From May 22 to 25, Dubai will be hosting the Automechanika Middle East, the biggest international trade fair for the automotive industry in the Middle East. In Dubai, BASF Coatings' paint brand Glasurit will be presenting new technologies along with the Glasurit RATIO Concept Plus portfolio of services that accompany its products.

Industrial Nanotech, Inc. announced that the Company is opening a Corporate Sales Office in India with the next 4-6 weeks. Industrial Nanotech, Inc has seen significantly increased demand in India for their Nansulate® energy saving and protective coatings from OEM manufacturers as well as end manufacturing users to reduce energy costs.

Specialty chemicals group LANXESS is now offering Bayferrox 912 LOM, the yellow iron oxide pigment manufactured at its site in Porto Feliz, Brazil, for sale worldwide. The pigment was launched on the North and South American markets years ago and thanks to its special product properties has proven effective in paints and coatings applications, primarily for the production of pigment pastes.

UK Sport, a high performance sports agency, has announced a unique innovation partnership with P2i, the world leader in liquid repellent nano-coating technology, to help protect equipment and accessories developed through UK Sport's Research and Innovation programme in cycling and sailing, two of Britain's leading sports.

PPG Industries' packaging coatings business is presenting its comprehensive product portfolio at Cannex Asia Pacific 2012 in Guangzhou, China. PPG is featuring a full line of packaging coatings including three-piece beverage and food can coatings and two-piece beer and beverage can coatings, as well as coating solutions for monobloc aerosol and tubes.

CSM, Royal DSM and Delft University of Technology are participating in a joint venture for bioprocess research. The new company Bioprocess Pilot Facility BV (BPF) is based in Delft and aims at scale-up research and education for next generation bioprocesses. The official opening of the facility was on May 15, 2012.

International Paint Ltd. announced that it has achieved full type approval and proven in service performance for the outstanding anticorrosive coating Intershield®300. Intershield®300 was recently awarded the first Lloyd's Register IMO PSPC Type Approval Certificate for Cargo Oil Tanks. Type approval certification for Intershield®300 is yet further affirmation of its corrosion prevention capabilities.

OMNOVA Solutions, a global manufacturer of specialty chemicals will exhibit its full range of paint applications for PLIOLITE®, PLIOWAY®, Hydro PLIOLITE®, PLIOTEC® and PolyFox™, at Surfex Plus - The NEC Birmingham, 29 - 30 May 2012.At Surfex Plus 2012, OMNOVA Solutions will introduce its new developments for paints and other coatings applications.

The superbugs have met their match. Conceived at NTU, it comes in the form of a coating which has a magnetic-like feature that attracts bacteria and kills them without the need for antibiotics. The next step is to extend its use in a wide range of biomedical and consumer products, ranging from implants and surgical instruments to kitchen utensils and cutlery, as it is harmless to human cells.

The Valspar Corporation reported its results for the second-quarter ended April 27, 2012. Second-quarter sales totaled USD 1.03 bn, a 4 percent rise from the second quarter of 2011. Second-quarter adjusted net income per share increased to USD 0.84 in 2012, a 31 percent increase from USD 0.64 in 2011. Second-quarter adjusted net income per share in 2012 excludes $0.04 per share in restructuring charges.

BASF Automotive Refinish presented its Distributor of the Year Award to Leading Edge Auto Refinishers, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, at its annual ColorSource™ Conference in La Jolla, California. ColorSource PREMIER is a program designed by BASF exclusively for single line distributors of BASF refinish paints and coatings. ColorSource PREMIER distributors are key strategic partners with BASF.

Bioformix announced that it has closed a $13.6 Million Series A-1 round of funding. The new round was led by Braemar Energy Ventures and includes Arsenal Venture Partners, Mitsui Global Investment (MGI) and other strategic investors. Bioformix will use the funding to expand its operations, including R&D, production and commercial sales.

Leading Solar Glass Suppliers around the world rely on Bürkle's process experience and high-quality Roller Coating Machines for the application of Anti-Light Reflective (AR) Coating Materials onto Glass used as front glass of solar modules. AR coating reduces the reflection of the incoming light and increases the light transmission through the glass.

DKSH and Stepan have signed an agreement under which DKSH's Business Unit Performance Materials, a leading specialty chemicals distributor, provides sales, marketing, logistics, and distribution services to Stepan in South and Western India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.

Nordson ASYMTEK earned two prestigious awards for innovative technology during NEPCON China 2012. The Innovation Award from Electronics Manufacturing (EM) Asia and the VISION Award from SMT China magazines were presented to Nordson ASYMTEK for product excellence in the dispensing category for its Select Coat® SC-280 Film Coater conformal coating applicator.

With 427 exhibitors and over 7,500 overall participants from 69 countries, the 3rd American Coatings SHOW & CONFERENCE broke all its previous records for visitors, exhibitors and footprint. The organizers were very pleased that each of the biennial events has increased in attendance by connecting the world's leading suppliers with the decision makers in the American coatings industry.

BASF Coatings Japan Ltd. will merge with BASF Japan Ltd., effective October 1, 2012. With this merger, BASF Coatings Japan will become the Coatings business unit of BASF Japan and will continue to provide innovative coatings solutions and to further expand its business. With this merger, which follows the merger of BASF Pozzolith with BASF Japan on July 1, will truly add value as one company.

Nature can be a beautiful sight, but its less friendly side can ruin a vehicle's finish. Two-component (2K) polyurethane clearcoats offer a deep, rich appearance that can help make a beautiful vehicle exterior. These coatings also provide etch resistance from nature's nasty side - tree sap, acid rain and bird droppings.

Researchers at the Advanced Energy and Materials Systems Lab (AEMSLab) have demonstrated the new technology, described as a "holy grail" of modern industry, for the first time applying a uniform, robust and adherent ceramic coating to a complex shaped metal part, opening the door to the development of a fully fledged industrial process.

Cytec Industries Inc. participated for the first time in the 'Design Your Paint - Paint Your Design' Congress, organized by the Federation of Scandinavian Paint and Varnish Technologists (SLF). Dr. Florian Lunzer, TS&D Segment Manager Protective Coatings, presented the theme 'New Solvent-Free Waterborne Epoxy Resin Dispersion for Low VOC 2-Pack Protective Coatings'.