Revista Paint & Pintura - Edição 231

CLIPPING 12 | PAINT&PINTURA | Abril 2018 Containers have become a smart, safe option entirely focused on preserving the environment. The paint and coatings industry has a significant share of the consumer market for stainless steel containers, and that share is increasing as awareness is raised, among users, of the life-threatening health problems caused by daily exposure to hazardous liquid chemicals stored in unsuitable packaging materials, particularly when those chemicals are flammable, according to Henri Gonçalves, manager at Intertank’s OnSho- re business. “The key markets for stainless steel containers are the paint and coatings, alcohol, additive, resin, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries.” According to Rentank Integrated Management System ma- nager Johnny Camargo Ferreira, the coatings industry’s use of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) built from sheet metal has grown exponentially over the past few years, as they are environmentally compliant, returnable packaging materials, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment, and because they are the safest packaging available today when it comes to risk of explosion from static electricity, as well as physical strength against falls and tumbles, by comparison to plastic packaging alternatives. “The leading market for this kind of packaging is automotive coatings, which is also the most demanding, representing 2.3 percent of the coatings industry.” Luiz Francisco da Cunha, the chief executive of Schütz Vasitex, tells us that opportunities for their plastic containers multi- plied a few years ago, when they brought their proprietary antistatic technology to Brazil, for low-flash-point, flammable products and fuels, as well as light-sensitive chemicals, which require a barrier to prevent permeation. “The pursuit of com- petitiveness, the decrease in size of operations of the paint and coatings industry relative to the whole supply chain, and the concerns and responsibilities involved in the disposal of contaminated containers have been the main drivers of para- digm changes concerning the old packaging technologies that used to be in vogue—those known as one-way containers, which would obviously be disposed of after use.” Cunha points out that, against that backdrop, Schütz Vasitex has introduced amajor innovation, not only because they now provide the full system for closing the containers’ life cycle, as the containers they supply to customers can be tracked and collected after use across the national territory for recycling and waste treatment, but also thanks to multi-tiered techno- logies that have enabled products that used to be packed in metal containers to be now packed and distributed in IBCs from Schütz Vasitex, which feature antistatic properties. “Key industry segments that have already adhered to this new tech- nology include automotive coatings, printing inks, and building and construction. Our containers are used in several other industries as well, but our leading users are in the chemical and food industries. The paint industry currently accounts for 16 percent of all sales at our company.” GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR AMERICAN COATINGS SHOW 2018 The American Coatings Show (ACS) 2018, the leadingNorthAmerican adhesive, sealant and coatings industry will bring together industry experts looking to expand their knowledge of the latest technolo- gical trends for the coatings and construction industry, taken as a whole. The event will take place on April 10 through 12 at the Indiana Convention Center, in Indianapolis, Indiana. More than 580 exhibitors are expected, along with around 1,100 attendees. As in the previous years, the technical conference that is held as the same time as show will feature over 100 technical papers and posters from paint companies, raw material suppliers, academia, and governmental laboratories. Major companies that have a strong presence in Brazil will be there showcasing products extremely important to the world paint and coatings industry, such as AkzoNobel, Arkema, Lubrizol, the MAST Group, Imerys, Solvay, Cabot, Momentive, Univar, Chromaflo, and Netzsch, amongst others. One of the main attractions at the ACS is the Product Presentation stage. Show attendees have the advantage of being the first to learn about new innovations in the coatings industry by attending the live Product Presentations that take place each day of the event. There, product presentations and demonstrations take place every day. Amanda Beyer, head of Coating Events at Vincentz Network, believes this year’s edition will have a record turnout. “We have been so fortunate to have increased participation at each event, and we look forward to continuing that trend. Since it was first held in 2008, the event has not failed to break its own records. It’s a sign that we’re on the right path.” This issue gives you a preview of some of the new developments exhibitors will be introducing at the ACS 2018. PAINT & PINTURA FORUM BRINGS INNOVATION TO NOVO HAMBURGO The 35th Paint & Pintura Coatings Technology and Management Forum, South Region is taking place on April 5 at Locanda Hotel, in Novo Hamburgo, in themetropolitan area of Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul. Featured in the second forum of the year are technical lectures from suppliers to the coatings industry, as well as conferences on management-related issues. The forum is sponsored by such companies as Carbono Química, Eastman, Elementis Specialties, the MAST Group, IMCD, MCassab, Rudnik, Stahl, and Univar. It is also backed by Corfix, Darcor, Tintas e Texturas Graffiare, Tintas Killing, Lumacor, New Tintas, Tintas Renner, and Tintas WEG. The State of Rio Grande do Sul is the cradle of major paint companies covering various market segments, such as decorative and industrial coatings. The Serra Gaucha region is a furniture industry powerhouse where a variety of outstanding regional andmultinational companies are concentrated. Near the southern Santa Catarina border, it also provides great operating conditions for several manufacturers that are headquartered in that state. Find in this issue the program for the 35th Paint & Pintura Coatings Technology and Management Forum, South Region.