Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1040345
NACE International names executive director of MPI HOUSTON, Tex.—The NACE In- ternational Institute has named Cyn- thia O'Malley executive director of the Master Painters Institute (MPI LLC). MPI is dedicated to the establishment of quality, performance, and sustain- able coatings standards. O'Malley brings extensive experience and expertise in business management, protective coatings testing, standards development of both industrial and commercial coatings, and asset protec- tion. In this new role, she will focus on business development, building rela- tionships with specifiers and paint manufacturers, meeting global and in- dustrial market needs, and upgrading the existing key product areas of test- ing/standards and training. NACE International serves all indus- tries impacted by corrosion and pro- vides the most specified technical train- ing and certification programs, confer- ences, industry standards, reports, and publications focused on corrosion pre- vention and mitigation. UPDATE: Events Conferences November FABTECH 2018: Nov. 6-8. Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Sponsored by the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), the American Welding Society (AWS), the Fabricators and Manufacturers Associ- ation International (FMA), SME, and the Precision Metalforming Associa- tion (PMA). Contact Andy Goyer at 941/373-1830; fax 859/356-0908; andy@goyermgt.com; www.fabtech expo.com. New England Surface Finishing Re- gional Conference: Nov. 9. Haw- thorne Hotel, Salem, Mass. Spon- sored by the New England Chapter of the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF). Contact Loretta C a p a l b o a t 5 0 8 / 8 4 2 - 6 3 1 4 ; f a x 8 POWDER COATING, October 2018 AkzoNobel, Renmatrix collaborate on biomaterials AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands— AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals has announced that it is working with Ren- matix, King of Prussia, Pa., on bio- mass-based performance additives for paints and construction materials. The two companies signed an agreement to collaborate on R&D related to Ren- matix's Crysto Cellulose, a form of crystalline cellulose. Renmatix uses a proprietary process to convert biomass into cellulosic sugars and biofractions, which can then be used in the manu- facture of products that would tradi- tionally be made using less sustainable materials. Renmatix was one of three startups that won joint development agree- ments through AkzoNobel's 2017 Imagine Chemistry program. The firm was awarded the opportunity in response to its novel method of isolat- ing biofractions by breaking materials down using only hot, pressurized water. The companies expect the agreement to result in biomass-de- rived components for architectural paints and construction materials. Coatings expert Clive Hare passes away BROOKFIELD, N.H.—Clive H. Hare, a coating-chemistry expert and author of influential books on protec- tive coatings, passed away in July at the age of 76. Hare began his career in coat- ings as a chemist with Cadillac Paints in Allston, Mass. He eventually began two consulting firms, Clive H. Hare Inc. and Coating System Design Inc., which provided coating formulation services to both large coating suppliers and government entities. Hare's most well-known work, "Pro- tective Coatings: Fundamentals of Chemistry and Composition," was first printed in 1994. The book describes in detail the resins, solvents, and pigments that make up protective coatings, and the various properties of different types of paints. Designed to educate both scientists and the nonscientists in the industry, the book features a unique blend of complex chemistry and lively text that was characteristic of Hare. Reshoring award issues call for submissions MCLEAN, Va.—The Reshoring Initiative, in conjunction with the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), the Association for Manu- facturing Technology (AMT), and the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), is looking to recognize companies for successful reshoring projects. There is one award for which both OEMs/branded product companies and job shops/contract manufacturers can compete. The award criteria in- clude how many US jobs the applicant created, how many dollars per year of sales were reshored, product and pro- cess innovation, and more. The reshor- ing must have occurred on work that came back to North America between January 2013 and December 2018. Products, parts, or tooling that was reshored must be made primarily by forming, casting, fabricating, or ma- chining, including additive machining. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2019. The winner will be announced in March at the MFG Meeting in Tucson, Ariz. To apply or for more info, contact Harry Moser of the Reshoring Initiative at 847/867- 1144 or harry.moser@reshorenow.org. AgGateway, USDA forge agreement for joint projects WASHINGTON, D.C.— AgGate- way, a nonprofit organization dedi- cated to the industry's transition to digital agriculture, and the US Depart- ment of Agriculture (USDA) have forged an agreement to work together on data projects to benefit American farmers in the transition to digital agri- culture. The current agreement will consist of a series of efforts over the next 20 months. All results of the collabora- tion will be made publicly available. Specifically, the collaboration is de- signed to provide both parties with the opportunity to better serve the Ameri- can farmer by aligning USDA and Ag- Gateway data elements and data stan- dards and by developing procedures within the USDA that align with the use of precision ag technology and data used by producers and agri-businesses.