The U.S. reduction of the federal corporate tax rate from 37% to 21% starting in 2018, paired with new federal tax rules, 1 are accelerating plans for automation and modernization in U.S. factories by giving manufacturers incentive to buy new machinery and boost productivity.

In a recent survey, the UK’s National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) asked its clients and stakeholders whether they or their employees were concerned of the risk that nanomaterials may pose to their workforce. Almost a quarter of responders to the question replied that they were.

We’re previewing two key industry events in this issue: the American Coatings Show and Conference and the ASC Annual Spring Convention and Expo.

Polyurethane has the highest potential for growth in the automotive refinish coating market and is anticipated to gain share at the expense of other resin types. The polyurethane segment is predicted to be worth just under $4.7 billion at the end of 2022.

How is the increase in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the adhesives and sealants industry affecting the industry?

The tsunami of sexual harassment allegations reported on an almost-daily basis against so many rich, famous and powerful men raises a fair question: How will this affect the workplace where the not-so-rich-and-famous spend their workdays helping their company succeed?

Process improvement initiatives can vary greatly from company to company; however, many organizations share a common problem: the challenge of managing process variations.

This is a very interesting question. Many adhesives are used in what is called a “zero gap” situation, where the adhesive is applied between two closely fitting surfaces, which are then clamped together.

The primary forces are shrinkage of the adhesive on curing and large differences in thermal expansion coefficients between the substrates and the adhesive. High stresses can cause delamination of bonds or damage to the substrates, such as glass cracking.

The coating of foils, the printing of labels, or the gluing of electronic components are very different and demanding applications. However, they all require innovative production processes to maintain their appeal, durability and scratch resistance.