In her semiannual congressional testimony last week, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen noted recent progress in the U.S. economy, even as she observed lingering challenges with manufacturing output and weaker-than-desired levels of consumer and business spending.

Read More...

I've been in the powder coating industry for a long time, actually longer than the Powder Coating Institute has been an institution. I’ve seen a...

Read More...

Goyer Management hired and the Powder Coating Institute (PCI®) Board approved a new Executive Director to help move the association forward. Effective immediately, Trena Benson will serve as Executive Director. 

Read More...

In the minutes for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting June 16–17, Federal Reserve participants expressed some worry about economic challenges abroad, particularly in China and Greece. 

Read More...

New product category rule (PCR) to provide science-based and internationally recognized methods for reporting the environmental impact of architectural coatings.

Read More...

Last week, there were several reminders that the manufacturing sector has not recovered fully from economic weaknesses earlier in the year, even as business leaders remain cautiously optimistic about activity in the coming months. Durable goods orders declined 1.8 percent in May, extending April’s 1.5 percent decrease. 

Read More...

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 23, 2015) - The global powder coatings market is expected to reach USD 12.48 billion by 2020, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing support for the use of powder coatings in comparison to conventional liquid paints by regulatory agencies such as EPA and REACH on account of negligible VOC emissions is expected to be a key driver for market growth. In addition, growing application demand with regards to automotive, appliances and consumer goods is also expected to drive powder coating sales over the next six years.

Read More...

Last week, one media outlet reported that manufacturing has been in a “technical recession” for the past six months. I am more hesitant to use the R-word to describe the sector’s performance year-to-date, and in my view, this description somewhat overstates the significance of broader market trends, particularly for expectations moving forward. At the same time, manufacturing production has declined since late last year, as illustrated in the graphic above. A number of significant economic headwinds have reduced output in four of the past six months, reducing the year-over-year pace of growth in the sector from 4.5 percent in November to 1.8 percent in May. Capacity utilization has also declined for five consecutive months, down from 78.1 percent in December to 77.0 percent in May.

Read More...

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) reached a definitive agreement to acquire IVC Industrial Coatings, Inc., a U.S.-based specialty powder and liquid coatings manufacturer with 2014 sales of more than $100 million. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Read More...

George Koch Sons, LLC has acquired Walgren Company, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based company that provides turnkey anodizing and plating systems to the aerospace, military, industrial, and automotive industries around the world. The systems are used to automate material flow during surface treatments such as plating, cleaning or chemical processing of manufactured parts. Walgren will become part of George Koch Sons and will continue to serve its growing customer base from Grand Rapids and Dongguan, China. Walgren will join Price-Koch Industries as divisions of George Koch Sons.

Read More...