Detroit Society hosts successful FOCUS Conference.The Detroit Society for Coatings Technology sponsored its 31st annual FOCUS (Future of Coatings Under Study) Conference on Thursday, May 4, 2006. Held at the MSU MSU Michigan State University MSU Mississippi State University MSU Montana State University MSU Minnesota State University MSU Morehead State University (Kentycky) MSU Montclair State University Management Education Conference Center in Troy, MI, the conference attracted over 200 participants. The theme of the one-day program was "Globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation , Regulation, and Innovation." Moderators responsible for keeping the dual track program on schedule were Karen Henderson, of Bayer MaterialScience Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) is an independent subgroup within Bayer AG. It was created as part of the restructuring of Bayer AG from the former business group Bayer Polymers, with certain of its activities being spun off to Lanxess AG. ; Don Emch, PPG/retired; Mark Nichols For the football player of the same name see Mark Nichols (American football). Mark Nichols, ONL, LL.D. (hon.) (born on January 1, 1980 in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador) is a Canadian curler from St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. , Ford Motor Company; Bill Thompson, Lord Corporation; and Gary Kent Gary Kent was President of the Australian Capital Territory Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. Kent was elected to the position in 2000 after several years as chairman of the party's Central Electorate Branch. He served in the position until September 2007. , retired. Two tutorial short courses featured distinguished lecturers: Vijay Mannari, of Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University, mainly at Ypsilanti, Mich.; coeducational; founded 1849 as a normal school, became Eastern Michigan College in 1956, gained university status in 1959. , spoke on "Polymers--Fundamentals and Coatings Applications," and Dave Nordstrom, coatings consultant, presented "Coatings Formulation: Guidelines and Tools." Keynote Speaker Dean Foster, of Dean Foster Associates, led off the morning main track session with his lively address, "Communicating Across Cultures: Building Global Competencies for Success in the Global Millennium." In addition, 12 presentations covered subjects of interest to formulators, paint applicators, and end users. Several speakers addressed working in a global environment with discussions on coating innovation in China, trends in global automotive finishes and international legislation and automobile manufacturing. Other topics included nanoparticle dispersions, rheology in metallic basecoats, viscosity issues in waterborne paint, automotive international coatings issues, waterborne polyurethane polyurethane Any of a class of very versatile polymers that are made into flexible and rigid foams, fibres, elastomers (elastic polymers), surface coatings, and adhesives. dispersions, waterborne interior coatings, paint applications, and molecular structure polymers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Coatings Product Showcase featured the displays of 20 exhibitors, highlighting new products, coatings-related services, and educational offerings. The FOCUS Conferences are the responsibility of the Detroit Society's Members-at-Large, together with other dedicated volunteers. The 2006 FOCUS Organizing Committee included Chairman Renee Shreves, Quaker Color; Ron Andrus, Matrix Systems; Rosemary Brady, Latoska Price, Chris Prather and Mike Jones, Akzo Nobel Akzo Nobel is a multinational company, active in the fields of healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 62,000 people. Coatings; Bernadette Colonna and Jim Jakubowski, Bayer MaterialScience; Greg Filipowicz, Visteon; Joe Lesnek, DaimlerChrysler; Joan Daye, Lubrizol; Dave Nordstrom, coatings consultant; Gerald Grabowski, Baker & Collinson; Beverly Bruner, retired; David Greer, retired; and John Lawniczak, Eastman. Planning for FOCUS 2007, scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2007, is already in progress. For more information, contact Renee Shreves at renees@quakercolor.com. Details will also be available on the Detroit Society website, www.dsct.org. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion