effective engagement of important California authorities currently assessing marine coatings, and ongoing efforts to affect a reasonable standard for antifouling coatings used by U.S. military vessels, which will greatly influence similar standards for commercial vessels globally.

 
NPCA's Transportation and Distribution Committee's NMFTA Working Group

Eric Barcaskey, The Valspar Corporation
Melanie Watt, Tnemec Company, Inc.
Chuck Voorhies, Seymour of Sycamore, Inc.
Dustin Smith, Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc., Marine & Protective Coatings
Greg Andre, Farrell-Calhoun, Inc.
John Brandsma, PPG Industries, Inc.
Sandra L. Chapman, The Sherwin-Williams Company
Ronald B. Child, California Products Corporation
Harold Keen, Rust-Oleum Corporation
Larry Lukoskie, The Valspar Corporation
Jennifer Peeler, Carboline Company
Dave Schweon, DAP Products, Inc.
Linda Reuter, Rust-Oleum Corporation
Bob Jurczyszyn, Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc.

In February 2005, NPCA was notified that the NMFTA National Classification Committee (NCC) had voted to significantly increase the classification of paint and related materials from 55 to 85. This higher classification would raise the rates to ship paint products significantly. NPCA's Transportation and Distribution Committee immediately assumed leadership of this issue, taking aggressive steps to preserve the current classification of 55. A dedicated working group comprised of the individuals listed above committed extraordinary amounts of time and resources to this issue. Steps taken include the following:

  • Petitioning for a reconsideration of the proposal;
  • Initiating a grassroots campaign to request support for paint industry position amongst the carriers that work for our member companies;
  • Initiating a grassroots campaign to lobby the carrier members of the NCC;
  • Appearance at a November 2005 hearing to support reconsideration of reclassification proposal;
  • Drafting a survey to Transportation and Distribution members regarding typical paint shipments;
  • Distributing survey to all facilities and completing the survey;
  • Analysis of the survey results and preparation of NPCA response in opposition to reclassification;
  • Working with a statistician in order to prepare NPCA opposition;
  • Appearance at a panel meeting of the NCC in 2006 to oppose proposal;
  • Hosting the NMFTA staff person's site visit to two facilities to survey dock shipments;
  • Monitoring activity at the Surface Transportation Board relative to the status of anti-trust immunity for the NCC;
  • Appearance at another panel meeting to discuss an alternate proposal to increase the classification based upon density and hazard characteristics;
  • Work on drafting an industry proposal to change the classification based solely upon density;
  • Initiation of grassroots campaign to request letters of support from paint industry carriers;
  • Appearance at the October NCC panel meeting to present NPCA views on reclassification proposal

By maintaining the classification of paint at the historical level of 55, this working group has saved the industry millions of dollars in shipping costs. While it is difficult to determine the actual cost savings, we believe that it is in the range of approximately $8 to $15 million dollars a year.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate of legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

For more information, please contact NPCA's Dorothy Brawner at (202) 462-6272.

 

AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW 2008:
ALL-NEW EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE FOR THE COATINGS INDUSTRY TO BE HELD JUNE 2008 IN CHARLOTTE, N.C., USA

Exhibition: June 3-5, 2008
Conference: June 2-3, 2008
www.american-coatings-show.com

Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2007 - The new AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW (ACS) and Conference will be held June 2-5, 2008 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) has partnered with Vincentz Network (VN) - organizer of the highly successful EUROPEAN COATINGS SHOW (ECS) - to create a world-class event of superior quality and expertise similar to the ECS.

The theme of the event, "To the Next Level," embodies the goal of creating a unique, transatlantic exchange that goes above and beyond what has been offered at any other industry show in the United States. "This will be the must-attend event for the coatings industry providing inspiration as well as networking and business opportunities", said J. Andrew Doyle, President of the NPCA and added "that the leading coating manufacturer and supplier companies have endorsed the event" .

Added Value: AMERICAN COATINGS CONFERENCE

The two-day AMERICAN COATINGS CONFERENCE will begin on June 2, providing a forum for the foremost scientific minds in the industry. Reflecting the vision of the new AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW, the concurrent AC Conference will take the industry to "The Next Level". The theme for the conference will set the stage for a high-level technical and scientific meeting, rallying the leading industry experts from both coatings manufacturers and their suppliers from across the nation and beyond. With a clear focus on presenting the most recent innovations in raw materials and equipment, and covering the entire range of coatings formulation aspects, the two-day event will feature a rich variety of top-notch scientific papers and speakers. The conference organizers will select proposed technical presentations based on their scientific significance and their potential to add value to the industry. The official "Call for Papers" is now available and companies are kindly invited to submit papers. "We will be honored to review contributions from the coatings community to create a convincing content package", said Dr. Barbara Brune, Editor-in-Chief at Vincentz Network and member of the Conference Program Committee.

The AC Show will open its doors on June 3 and will be the marketplace for the presentation of products and services for the production of high-grade and competitive coatings and paints.

A sample of the products on display at the American Coatings Show:

  • Coating Raw Materials
    Resins / Binders / Solvents / Pigments / Fillers / Additives
  • Laboratory and Production Equipment
    Mixers / Extruders, Kneaders / Mills, Triple Roller Mills and Accessories / Engineering / Filters and Filtration / Pumps / Metering Devices, Balances / Conveying Systems / Filling Systems / Packaging / Labelling Machines / Logistics / Tinting Systems / Screening Machines and Sintering Plants / Coolers / Pipe Technology
  • Testing and Measuring Equipment
    Quality Control and Laboratory Testing Equipment / Production and Process Control
  • Environmental Protection and Safety at Work
    Occupational Safety / Container Washing Equipment / Emission Treatment / Effluent Treatment / Solvent Recycling
  • Services
    Software, Hardware / E-Commerce / Training and Education, Qualification / Technical Information and Publication / Consultancy / Research & Development / Contract Manufacturing

The June 2008 premiere will mark the beginning of a biannual schedule for ACS, which will alternate years with ECS.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing approximately 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the pre-eminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

VN is a Germany-based media company, whose Coatings Division provides scientific, technical and management information to the international paint and coatings community. VN publishes journals, books and newspapers, organizes conferences, seminars and exhibitions, and offers a wide range of interactive content, data and training services for the industry.

Information about the AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW and Conference:
www.american-coatings-show.com

NPCA
National Paint and Coatings Association
1500 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., USA
www.paint.org
Cheryl Matthews
T: +1 (202) 462-6272
Email: cmatthews@paint.org

Vincentz Network
Plathnerstr. 4c, 30175 Hannover, Germany
Esther Schwencke
T: +49 (511) 9910-270
Email: esther.schwencke@coatings.de
www.european-coatings.com

Journalists can download this and other press releases and other material for the AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW at www.american-coatings-show.com/press.

 

NPCA TO HOST WEBINAR ON INTERNATIONAL TOPICS

Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2007 – The National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) will host an International Topics Webinar addressing the United Nation's (UN) Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for hazard communication, and the European Union's (EU) chemical control legislation known as "REACH," on Sept. 25, from 2:00-3:30 p.m., EDT.

From 2:00 to 2:45pm, Dr. Michele Sullivan of MRS Associates, a leading authority on industry labeling practices and on conformance to the GHS, will begin the seminar with a brief description of the GHS and its benefits, after which the focus will be on national adoption efforts and how the paint and coatings industry will be impacted. A timeline for anticipated regulatory actions on the GHS by major U.S. government agencies will be provided. Dr. Sullivan will focus on what can be done in advance to soften the impact of GHS implementation for both industrial, architectural, and specialty coatings products. She will also answer questions.

At 2:45, Martha Marrapese, Esq., of Keller and Heckman LLP, a renowned expert on REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), will present information specifically on paint manufacturer impacts (as opposed to impacts on the chemical manufacturer or importer). She will describe the best REACH advance preparation techniques for paint manufacturers selling products in the EU, including an internal assessment of products and formulations. Particularly, she will discuss efforts to identify raw materials that are likely to encounter difficulty in the REACH "approval" process and, perhaps most importantly, how to develop successful advance supplier communications to ensure registration support. Finally, she will review the "kinds of information" that are likely to be needed by suppliers - and potentially provided by paint manufacturers - to develop a conforming REACH dossier that will support registration. This includes assembling (where available) the types of information that will support use and minimize adverse exposures (i.e. acceptable risk reduction measures). Also, she will provide a clear timeline for specific actions under REACH (based on the required thresholds for chemical use) and what the "pre-registration" period is intended to accomplish, as well as answer questions.

The webinar is open to NPCA members and non-members, at a cost of $150.

To register, or for more information, go to http://www.paint.org/meetings/intlwebinar.cfm, or contact NPCA's John Hopewell.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing over 90% of the U.S. production of paint and coatings. Its membership includes coatings manufacturers, chemical and industry related suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA provides business, technical, marketing and government affairs services.

 

MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY HIGH COURTS "TERMINATE" PUBLIC NUISANCE CASES V. OLD LEAD-PAINT COMPANIES

Washington, D.C., June 19, 2007 - Last week, two state supreme courts issued rulings with a straightforward and unambiguous result: public nuisance causes of action by municipalities seeking damages for ill-maintained dwellings, from historical manufacturers of ordinary and necessary products, are declared terminated. As the U.S. trade association for paint and coatings manufacturers and their suppliers, the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) is heartened by these two decisions.

NPCA applauds these two major state high court rulings, which preserve the crucial, long-standing distinctions between public nuisance law and product liability suits.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

For more information, please contact NPCA's Tom Graves at (202) 462-6272.

 

NPCA ANNOUNCES ITS 2007 ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKERS

Washington, D.C., May 31, 2007 - NPCA has lined up a variety of expert speakers for its forum sessions to be held during the National Paint and Coatings Association's (NPCA) 2007 Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh. The sessions will be held on Monday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday Oct. 30.

At 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, the Opening General Session will feature Sir Martin Gilbert, historian, author and official Winston Churchill biographer. Martin was appointed Churchill biographer in 1968, a task he continues to this day, having published six volumes of Churchill's story, and 11 books of Churchill documents, as well as the one-volume Churchill: A Life. In his keynote presentation, Gilbert will discuss "Churchill on Leadership."

At 1:45 p.m., Dan Heath, director of Duke Corporate Education and co-author of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal bestselling business book Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die., will focus on the traits that link sticky ideas of all kinds, from urban legends to corporate mission statements to advertisements. Heath develops and designs curriculum, teaching and interfacing with clients to ensure their business outcomes are met. His clients include Wal-Mart, BAE Systems, Brown Brothers Harriman, Microsoft, Dow, and Home Depot.

At 3:15 p.m., Blaine Brownell, architect, sustainable building advisor, and a researcher of materials with NBBJ in Seattle, will address harnessing the latest materials expertise to transform the way we make buildings and products. He is the author of Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine our Physical Environment, and was selected for a 2006 "40 Under 40" award by Building Design & Construction magazine.

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 8:00 a.m., Steve Uzzell, a renowned advertising and corporate photographer, will deliver the final speaker presentation during the Closing General Session. Uzzell will deliver a presentation entitled "Open Roads, Open Minds," in which he will explore creative problem solving. Utilizing his striking photographs as metaphoric illustrations about possibility and creativity, Uzzell will share insights into the creative process. Uzzell has published two books of his own photography, his editorials have been featured in such publications as Newsweek, Time, Smithsonian, and U.S. News and World Report, and his cinematography has aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS.

For more information on NPCA's 2007 Annual Meeting, including registration information, contact NPCA's Dorothy Brawner at (202) 462-6272 or dbrawner@paint.org, or visit http://www.paint.org/meetings/annual.cfm.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate of legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.


NPCA CHAIRMAN CHARLES E. BUNCH RECEIVES 2007 ADAM SMITH AWARD

Washington, D.C., May 31, 2007 - The National Paint & Coatings Association's (NPCA) Chairman of the Board Charles E. Bunch, Chairman and CEO of PPG Industries, Inc., received the Business Citizen medal from the Friends of Adam Smith (FOAS) as one of its 2007 Adam Smith Award winners. The award is presented annually to one elected official and one business leader whose actions and attitudes exemplify the spirit of free enterprise as espoused by Adam Smith, a philosopher and professor often credited with establishing the concept of free enterprise capitalism. Bunch accepted the award at the seventh annual Adam Smith Awards Dinner on May 1, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

Believing that many political issues have a lasting effect on PPG employees, retirees, shareholders, operations and future profitability, Bunch encourages his employees to be informed and active in the political issues affecting PPG business and families. PPG has taken the lead on issues such as access to affordable supply of domestic energy and health care benefits.

"PPG's corporate tradition is rooted in principles of leadership and integrity, respect for the individual and doing what's right for the long term," said Todd Flemming, FOAS chairman and CEO of Infrasafe. "The man at its helm, Charles Bunch personifies that tradition."

For more information, contact Lauren Yates at FOAS, at (202)776-7477, or Yates@bipac.org.

The Friends of Adam Smith is a not-for-profit foundation that researches and promotes, through the education of business and policy leaders, historical and relevant links between politics, public policy and economic freedom in the United States.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

 

STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL PAINT AND COATINGS ASSOCIATION, INC. (NPCA) IN RESPONSE TO THE LAWSUIT FILED BY OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL DANN

Washington, D.C., April 5, 2007 - The National Paint and Coatings Association, Inc. (NPCA) strongly opposes the decision by Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann to sue 10 companies over the issue of lead poisoning. Instead of pursuing current, effective measures that have made major progress in eliminating childhood lead poisoning, the attorney general has, with less than three months in office, chosen to pursue unfounded and ill-conceived litigation.

The coatings industry has a long history of being proactive in the campaign to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Over 50 years ago, in 1954, the association and its members established, in cooperation with the American Academy of Pediatrics, a consensus standard which eliminated the use of lead in consumer house paints and on articles accessible to children. In 1971, the industry testified in favor of the first federal standard on the use of lead in paint as part of the Federal Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act passed by Congress. Shortly thereafter, the industry supported the eventual ban of lead in consumer paints by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1978.

For decades - going back to the 1960's - as the use of lead in paint declined, the industry engaged in constant public outreach efforts to alert the public to the dangers of lead exposure and the risk of childhood lead poisoning. Hundreds of thousands of safety brochures and posters have been provided, free of charge, to community health centers and lead poisoning prevention programs all over the country.

As new evidence on health risks associated with childhood lead exposure was discovered, NPCA, on behalf of the paint industry, participated in two Presidential Task Forces (under George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton) seeking to advance public awareness and extend the knowledge of targeted, feasible and effective lead hazard control strategies. These efforts helped advance the understanding that the mere presence of lead-based paint does not constitute a hazard, and led to a shift in government-led practices toward correcting deteriorated paint conditions brought about by deferred or careless maintenance practices.

In 2003, NPCA, on behalf of the paint industry, entered into a landmark, cooperative agreement with 50 state attorneys general — from 46 states (including Ohio), Washington, D.C. and three territories - to increase public awareness of lead-based paint hazards and to train renovation and remodeling contractors (including painting contractors) to safely work with old, lead-based paint. These efforts under this agreement, which continue to this date, resulted in:

  • New product labeling on over 2 billion containers to alert consumers and contractors to the potential dangers of deteriorated lead-based paint and provide lead-safe work practice instructions (including the toll-free EPA Lead Hotline number and web site);
  • The distribution of over 4 million EPA lead hazard awareness brochures (in English and Spanish) at paint retail point-of-sale locations;
  • Ongoing free classroom training sessions (using the government-approved curriculum, with classes in English and Spanish) that have reached over 12,000 individuals throughout the country (in all 50 states) on lead-safe work practices for renovation and remodeling (attendees include contractors, housing officials, property managers, private homeowners and many others).

Finally, NPCA, on behalf of its members, continues to focus on a number of ongoing efforts by government agencies at all levels and in Congress to refine and bolster effective policy measures that work toward the elimination of childhood lead poisoning by the year 2010. NPCA feels strongly that, rather than bringing costly, time-consuming litigation, the actions described above - which have been supported by public health experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as allied state and local agencies - remain the best hope for achieving that goal.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 300 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the pre-eminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

For more information, please contact NPCA's David Lloyd at (202) 462-6272.

 

NPCA OFFERS THE LATEST IN ITS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION WEBINAR SERIES:
"MANAGING IN AN INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT"

Washington, D.C., April 3, 2007 - The National Paint & Coatings Association's (NPCA) Management Information Committee will present its second seminar in its series of management webinars, entitled Managing in an Inflationary Environment, on June 7, from 2:00-3:30 pm, EST.

The CHEMARK Consulting Group, Inc., will deliver the Managing in an Inflationary Environment colloquium. Right now many among the industry are experiencing downward pricing pressure and escalating material costs. In response, some are increasing prices but are fearful of losing market share. Others are seeking alternative material sources and may be risking their product's quality.

CHEMARK believes the global economy has benefited from relatively small price escalation over the last six years. In its view, our industry has just started to experience a change in the cost cycle; cost increases will continue to grow. CHEMARK's solution: ask leadership to look at their businesses differently and adopt approaches that focus on the velocity of cash flow, providing greater flexibility and improved financial results. CHEMARK's Ira Miller and Phil Phillips will discuss the true definition of inflation, as well as one of the most successful (and reproducible) approaches to continued business prosperity in an inflationary environment.

The cost of the webinar is $125 for NPCA members (members may participate in multiple seminars for a special price). The non-member price is $150 per webinar.

To register, or for more information, go to http://www.paint.org/meetings/micwebinars.cfm, or contact NPCA's Allen Irish or Kevin Sall for more information.

Founded in 1975, The CHEMARK Consulting Group, Inc. is a global management consulting firm specializing in the coatings, paints, adhesives, sealants, and specialty chemicals industries. Headquartered in Southern Pines, N.C., CHEMARK has offices in both North America & Europe with associate affiliations in Asia Pacific and South America.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 350 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

 

NPCA AND IPPIC ANTI-FOULING WORKING GROUP CALL FOR THE RAPID RATIFICATION OF ANTI-FOULING SYSTEMS TREATY

Washington, D.C., Feb. 6, 2007 - the Anti-Fouling Working Group of the International Paint and Printing Ink Council (IPPIC), for which the National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) serves as Secretariat, is urging countries to ratify the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships. The workgroup officially adopted a resolution to advocate ratification at its inaugural meeting in Singapore in November 2006.

The treaty was adopted under the auspices of the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) in October 2001, after a lengthy negotiation at the Marine Environment Protection Committee involving member states and non-governmental organizations from both the environmental community and maritime industries it affects.

The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships calls for the elimination of the application of organotin acting as biocides effective Jan. 1, 2003 and the presence of organotins on ships effective Jan. 1, 2003. The treaty was adopted because of the concern over the long term environmental impact of organotin compounds in anti-fouling systems and the recognition that less toxic materials are now available to meet the same need. In addition to the ban on organotins, the treaty will establish a system for regulating anti-fouling systems that might be used on ships in the future.

The treaty will come into force when 25 countries with 25 percent of the world's tonnage ratify it. As of Feb. 1, 2007, 19 countries with approximately 16 percent of the shipping tonnage had ratified the treaty. But many major flag states with significant shipping tonnage have not, including the United States.

The industry's concern is heightened by the treaty's looming January 2008 deadline for the elimination of organotin compounds from ships' hulls or its effective containment on hulls. When the treaty is finally ratified, it becomes immediately effective, e.g., on that date all ships with uncontained organotin compounds on the hull will be banned from the waters of the ratifying countries. To effectively meet the date, work on the ships should be under way now. If the treaty becomes ratified after that date, there will be massive noncompliance on that date, with uncertain enforcement consequences.

The delay is sowing confusion in a worldwide industry that has to apply coatings on large ships that are expected to last for three to five years. Some countries and regions have enacted bans independently of the treaty. The European Union (EU), for example, has already enacted legislation to implement the terms of the treaty. Ships with uncontained organotin compounds on their hulls in January 2008 will be in violation of the EU requirements and could be denied entry to EU ports irrespective of the treaty's status.

All of these considerations underscore the importance of rapidly ratifying the treaty. The uniformity it will bring is essential for shipyards producing ships that must travel in all the world's waters.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 350 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.

For more information, please contact NPCA's Jim Sell at (202) 462-6272.

 

NPCA TO PRESENT A NEW SERIES OF MANAGEMENT WEBINARS

Washington, D.C., Jan. 17, 2007 – The National Paint & Coatings Association's (NPCA) Management Information Committee will present a series of management seminars via the World Wide Web (webinars), beginning this spring. Because of management professionals' hectic schedules, NPCA is pleased to provide these webinars so that attendees may participate remotely, from their desks, without the time and expense of traveling.

Kicking off the series, Orr & Boss, an international management, marketing and strategic planning consulting firm serving the chemicals and related industries, will present its Leveraging Your Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage webinar on March 15 from 2:00-3:30 pm, EST. Targeted toward supply chain managers, manufacturing and distribution managers, purchasing professionals and others who want to learn more about this critically important part of their business, this webinar will explore (1) the many challenges that coatings companies and raw materials suppliers face related to their supply chain and (2) the opportunities that exist to leverage components of the supply chain to create a competitive advantage.

Orr & Boss's Kevin Reid, Scott Detiveux, and Doug Bohn will discuss some real world examples as well as creative techniques that can be used to make process improvements. Some of the critical components of effective supply chain management that will be covered in the webinar include: forecasting, production planning and scheduling, distribution requirement planning (DRP), and material requirement planning (MRP).

On June 7, from 2:00-3:30 pm, EST, The CHEMARK Consulting Group will deliver its Managing in an Inflationary Environment colloquium. Right now many among the industry are experiencing downward pricing pressure and escalating material costs. In response, some are increasing prices but are fearful of losing market share. Others are seeking alternative material sources and may be risking their product's quality.

CHEMARK believes the global economy has benefited from relatively small price escalation over the last six years. In its view, our industry has just started to experience a change in the cost cycle; cost increases will continue to grow. CHEMARK's solution: ask leadership to look at their business differently and adopt approaches that focus on the velocity of cash flow, providing the business with greater flexibility and improved financial results. CHEMARK's Ira Miller and Phil Phillips will discuss the true definition of inflation, as well as one of the most successful (and reproducible) approaches to continued business prosperity in an inflationary environment.

Closing the Management Webinar Series, The ChemQuest Group will address product innovation in its webinar entitled Assessing Attractiveness of New Product Concepts on Sept. 6, from 2:00-3:30 pm, EST. Before new product development initiatives are begun, a business should understand how the resultant product or product line will fit into their own product portfolio, how the offering will fit the targeted market and how it is aligned with its strategy.

This seminar deals with the critical issues that all those leading product innovation should understand. The ChemQuest Group's Dan Murad and Dick Hartshorn will specifically address the importance of breakthrough innovations for sustained profitable growth; the use of a selection process based on critical business success factors; the need to provide customer value; the importance of building a business case for new opportunities; the need for portfolio management to maximize the innovation output; the critical success factors for breakthrough innovations, and the successful implementation of breakthrough innovations.

The cost of the webinars is $125 for each individual webinar (and members may participate in all three for a discounted price of $295). The non-member price is $150 per webinar (or $395 for all three). You may select your payment option when you register online for the webinar program.

To register, or for more information, go to http://www.paint.org/meetings/micwebinars.cfm, or contact NPCA's Allen Irish (airish@paint.org) or Kevin Sall (ksall@paint.org) for more information.

NPCA is a voluntary, nonprofit trade association representing some 350 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers and distributors. As the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States, NPCA's primary role is to serve as ally and advocate on legislative, regulatory and judicial issues at the federal, state and local levels.