Adding accessories to cars and trucks is a burgeoning and lucrative business for many aftermarket shops. The trend is driven by consumers who are looking to customize and differentiate their vehicles from the standard models on the roadways. While some OEMs are beginning to offer add-on accessories at the dealership, approximately 85% of accessory sales are done through aftermarket accessory shops.

Multi-material designs are becoming increasingly common for industrial assemblies, with the growing incorporation of materials like integrated glass, structural composites, or scratch-resistant surfaces.

From April 3-6, exhibitors, industry members and experts will travel to Nuremberg, Germany, to attend the European Coatings Show (ECS). The event will feature seven exhibition halls, multiple conference sessions, a keynote speaker, and two networking events.

As part of a much-needed educational expansion for the Davis School District in Farmington, Utah, two new schools were recently commissioned to better serve the local student body, including Odyssey Elementary School. Designed by VCBO Architecture, plans for the new school called for 84,785-sq-ft of total environmentally conscious construction.

Prior to the 1980s, it was common for cars to rust. The lower doors and rocker panels were usually the first to go, followed by the floor pans, wheel wells and bumpers. Even the hood, deck lid and the roof were not immune. Aftermarket companies sprang up to “undercoat” cars to prevent rust. Automakers followed suit and offered undercoating as an option as they sought a solution.

To blend raw material for plywood adhesives at higher rates with greater uniformity, the Willamette Valley Co. replaced a ribbon blender, which agitates material, with a rotary batch mixer, which tumbles it.

The Spitfire Heritage Trust recently completed a major project, successfully building an exact, full-sized all-fiberglass replica of the iconic WWII Battle of Britain Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB (Type 359) from scratch. Designed by Reginald Mitchell and produced from 1938-1948 at Supermarine Aviation where Mitchell was employed as an engineer, the original Spitfire fighter-interceptor was the first all-metal stressed-skin aircraft.

Adhesives and sealants manufacturers face unique challenges compared to other industries when undergoing lean or continuous improvement initiatives, including chemical reactions, vessels, batch sizes, curing times, long setups and required cleaning, regulatory mandates, and very technical processes that must be tightly controlled.

William (Bill) Allmond became president of the Adhesive and Sealant Council Inc. (ASC) in August 2016, after serving as vice president of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates for 10 years. Here, he discusses what he brings to the ASC, as well as his plans for 2017 and beyond.

From April 3-5, experts from across the adhesive and sealants industry will come together at the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) Annual Spring Convention and Expo in Atlanta. The event offers speakers, short courses, an exhibition, and multiple networking opportunities for industry experts, clients, end users, and researchers to interact.