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Chemical firm unveils new identity TOWSON, Md.—Specialty chemicals distributor Dunleary Inc. has rolled out a new name and identity: The Terra Firma Company LLC. With the acquisition of DN Lukens and D&F last year, the three-company rebranding will serve 28 states and cover a variety of chemical markets. With a goal of providing stabil- ity for chemical suppliers and customers, Terra Firma works with markets includ- ing coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elas- tomers, as well as plastics, oil and gas, and construction, among others. Terra Firma, headquartered in Towson, Md., will still maintain service in Baltimore, Boston, and Dallas, the respective head- quarters of the three companies, which will help ensure comprehensive coverage of these markets. Dow releases new architectural façade coatings MIDLAND, Mich.—Dow Perfor- mance Silicones, a business unit of DowDupont Materials Science Divi- sion, has introduced Dow Corning 904H Coating Additive, a silicone ad- ditive for architectural façade coatings that supports enhanced aesthetics for building exteriors. This new silicone ad- ditive is designed to help coatings re- duce the snail trail effect commonly seen when surfactants and other water- soluble ingredients in coatings formula- tions leach to the surface. It can also im- prove water resistance, repellency, and beading in coatings by increasing their surface hydrophobicity. DowDuPont Materials Science combines science and technology knowledge to develop pre- mier materials science solutions that are essential to human progress. AIMCAL and SPE present fifth joint conference FORT MILL, S.C.—Joining forces for the fifth year, the Association of Inter- national Metallizers, Coaters and Lam- inators (AIMCAL), Fort Mill, S.C., and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), Bethel, Conn., will present the AIM- CAL R2R Conference USA/SPE Flexi- ble Packaging Conference 2018 on Oc- tober 28-31 at the Wild Horse Pass Re- sort in Phoenix, Ariz. Roll-to-roll processes such as metalliz- ing, coating, and laminating are widely used in flexible packaging, and flexible packaging is a major market for suppli- ers of converting technology and equip- ment. The event aims to advance tech- nology from film manufacture through packaged goods. More than 400 attendees and over 80 exhibitors are expected to participate in the technical conference. The schedule features more than 100 presentations organized in tracks devoted to subjects such as web coating and laminating, vacuum web coating, web handling and winding, adhesives and coatings, flexi- ble packaging designs, and market and application requirements. To facilitate networking, the conference schedule includes two receptions in the tabletop exhibition area, the Dr. Bernard Henry Memorial 5k Fun Run, a golf scramble, and other local activities. Versaflex, Raven Linings announce merger KANSAS CITY, Kans.—Polyurea coatings and linings firm VersaFlex and epoxy linings manufacturer Raven Lin- ings have announced that they have merged effective January 1. The two coating suppliers are both known for their products designed to protect struc- tures and substrates. The companies are both still committed to educating appli- cators, through VersaFlex's Polyurea University program and Raven's Certi- fied Applicator Program. Raven's Broken Arrow facility is antici- pated to be integrated into VersaFlex's Kansas City, Kans., facility by the end of the year. VersaFlex products, primar- ily polyureas, include coatings for potable water, concrete sealers, flame- resistant coatings, and a small handful of epoxy coatings. Raven Linings' prod- ucts are primarily epoxies but include some polyureas and polyurethanes, ce- mentitious coatings, primers, sealers, and fillers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. IMTS 2018 registration opens MCLEAN, Va.—Registration is now open for this year's leading industrial manufacturing event, IMTS–The In- ternational Manufacturing Technology Show 2018. Manufacturing profession- als across the globe will gather at Chicago's McCormick Place on Sep- tember 10-15 seeking technologies and innovations that will give their organi- zation a competitive edge. "With the US manufacturing sector ex- panding at its fastest pace since 2004 and capital equipment investment likely to follow, we anticipate that IMTS 2018 will be one of the busiest shows ever," says Peter R. Eelman, vice president of exhibitions and business development at AMT–The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which produces IMTS. Anticipating a stronger show in 2018, IMTS worked with McCormick Place to expand exhibit space, including se- curing E Hall. E Hall, which has been a successful part of IMTS's history, will house the Machine Components/ Cleaning/Environmental Pavilion and Tooling & Workholding Annex and will also provide easy and prominent visitor access and steady traffic through- out the show. Hannover Messe USA and its four co-located shows will also expand into the E Hall. Recognized as one of the world's preem- inent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technol- ogy, IMTS attracts visitors from every level of industry and more than 117 countries. For more info on the show and to register, visit www.imts.com. EPA releases annual plan for chemicals WASHINGTON, D.C.—As required under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemi- cal Safety for the 21st Century Act, EPA has released its second annual report for chemical risk evaluations. The annual plan identifies the next steps for the first 10 chemical reviews currently underway and describes EPA's work in 2018 to prepare for future risk evaluations. EPA continues to make steady progress in meeting statutory requirements under amended TSCA. EPA will initiate prior- 4 POWDER COATING, April 2018 UPDATE:Industry