Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/941907
coatings can be used to protect the equipment from scuffs and chips in the cold environment of ice hockey. Bene- fits of the product include application transfer efficiency, consistent film, a wide application window, improved chip mitigation, color matching capa- bilities, and impact resistance in tem- peratures as low as -30°F. PPG an- nounced an exclusive paint partnership with the NHL earlier this year. OSHA begins silica rule enforcement WASHINGTON, D.C.—OSHA's 30-day grace period for the Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Stan- dard is over, and the agency is now fully enforcing the rule. Acting Deputy As- sistant Secretary Thomas Galassi re- leased a memorandum that outlines in- terim enforcement guidelines that took effect. The guidelines do not cover all of the provisions, but will act as the stan- dard's companion compliance directive as the rule proceeds through the review process. The final silica rule amended silica exposure regulations for the first time since 1971, reducing the permissi- ble exposure limit for crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift. AkzoNobel appoints CFO AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands— Global coatings manufacturer Ak- zoNobel has appointed Renier Vree as CFO of its Specialty Chemicals busi- ness, effective March 1, 2018. Vree has spent the last eight years at Arcadis N.V., where he is currently CFO. Prior to Arcadis, he spent more than 20 years at Philips N.V., most recently as CFO of Philips Lighting. AkzoNobel previ- ously announced a dual-track process for the separation of its Specialty Chem- icals business, either via a private sale or a legal demerger. The separation process remains on track for April 2018. Sherwin-Williams develops new coating for extruded aluminum MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—The Coil and Extrusion Coatings division of The Sherwin-Williams Co. has introduced Valspar Acrylicoat, a coating and resin system that results in a smooth, glasslike finish on extruded aluminum. Acryli- coat is billed for high-traffic residential and industrial areas. It is ideal for win- dows, door frames, metal panels, col- umn covers, and other aluminum ex- trusions in both exterior and interior environments. The hard surface resists scratches and meets or exceeds the AAMA standard for high-performance coatings. The product is offered in a wide range of gloss levels and 18 colors, though custom solid and metallic colors are available upon request. California passes Buy Clean act SACREMENTO, Calif.—A recently enacted law in California will put new restrictions on the materials state con- tractors use on infrastructure projects and other jobs, taking concerns about climate change into account. California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law the Buy Clean California Act, which re- quires state contractors to use low-car- bon construction materials. Beginning in 2019, Buy Clean will require contrac- tors who bid on state infrastructure pro- jects to disclose the greenhouse gas emis- sions data for certain materials they use in these facilities, such as steel and glass. The legislation first requires the state's Department of General Services to es- tablish maximum carbon emission lev- els for eligible building materials (car- bon steel rebar, flat glass, mineral wool board insulation, and structural steel). After those limits are put in place, state agencies can then only award contracts to bidders who certify that their sources for those materials meet those stan- dards. Those maximum levels, the im- plementation, and the effectiveness of the legislation will be reevaluated every three years. While California manufacturers and companies have been operating under stricter rules, there was still a loophole regarding contractors using materials produced out of state or out of the country that did not meet California's standards. This legislation sought to close that loophole by using its $10 bil- lion public infrastructure market as an incentive for companies to cut carbon emissions. The legislation was sup- ported by manufacturers, labor unions, and environmental organizations. Chemcoaters introduces new coating technology GARY, Ind.—Chemcoaters Inc., a lead- ing coil coater and manufacturer of pro- prietary coating chemistries, has recently introduced InterCoat ChemGuard, a new type of corrosion protection for gal- vanized steel. The product uses a new type of coating technology that uses co- valent bonds and enhances the effective- ness of zinc, substantially improving cor- rosion protection on galvanized steel. The product is applied over a light layer of zinc, which reacts with the zinc to dramatically improve its corrosion protection properties. The bond, which is formed at the molecular level, cannot be washed or worn off. This is different and more effective than the typical barrier coating and allows bending, stamping, post-painting, and even shearing, while providing self- healing characteristics that help pro- tect newly exposed zinc that naturally occurs during secondary processing. The product is designed to be applied on the galvanize line or, for custom formulas, by the original coil coater and developer of this compound. It offers significant cost savings because it allows for lighter zinc to form the bond. It also eliminates the need for temporary corrosion protec- tion coatings, making it more environ- mentally friendly for all building, archi- tectural, transportation, and consumer appliance applications. The product is applicable to many industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, electrical conduit, wall studs, furniture, fixtures, appliances, outdoor and high- way railing, agricultural, lawn and gar- den, and other products using galvanize. Baker Perkins opens new powder coating center PETERBOROUGH, UK—Baker Perkins has opened a new Extrusion In- novation Center that offers full powder coating production facilities alongside research and development services for a whole range of industrial extrusion ap- plications. The center is available for customers looking to develop new products and processes, produce sam- ples, or conduct feasibility trials. 8 POWDER COATING, February 2018