Dow Construction Chemicals will expand its territory with JNS SmithChem as an authorized Southeast region distributor. The authorization includes WALOCEL™ Cellulose Ethers, CELLOSIZE™ Rheology Modifiers, DOW™ Latex Powders (DLP) and DRYCRYL™ Redispersible Latex Powders (RDP) product lines.

AkzoNobel announced it acquired stake in Qlayers, a startup that the company says is opening possibilities in the application of industrial coatings. According to AkzoNobel, Qlayers’ coating technology offers an automated solution that is safer, more consistent, and faster than the manual coating processes. The company added that by eliminating overspray, Qlayers' tech is a sustainable solution that saves costs.

Maroon Group announced April 1 that the company will be rebranded as Barentz, effective immediately. The name change follows the acquisition of Maroon Group by Barentz International in December 2020.

PPG announced an agreement with Vizient, the nation’s largest member-driven healthcare performance-improvement company. Vizient members will be able to purchase a variety of PPG paint products at contracted pricing. The paint is available for maintenance and decoration across Vizient’s member healthcare organizations, including large integrated delivery networks, academic medical centers, community hospitals, pediatric facilities, and non-acute care providers.

Covestro completed the acquisition of the Resins & Functional Materials business (RFM) from the Dutch company Royal DSM. The transaction received regulatory approval after Covestro and DSM signed an acquisition agreement in late September 2020. According to Covestro, the transaction expands Covestro’s portfolio of sustainable coating resins and will expand the group’s revenue by around EUR 1 billion, adding more...

TOR Minerals International, Inc., producer of high-performance specialty minerals products, agreed to sell the manufacturing assets of its Corpus Christi, Texas, facility to Cimbar Performance Minerals, Inc., a division of United Minerals and Properties, Inc.

Wausau Coated Products, a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive products, label materials and custom coating technologies, acquired Pennsylvania-based Brandywine Drumlabels, effective Dec. 30, 2020.

Axalta, a supplier of liquid and powder coatings, announced an agreement to acquire Anhui Shengran Insulating Materials Co., Ltd., a Chinese producer of wire enamels used in a range of consumer electronics, electric vehicle and industrial applications. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

BASF recently secured a multiyear contract with Mercedes-Benz in the Asia Pacific region that extends its supplier status with the car company to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The agreement includes its Glasurit® and R-M® premium automotive refinishing brands and RODIM® paint-related products. Also included in the agreement are digital color solutions, training and technical support, and...

AkzoNobel has been named as exclusive paints and coatings partner for a pioneering scientific expedition that will send a manned oceanographic platform drifting around Antarctica.