If you are a regular reader of Powder Coated Tough magazine, you have seen the logo and can certainly appreciate its intentions. What you may not realize is that “Powder Coated Tough” is more than just the name of our magazine. It is, in fact, the Powder Coating Institute’s way of life. Living “Powder Coated Tough” means that we advance, support and promote powder coating as a viable, long-lasting, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly finishing solution. Hence the tagline: STRONGER. GREENER. BETTER. Through staff and committee involvement, we not only strive to educate a sustainable powder coating workforce, but we also promote the benefits that powder coated products provide to end users and consumers.

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The powder coating industry had been asleep for nearly a decade. Two recessions, off-shoring, over-capacity and slim profit margins cast this outstanding coating technology into a funk. R&D budgets were decimated and far too many experts either retired or got out of the business.

Fortunately, in the last four to five years the industry has experienced a resurgence in innovation. Technologists are finally heeding the call to develop new materials and processes to meet the emerging needs of the manufacturing sector.

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Therma-Tron-X, Inc. announces that Joe Laubenthal of Elgin, Ill., has joined TTX as a sales engineer. He brings comprehensive expertise in the powder coating industry as well as experience in marketing, leadership, development, and networking.

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On behalf of the Powder Coating Institute (PCI®), we are pleased to present the first printed version of the Powder Coated Tough Buyers Guide. In addition to the print version, we will continue to publish the Buyers Guide in an interactive, searchable digital format that can be downloaded as a pdf to your personal computer.

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The U.S. economy grew 2.4 percent in 2014, just barely edging out the 2.2 percent gain in 2013. Yet, that somewhat understates the strength of the economy since the winter-related weaknesses seen at this point last year. Indeed, real GDP increased by an annualized 4.1 percent during the last three quarters of 2014, and in the fourth quarter, Americans spent at a healthy 4.3 percent annual pace, the fastest rate since the first quarter of 2006. Still, the 2.6 percent growth rate in real GDP in the fourth quarter also had some red flags. Weaker growth abroad, a strengthening U.S. dollar and worries about dramatically lower energy prices have impacted capital spending and international demand negatively. Therefore, while manufacturers remain mostly upbeat about orders and production in 2015, these developments serve as a reminder of the challenges in the global marketplace right now.

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The Powder Coating Institute (PCI®) announced the 2015 Executive Committee and Board of Directors at the beginning of January. The Executive...

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Organizations join trade associations for different reasons. Some want to belong to the “club,” some want discounted rates on products ...

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The Powder Coating Institute (PCI^®) announced the 2015 Executive Committee and Board of Directors at the beginning of January. 

The Executive Committee for 2015 is John Cole, President, Parker Ionics; John Sudges, Vice President, Midwest Finishing Systems; and Ron Cudzilo, Secretary/Treasurer, George Koch Sons. The rest of the 2015 PCI Board is  Bob Allsop, Nordson Corporation; Kevin Biller, The Powder Coating Research Group Inc.; Shivie Dhillon, Sundial Powder Coatings; Craig Dietz, Powder Coatings N.A., Axalta Coating Systems; Steve Kiefer, Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc.; Chris Merritt, Gema USA Inc.; Suresh Patel, Chemetall US Inc.; and Paul West, Sun Polymers International Inc.

The following people have been appointed by the Board President, John Cole from Parker Ionics, to be the chairs to the committees listed below:

Education & Development: Mike Wittenhagen, Axalta Coating Systems
Custom Coaters: Shivie Dhillon, Sundial Powder Coatings Materials
Technology: Kevin Biller, The Powder Coating Research Group Industry
Communications: Craig Dietz, Axalta Coating Systems
Membership Committee: Chris Merritt, Gema USA, Inc.
Regulatory & Advocacy: Mark Bamford, Milgard Composites Division
Trade Show: Greg Dawson, Nordson Corp.
Market Intelligence: Chris Merritt, Gema USA, Inc.
Certification: Terry Watson, A Plus Powder Coaters Inc.

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• Philadelphia, PA – January 23, 2015 – Manufacturing centers of Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA) received certification of conformance with the requirements of the ISO 14001:2004 standard. The certification has been accredited by Lloyd’s Register LRQA and is valid for three years. The certification applies to all 34 of Axalta’s majority-owned manufacturing facilities that produce liquid and powder coatings.

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