KANSAS CITY, Mo., October 12, 2009 – Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) announces an $.08 per pound price increase for all Reafree® Powder Coatings Resin materials. New prices are effective for orders shipped on, or after October 19, 2009 (or as contracts allow).

According to Ken Moran, Vice President of CCP’s Coatings Division, “this price change is necessary due to the significant and ongoing cost escalation of raw materials used in the production of powder resins which we are no longer able to absorb.” Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Peninsula Polymers and Progress Plastiques among others.

KANSAS CITY, MO, September 30, 2009 – Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) has announced a price increase for its Graphic Arts market product portfolio. Effective for shipments on and after November 1, 2009, prices will increase up to $0.05 per pound for all ESI-CRYL® emulsion polymers, wax emulsions, and resin solutions and up to $0.10 per pound for all ESI-REZ® solid grade resins. Substantial hikes in key raw material costs have driven the necessity for this increase.

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Peninsula Polymers and Progress Plastiques among others.

KANSAS CITY, MO, August 12, 2009 – Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) has announced an $0.08 per pound price increase for all unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, gel coats, and ThermaCLEAN® products effective for shipments made on or after September 7, 2009.

This price increase reflects the rise in feed stocks over the last several months, making it necessary for CCP to institute this increase across its product offerings. CCP has made every effort to hold pricing in 2009, but can no longer sustain our current pricing levels.

Ken Moran Vice President of Sales states, “CCP will make every effort to diminish the impact of raw material advances where possible. The direction of our operating strategies will continue toward seeking every opportunity to reduce expenses where we can.’

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Peninsula Polymers and Progress Plastiques among others.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 30, 2009 – Eric Dumain has joined Cook Composites and Polymers Company (CCP) as the Product Manager for New Product Development. Dumain, most recently with Reichhold Chemicals has over 20 years experience in the coatings industry where he has held a variety of technical and business management positions. His expertise has been in the area of new product commercialization, business development and technology transfer.

CCP will utilize Dumain’s vast experience in the area of product enhancement and advanced technological development. He currently holds four patents in the powder coatings resin field, and has published and presented several papers internationally on the subject. Dumain holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Peninsula Polymers and Progress Plastiques among others.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 27, 2009 – The Cook Composites and Polymers Company (CCP) represented by the law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney won a major victory on Friday afternoon, July 24th. Various claims were asserted against CCP by both Viking Yacht Company and Post Marine Company, Inc. which included: breach of contract, breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of express warranty and violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Only one claim survived summary judgment rulings.

In their pleadings, the plaintiffs originally sought damages in excess of 400 million dollars, but this amount was significantly reduced prior to trial through favorable summary judgments to a little over 6 million dollars. The trial lasted 5 weeks, commencing on Monday, June 22nd in Camden, New Jersey and came to a close last Friday afternoon when a ten person jury in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey unanimously found CCP to be without fault. “After four long years, we are obviously pleased with the verdict and thankful that we can finally move forward again with our full attention focused on our customers & business without this unnecessary distraction,” said Paul H. Colonna, CCP President and CEO.

The Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney team was led by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania attorney Steven E.Bizar, Co-Chairman of the litigation section, who with team members Gerald E. Burns, Thomas Manning, Landon Jones, and Gerard Hudak presented the facts for CCP.

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Peninsula Polymers and Progress Plastiques among others.

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22nd, 2009 – Cook Composites and Polymers Company proudly announces receipt of the 2009 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for Designing Greener Chemicals. Each year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the program on behalf of the White House. The challenge is designed to recognize individuals, companies and technologies that incorporate sustainable chemistry into their product formulations, manufacture, and end use. This prestigious award was jointly presented to Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) and Procter & Gamble Chemicals (P&G), based on the Chempol® MPS technology that was developed and commercialized through collaborative efforts.

CCP’s Chempol® MPS is an innovative, Sefose®-based alkyd resin technology that enables formulation of paints and coatings with significantly less Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOC’s, than traditional, solvent-borne alkyd coatings. Chempol® MPS alkyd resins are specially-formulated to perform similarly to petroleum-based polymers while delivering both an improved environmental profile and an enhanced consumer usage experience.

“CCP is proud of this technological breakthrough. We appreciate the close working relationship with P&G Chemicals which allowed us to combine their Sefose® technology with our chemistry and formulation expertise. This collaboration was instrumental in the development of this green product solution”, says Ken Moran, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for CCP.

About Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP)

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Peninsula Polymers and Progress Plastiques among others.

About Procter & Gamble Chemicals

P&G Chemicals, a business unit of The Procter & Gamble Company, is a global marketer of fatty alcohols, methyl esters, fatty acids, glycerine, tertiary amines, Sefose®, and Food Ingredients and has been in the chemical business for over 170 years. P&G Chemicals has sales offices in Cincinnati, Ohio; London, England; Geneva, Switzerland; Singapore, Beijing and Guangzhou, China.

For more information, contact: Dennis Ryer, 816.391.6080, ryer@ccponline.com.

"Design a hard tonneau cover with a more durable Class-A surface that can be color-matched to pickup truck body color, with a strength-to-weight ratio that eliminates the need for intrusive underbracing, conserves aerodynamics-based fuel-efficiency gains, permits one-person installation and removal, and is constructed by a method that prevents past problems associated with exothermic adhesive bonding."

CCP was recently mentioned in this article from Composites World, which talks about the engineering challenges when designing the Penda Tonneau truck bed cover. To read the full article, click here.

For more information, contact: Dwayne A. Pinnell, 816.391.6214, pinnell@ccponline.com.

Kansas City, Mo., September 29, 2008 — Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP), introduces a reactive polymer tackifier for the closed molding industry. CCP’s development of NuTack® includes reactive sites built into the tackifier polymer backbone that chemically bonds with infusion-based polyester, or vinyl ester resins commonly used in RTM, RTM light, vacuum bagging and vacuum infusion molding.

CCP and customer-based testing of NuTack® has confirmed significant interlaminar shear property improvements in excess of 130% as compared to conventional rubber-based adhesives, which were developed for non-structural applications.

Three new, HAP free NuTack® products are now available from CCP. They are:

• NuTack® 046-4066 non-dyed, neutral color, packaged in 5-gal. or 55-gal. drums
• NuTack®-BLU 046-4061 dyed blue in color, packaged in 5-gal. or 55-gal. drums
• NuTack®-BLU 046-4062 conveniently packaged in 23-oz. aerosol cans

These products deliver excellent adhesion to gel coats, barrier coats, glass fiber, carbon fiber, rolled goods and coring products. NuTack® maintains interlaminar strength between layers and significantly widens the application window. More importantly, NuTack® does not interfere with resin flow like common adhesive-based products. Dyed versions of NuTack®-BLU act as a visual color indicator for thickness control.

Samples can be obtained from CCP, or their distributors. Product literature can be obtained at the upcoming IBEX (Miami Beach, Fla.) and ACMA (Tampa, Fla.) Conferences.

Quality products and superior customer and technical service have made Cook Composites and Polymers an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. With headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company has the largest distributor network for composites and cast polymers in North America. Along with associated companies Cray Valley and Reacciones Quimicas, CCP is the world’s largest and leading producer of polyester gel coats, and the second largest producer of polyester resins in the world.

For more information, contact: Dwayne A. Pinnell, 816.391.6214, pinnell@ccponline.com.

July 16, 2008 — Effective on orders shipped on or after August 15, 2008 (or as contracts allow), Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) will implement a 5 to 10 per cent price increase for all coatings and powder resins products.

According to Ken Moran, Vice President of CCP’s Coatings Division, the pricing change is compelled by ongoing increases in raw material and energy costs.

“Despite the ongoing and unprecedented increases – in both size and frequency – in crude oil and raw material feedstock costs, service to our customers remains our number one priority,” Mr. Moran stated. “That includes providing the best quality products, backed by the best in technical support and the best in product research and development. To continue that high standard of service without compromise, the reality of the marketplace offers us no option other than to make this price adjustment at this time.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 15, 2008 — Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) announces an $.08 per pound price increase for all gel coats, unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins. All materials packaged in steel containers will increase an additional .04 per pound. New pricing is effective with shipments made on or after August 4, 2008.

Increases in steel, raw materials and energy dictate the need for additional price increases for the manufacture, packaging and shipment of CCP’s gel coats, unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins. These critical resources remain volatile and require us to pass on these advances to our customers.

Additionally, rising transportation fees for the shipment of both raw materials and finished goods, coupled with increasing crude oil and fuel surcharges continue to affect the industry and we are doing everything within our power to contain them. CCP acknowledges the impact these costs have on our customers, but unfortunately do not anticipate relief in the foreseeable future. CCP will make every effort to diminish the impact of raw material advances where possible. The direction of our operating strategies will continue toward seeking every opportunity to be fiscally responsible and reduce operational expenses where we can.

Quality products and superior customer and technical service have made Cook Composites and Polymers an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. With headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The company has the largest distributor network for composites and cast polymers in North America. Along with associated companies Cray Valley and Reacciones Quimicas, CCP is the world’s largest and leading producer of polyester gel coats, and the second largest producer of polyester resins in the world.

For more information, contact: Dwayne A. Pinnell, 816.391.6214, pinnell@ccponline.com.

KANSAS CITY, MO — Paul H. Colonna has been named Chief Executive Officer for Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) effective July 1, 2008. He will succeed Charles E. Bennett, who has served as CEO since Feb 1998, and has announced his retirement as of the same date.

Colonna, 47, has more than 20 progressive years as a business management professional, including the position of Vice President of Composites with CCP, which he has held since April 2004. Just prior to joining CCP, Mr. Colonna was with Composites One, LLC for over 10 years, most recently as General Manager of their West region.

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world's largest producer of polyester gel coats and its distributor network is North America's largest for composites and cast polymers. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer Reacciones Quimicas, Composites One, and Progress Plastiques among others.

For more information, contact: Dwayne Pinnell, Cook Composites & Polymers, 816-391-6214 Pinnell@ccponline.com.

The Coatings Resins Division of CCP has launched a multi-pronged advertising campaign that introduces its new line of SYNAQUA™ water-borne alkyds to the U.S. coatings market.

According to Coatings Resins Vice President Marcel de Wolf, “The new campaign ads visually make the point that CCP’s water-borne alkyds support our customers’ needs to meet environmental requirements while producing maximum quality end products.”

The over-arching theme, “Treating products with technology, treating nature with respect,” also echoes CCP’s research and development philosophies toward customers, their companies, and their communities.

Products in the environmentally friendly SYNAQUA™ line are ideal for wood and concrete applications, porch and deck stains, wiping stains, sash and trim enamels, as modifiers for acrylic emulsions in ultra-low VOC applications, and more.

You can view an example of the new ad campain here.

For more information about SYNAQUA™ or other coatings products, contact: coatingsresin@ccponline.com.

CCP, America’s premier resin company and leading manufacturer of resins for architectural and industrial coatings, will be at this years American Coatings Show and proudly introducing SYNAQUA™ water-borne alkyds to the U.S. market.

CCP will also offer a bit of fun! Stop by and see first hand the deck that showcases the new SYNAQUA™ AD and register to win one of several prizes to be given away at this years show. Webber grills, stainless steel beverage coolers, Adirondack furniture and while you are entering to win, we will have available all of the facts and figures about our full line of coatings resins products-acrylics, additives, alkyds, emulsions, dispersions, epoxies, polyesters, varnishes, and powder coatings.

For more information, click here.

To continue to receive articles and news releases from CCP, please contact Pauli McClanahan at mcclanahan@ccponline.com.

For 40 years, Pro-Line Boats has designed boats for family boaters to serious anglers with a dedication to quality, craftsmanship and functionality. This includes Pro-line’s mold-making process, recently upgraded to use CCP’s tooling system of Polycor® 945 tooling gel, ArmorGuard™ 967 barrier coat, ArmorStar® VSXH skin coat and OptiPLUS® low shrink bulking resin.

“The results have been tremendous,” said Pro-Line President John E. Walker. “The CCP tooling system was introduced to us in early 2007 and has delivered high-quality molds, while saving us significant time.”

For more information on the CCP Tooling System contact Rick Pauer at pauer@ccponline.com.

To see the original PDF of this article, click here.

By-product synergy (BPS) is a practical application of industrial ecology in which companies work together in a given region to match feedstock or raw material needs to devalued by-products. Through the BPS process, individual companies are transformed into a partnership or cross-industry team focused on directing every kilogramme of material running through their plants into a value-added product stream. By shifting strategy from a pursuit of “less waste” to a strategy of “100% product”, companies can pursue a path of “eco-effectiveness”. To continue reading the full article written by Michael Gromacki, Vice President, Engineering and Loss Control, Cook Composites and Polymers Co., click here.

To continue to receive articles and news releases from CCP, please contact Pauli McClanahan at mcclanahan@ccponline.com.

Soy-Based Paint Hits the Road in Missouri The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is testing four types of yellow and white soy-based paint on heavy-traffic asphalt and concrete highways in Missouri. The United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff support new industrial uses for soy, and soy-based paint and inks have long been a popular product.

MoDOT has been working with the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council; Cargill, which developed the soy-based paint; and Cook Composites and Polymers out of Kansas City, which brought the product to MoDOT for testing.

The soy-based paint went through in-lab testing to confirm the compositional qualities of the paint, and it passed all of MoDOT's lab tests. Currently, the department uses water-based traffic paint. The new paint uses a soy resin as its delivery method.

"We need durability in paint for the highway," says Todd Bennett, MoDOT's chemical laboratory director. "Snowplows are the largest destruction method to wear down the paint, so we always test over the winter. The soy-based paint was applied in October and will be evaluated this summer and again after one year."

The paint has been applied in test stripes on Highway 63, between Columbia and Jefferson City, on both the northbound and southbound lanes. The 12-foot test stripes run across the roadway from shoulder to center stripe.

MoDOT typically buys about 1.5 million gallons of water-based paint a year, so there may be an opportunity for more soy-based paint to make it to Missouri's highways and byways.

"It all depends on the durability after one year," says Bennett. "MoDOT is always interested in finding good new products. The soy-based paint definitely got a good test this winter."

For more information on soy-based new products like the soy-based highway paint, visit www.soynewuses.org.

USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.

CCP has again raised the level of service offered to customers with the recent commitment by management to invest in new equipment throughout the composites division at production locations and laboratory facilities that more precisely monitor reactivity of products. The new equipment involves the installation of a controlled testing environment, as well as data collection directly into electronic files that can allow batch-to-batch comparison.

The launch of the new equipment began with training for the Sandusky, OH facility that was developed by the Test Method Enhancement Committee for Composites (TMECC) - a cross functional team that included individuals from Production, Quality, Human Resources, Sales and Innovation. John Winfrey, the current manager of the project states, “It was important to get Sandusky online with the new equipment first, given the high number of batches being produced at that location.” The Sandusky facility is receiving two equipment ‘stations’ to measure reactivity of all products produced. Each ‘station’ has the capability to test eight samples at one time, allowing Sandusky the ability to test sixteen samples simultaneously. This capability will help Sandusky in achieving one of their primary quality objectives — On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) orders. This is just one aspect the new equipment offers in achieving customer satisfaction; however, the larger benefit in meeting customer’s satisfaction is the ability to better monitor the complete exothermic reaction — a basic diagnostic test that can predict formula specific cure behavior for a product.

The second training session, which is scheduled for the week of April 28th at CCP’s Technology Center in North Kansas City, MO, will involve all other composite production facilities, including operations in Mexico.

Steve Voeks, Director of the Composites Innovation Team, sees this new equipment as just one segment of an overall program to enhance the company’s pledge towards quality. While the Innovation Team has committed a great deal of resources to this objective, the true focus of the Innovation Team is to bring innovative solutions to help grow the customer’s business, resulting in long term profitability for the organization. Having the means for production to better identify non-conforming batches will ultimately lead to fewer customer concerns and the Innovation Team’s ability to dedicate more resources to their primary focus.

April 2008

KANSAS CITY, MO—Cook Composites and Polymers has announced a $.07 per pound price increase for its gel coat, vinyl ester resin, and unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) products effective on all orders shipped on or after April 28, 2008.

This decision is based on persistent rising raw material costs as well as increases in other operational components (natural gas, transportation, etc.) which significantly impact many areas of the company’s production costs.

Paul Colonna, CCP’s Vice President of Composites, noted “The industry has endured continued upward global market price pressures due to both the weakening US dollar and the interconnected increasing prices of oil, energy, transportation and petrochemical feed stocks.” Mr. Colonna added “CCP is committed to providing customers with a reliable supply of premium products & services. We are determined to persevere in our endeavors to counterbalance the economic pressures faced by all of us and appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our customers during these difficult times.”

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and its’ distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Composites One, and Progress Plastiques among others.

For more information, contact Pauli McClanahan, CCP, 816-391-6156, mcclanahan@ccponline.com

KANSAS CITY, MO February 11th, 2008

Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP), in partnership with Cray Valley of Europe and Reacciones Quimicas of Mexico, are preparing to release a Spanish version of the industry renowned Polyester Products Applications Guide, more commonly known as “The Cook Book.”

CCP’s Cook Book provides customers with a blueprint for optimum production practices. It is impressive in its scope and teaches valuable strategies for preparedness and successful manufacturing of the highest-quality polyester products. Now in its 10th edition, it is the most widely used, comprehensive fabrication manual of its kind.

Dwayne Pinnell, CCP’s product and marketing manager, noted, “We are dedicated to the development of products and processes that will advance the future of our industry. Some might view it as cost; we view it as an investment.” Pinnell added, “The recent introduction of our new IMEDGE® technology, completion of our new state-of-the-art Technology & Training Center and now the Cook Book’s translation into additional languages, all reinforce our commitment to the leadership role we hold.”

In April, CCP will release the Spanish version and begin to distribute this valuable reference to international markets. The Cook Book offers guidance for applications processes, trouble shooting, precautions, safety, environmental considerations, material handling, product selection, equipment, process planning and quality control. One CD version per request will be available at no cost, and printed versions can be purchased for $150 each. To reserve your advanced copy, contact Pauli McClanahan at 800-821-3590 x6156 or mcclanahan@ccponline.com.

Quality products and superior customer service have made Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) an international leader in the production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world’s largest producer of polyester gel coats and the second largest producer of coatings resins. In addition, the CCP distributor network is North America’s largest for composites and cast polymers. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. CCP affiliate companies include TOTAL, Cray Valley, Sartomer, Reacciones Quimicas, Composites One, and Progress Plastiques among others.

KANSAS CITY, MO, December 14, 2007

Cook Composites & Polymers Co. has spent or committed nearly $3 million so far on energy-efficiency projects at plants nationwide, and it plans to make similar investments during the next several years.

To continue reading, go to: Kansas City Business Journal

For more information, contact Pauli McClanahan, CCP, 816-391-6156, mcclanahan@ccponline.com

In August of 2007, CCP opened the doors to a new, totally redesigned technology and training center. With 16,000 sq. ft., the facility contains a stadium style classroom that can easily accommodate up to 40 guests. The training room also features enhanced audio, video, and wireless capabilities. Additionally, a full conference room is available to provide training and meeting space for smaller groups. The fabrication portion of the facility has state-of-the-art spray booths and boasts an expanded product demonstration area. The center also includes a fully functioning quality control lab. In line with CCP's quality, health, safety, and environmental requirements, the building is constructed to meet our highest standards.

For many years now CCP has been recognized in the composites industry as a leader in applications training. Value-added philosophies have always been a culture of CCP and the technology center was constructed to demonstrate this commitment to the industries served. Another way CCP has served the industry is through the continued revision and update of its long recognized CCP Applications Guide, now in its 10th edition. This manual is a reference guide for individuals involved in the industry for many years.

Training in the new technology center will be conducted by CCP's technical service staff. Classes to be offered include: customer tooling schools, creative laminate design and processing applications techniques. Composites materials recommendations and expert troubleshooting advice are also available. Additionally, the technology center will be used for new product introductions as well as distributor and employee training. All programs associated with the new center will enhance CCP's educational efforts and bring training opportunities to a whole new level.

CCP's vision is to continue to lead the industry through advanced technical applications training and the new technology center will improve the quality of value- added support CCP offers the composites manufacturing industry.

Dwayne Pinnell

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, CCP has manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more about CCP's New Technology Center. Contact CCP at 800.821.3590

Dennis Ryer, CCP's product manager for liquid and powder resins, participated with a dozen other resin suppliers in a Market Update “Resins Roundtable” for JCT Coatings Tech, an FSCT coatings industry publication.

Issues and strategies addressed include:

• Market and general economic growth
• Corporate consolidations
• Raw materials volatility
• Technical challenges
• Environmental regulations

Published in the July 2007 issue of magazine (page 36), the article is now also available online to JCT Coatings Tech subscribers (www.coatingstech.org).

In her approach to the topic, writer Cynthia Challener stated that despite a “slow down in the U.S. housing market, continued regulatory pressures around the globe, and tight availability for some raw materials,” the previous year (2006) was, in general, a “good year for the U.S. paint and coatings industry.”

However, Challener indicated that the strong growth seen in 2006 is not expected to be sustained in 2007, due to a number of factors, including “weakened economic conditions,” and “continued movement of wood, furniture, and metal manufacturing operations offshore.”

In Ms. Challener's article, Mr. Ryer commented that in addition to the movement of industrial applications overseas, “consolidation has also resulted in few medium-sized, technically competent customers to help drive technology and differentiation.”

When asked about main drivers for short- and long-term industry growth, Mr. Ryer observed that VOC regulations “can be both viewed both as a threat and as an opportunity,” with companies willing to dedicate resources and “commit to meeting the VOC challenges ahead” able to achieve success and growth in the years ahead.

Mr. Ryer further remarked that the key to managing these drivers is for coatings suppliers to continue a “strong technical effort in a number of low-VOC technologies.”

In her closing overview of companies represented in the Roundtable, Ms. Challener wrote that most “capital improvement projects at Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) over the last several years have been in the area of expanding capacity in alkyd dispersion production.” She noted that CCP has developed “a product portfolio that includes several unique technologies and patented compositions.”

In particular, she highlighted the introduction in the past two years of:

• CHEMPOL® 821-2241. . .“an essentially ‘0’ VOC and surfactant-free medium oil alkyd dispersion designed for porch and deck, and sash and trim applications and wood stains”
• CHEMPOL® 821-1391. . .” a low-VOC surfactant-free short oil alkyd dispersion designed for high gloss topcoats (with) fast dry, good film integrity, and toughness”
• CHEMPOL® 821-2220 . . .”a surfactant-free, patented, internally cross-linked acrylic alkyd dispersion designed for porch and deck applications that features early water resistance.”

Beginning in August, EPOVIA™ corrosion-resistant vinyl ester resins will be available from CCP in the U.S. market.

A proven technology backed by over 35 years of case histories, EPOVIA™ vinyl ester resins are designed for use in fabricating industrial equipment and structures, and provide a significantly enhanced defense against various kinds of corrosive chemicals when compared to many other plastics and metallic materials.

“These resins have outstanding resistance to a long list of caustic chemicals, including acids, alkalis, and solvents at either room temperature or elevated temperatures,” said Dwayne Pinnell, Product Manager for CCP.

“This makes them ideal for use in glass-lining, rubber coating, and metallic materials.

“In addition, resins in this series offer high impact resistance,” he continued, “as well as substantial cost advantages throughout construction, installation and continued use.”

Typical processes for EPOVIA™ applications include pultrusion, filament winding, compression molding, RTM, and hand lay-up. Typical end-use applications are absorption towers, process vessels, storage tanks, pipes, hood, scrubbers, ducting and exhaust stacks.

For more information about EPOVIA™, visit http://www.ccponline.com/products/products_composite.html, click on Technical Data Sheets, and scroll down to Vinyl Ester Resins section, or contact Therese Feess at 816-391-6000, or feess@ccponline.com.

With the launching of its new IMEDGE® Series, CCP presents a new and revolutionary line of polymer coating technologies (PCT) and polymer resin technologies (PRT) products.

“The chemistry of these new products has been developed to advance our industry beyond the limits of conventional in-mold products,” said Paul Colonna, CCP's Vice President for Composites.

“While the existing gel coat technology has been excellent and has served our industry well for the past forty odd years, it has obviously had its limitations,” Mr. Colonna continued. “The IMEDGE® line establishes a new foundation―a new base line―for in-mold coatings technology. Concepts we once perceived as unattainable—like zero HAPS, weatherproof, crackproof, blushproof—are becoming very realistic possibilities. CCP is now perfectly positioned to address these industry needs while―at the same time―bringing something truly remarkable and completely new to the marketplace.”  

CCP's new IMEDGE® series is inaugurated with three breakthrough products:

• The IMEDGE® PCT100 Series, which features deep, rich, lasting colors with maximum resistance to blisters and fading, also sharply improves patch and gloss recovery in MACT-compliant technology.
• The IMEDGE® PCT600 Series, a toughened coatings formulation that delivers enhanced durability with resistance to cracking, yellowing, chalking, water absorption, and blisters while improving process efficiency.
• The IMEDGE® PRT1000 Series, a toughened resin formulation that improves resistance to cracking and chipping both in-process and in consumer use.

Industry break-through products, such as these in the IMEDGE® Series, driven by innovative research paired with responsive and knowledgeable customer and technical service, have made Cook Composites and Polymers the international leader in production and distribution of polyester gel coats and resins. CCP is the world's largest and leading producer of polyester gel coats, and, along with associated companies Cray Valley and Sartomer, the second-largest producer of coatings resins in the world.