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Issue link: https://pf.epubxp.com/i/742284
8 NOVEMBER 2016 — PFonline.com THE VOICE OF FINISHING 80 YEARS The Products Finishing Top Shops Benchmarking Survey for electroplating and anodizing operations begins this December. Data from the survey is used to provide shops with insight into the best practices of shops in North America. All shops completing the survey receive three comprehensive bench- marking reports that can be used to compare their operating statistics with others in the industry. The survey will also be used to determine the 2017 Products Finishing Top Shops. Both job shops and captive shops should complete the survey, which asks questions about current finishing technology, finishing practices, business strategies and training. Shops should be prepared to provide statistical information such as capacity utilization, order lead times, rework percentages, capital equipment expenditure, sales compared to finishing lines and employees and other data. Visit PFonline.com to take the survey. Atotech Sold to Carlyle Group for $3.2B Atotech, a global manufacturer of high technology plating solutions, was sold by parent company Total to The Carlyle Group for $3.2 billion. Carlyle, which also owns Axalta Coating Systems, is a global alternative asset manager that is well positioned in Asia, Europe and the United States through its significant range of investments, and is one of the most experienced private equity investors in the global chemicals industry. "Atotech, which is very active in Asia, is the worldwide leader in its high-tech segment, with a business model focused on innovation and customer relationships. Carlyle will enable Atotech to pursue its growth ambitions and serve its customers while respecting its commitments toward its employees and stakeholders. This transaction is part of To- tal's portfolio management strategy, which aims to align the Group's asset base with its business ambition," says Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of Total. NEWS Electroplating shops in southern California can no longer add perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) acid fume suppressants to the tanks of their chromic acid anodizing and hard or decora- tive chrome plating lines. Beginning in late September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)—the air pollution control agency for Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties—requires platers to use a SCAQMD- certified chemical fume suppressant. The certification requires that the fume suppressant must reduce or suppress hexavalent chromium emissions at the surface of a bath by reducing its surface tension. Officials from the Metal Finishers Association of Southern Find more information at short.PFonline.com/ top_shops . Mike Paxos, President TOP SHOPS SPOTLIGHT Lustrous Metal Coatings Lustrous Metal Coatings in Canton, Ohio, is a full-service metal finisher of chloride zinc offered in automatic, manual and barrel processing. Owner Mike Paxos founded the ISO 9001-certi- fied company in 1987, and also owns Hercules Plating, Lifetime PVD Coatings and Custom Brass. Southern California Platers Search for PFOS Alternatives California, however, say that some OEMs may object to the non-PFOS products. They say that Boeing and other primes have indicated they will not approve the use of non-PFOS products, which means those shops would have to use other controls to meet the emission limit. For more information on the SCAQMD rules on PFOS, please visit short.pfonline.com/PFOS . Top Shops Benchmarking Survey for Electroplating Starts Dec. 1 Officials from the Metal Finishers Association of Southern California say that some OEMs may object to the non-PFOS products.