FSCT ACSeries on Coating Wood and Wood Composites attracts over 200 participants to Charlotte, NC.

The FSCT presented its third Advancements in Coatings Series (ACSeries) event, "Coatings for Wood and Wood Composites: The Changing Future," in Charlotte, NC on September 25-27, 2005 to a very enthusiastic group of attendees, speakers, and exhibitors. In total, 222 attended the event that drew registrants from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, and Spain.

Endorsed by the Master Painters Institute, RadTech International, and the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, the conference featured a three-day program: a one-day short course followed by two days of presentations.

The short course, held on September 25, was attended by over 90 registrants. This was followed by a two-day symposium. The symposium offered two concurrent tracks of programs, featuring sessions on:

* Changing Nature of Wood-Based Substrates

* Meeting the VOC Requirements for the Future

* Moisture Problems and How to Deal with Them

* New Developments in Interior Finishes

* Getting the Most Out of Your Performance Testing: Parts I and II

* UV Curing Uses on Wood/Factory Finishes

Highlights of the program included presentations on "New Opportunities for Innovative Coatings on Chemical Modified Wood," by Roger M. Rowell, of USDA Forest Service Lab: "Application of the Reliability-Based Methodology to Wood Coatings," by Jonathan W. Martin, NIST; and "Mold Control Treatments for Wood and Wood Composites," by Alan Ross, of KopCoat.

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The wide range of topics included termite management, preventing and remediating mold and mildew, coatings for composite decking, VOC regulations of architectural wood coatings, and restoring and painting historic wood railroad cars.

According to survey results, attendees were very satisfied with the content of the program, and especially noted the integration of wood and coatings topics.

In addition to the program, a lively exhibitors' reception and luncheon provided attendees with the opportunity to learn the latest information on a number of products and services provided by the 26 tabletop exhibitors.

The task force responsible for the wood conference was chaired by R. Sam Williams, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, and included FSCT members George Daisey, Rohm and Haas Company; Michael DePietro, Omega Testing and Weathering Services, LLC; D. Douglas Mall, Sr., The Dow Chemical Co.; Dave Salman, U.S. EPA OAQPS Coatings and Consumer Products Group; and Victoria Scarborough, The Sherwin Williams Company, Wood Care Group.

Plans are underway for 2006 ACSeries programs. "Additives 2006" and "21st Century Manufacturing: Efficiency AND Compliance" will be held concurrently at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, IL, on June 19-21, 2006. Detailed information about these and other upcoming educational programs will be available on the FSCT website, www.coatingstech.org.