The School of Polymer Science and Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi has announced that it seeks abstracts for the 46th Annual International Waterborne, High-Solids and Powder Coatings Symposium

Located in a spacious park located at the center of downtown Columbia, Md., Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods is a tribute to the arts and the environment.

At the last American Coatings Show event in 2016, more than 9,100 industry attendees and 559 exhibitors shared knowledge about recent developments in raw materials, laboratory and production equipment, testing and measuring equipment, and services for the coatings industry.

Global consumption of coatings was 90.4 billion lbs in 2016, valued at $121 billion, according to “Global Paint and Coatings,” a recent report from Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney. A 4% annual rate of growth is forecast through 2021. Volume is reportedly up 54% from the low of the 2009 global recession and 44% from the pre-recession level.

The rising demand from key application segments such as coatings and adhesives is expected to propel the market demand.

The new facility will consolidate activities from several research and development facilities located in nearby Duisburg.

The wood floor finishes business will reportedly continue to operate as Absolute Coatings Inc.

The 44th Annual International Waterborne, High-Solids and Powder Coatings Symposium is scheduled to take place Feb. 19-24, 2017.

The winning technical paper detailed environmentally friendly alkyd-based coatings that resist corrosion, adhere well, and remain glossy.

The symposium program lineup for the 43rd Annual International Waterborne, High‐Solids and Powder Coatings has been announced.