Finishing - November-December 2022

6 NEWS www.finishingmagazine.co.uk
The winners of the BCF Awards were announced in a
ceremony last month.
Colour of the year
Colour, performance and protection for the Wild at heart. That’s the
inspiration behind Wild Wonder, the Interpon Colour of the Year for
2023, a colour imagined by an international team of colour experts
and inspired by the rhythms of nature around us.
Wild Wonder is one of a palette of eight new colours influenced by
nature, its shapes, structures and colours. By learning from nature
architects and designers can create even more comfortable, beautiful
spaces in which to live and work.
The unique colours in the palette are intended to help people reflect
and reconsider their relationship with earth’s natural resources, with
the warm, golden tones of the harvest, and the positivity and energy
that flows from the happy promise of a new season and a world
sustained.
Expert colour scientist from around the world and within
AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetics Centre have accessed more than three
decades of colour research and analysis to ensure the colours are ontrend.
Each of the shades is also available digitally in the AkzoNobel
Design App and the AkzoNobel Connecting Colors App.
Bob Dirks, global segment manager, architecture at AkzoNobel
Powder Coatings, says: “Everyone needs colour. Colours that dazzle
and colours that hide, colours that stand out or blend in, in both 2D
and 3D. Colours you can see and colours you can’t. Colours that
enhance the buildings in which we work and live; the furniture on
which we sit and relax; the everyday household products that integrate
effortlessly and harmoniously with our everyday lives.”
New chairman at the GA
With nearly four decades of galvanizing industry experience,
Galvanizers Association has decided that David Watkins, the current
managing director of Hereford Galvanizers, has the vision to lead their
membership through the current economic environment and help
position galvanized steel as a core material within circular construction.
The new Chairman is also CEO of Zinco International, a global leader
in technical services and products to the galvanizing industry.
Galvanizers Association recently that David Watkins will replace Ed
Byrne, MD Galco Steel, as Chairman of the Board. Mr Watkins began
working for Hereford Galvanizers in 1986 and after a variety of roles
in galvanizing sales, marketing and operations, he became managing
director in 2005. He takes up his position with GA as the industry
faces difficult decisions around energy, inflation, and rising costs.
Speaking recently Mr. Watkins said: “I am honoured to become
chairman of our trade body and would like to give credit to the former
chair for six years of hard work, helping the industry through Brexit
and multiple Covid lockdowns. The challenges facing me today are
somewhat different but by no means less, as we continue operating at
a time of high inflation and amid unprecedented concerns around
rising energy costs.”
The winners of the British Coatings Federation (BCF) Awards 2022
were announced on 13th October at the Forest of Arden Marriott
Hotel & Country Club. Over 150 delegates were there to watch Paul
Sinha (Sinnerman from ITV’s the Chase) hand out the awards over
10 categories.
Tom Bowtell, BCF chief executive said “Given the hugely
challenging times our industry is facing, it was great to come
together face to face and celebrate the many achievements of our
member companies over the last 12 months. It is also exciting to see
so much young talent in our sector, demonstrated particularly in our
Apprentice of the Year and Young Leader of the Year categories.
Many congratulations to all those who were shortlisted, but
especially to the winners”.
The evening opened with the Sustainable Innovation Awards,
split into Manufacturer and Supplier categories due to the record
number of entries. The Sustainable Innovation Manufacturer Award
was won by BASF for AGILIS, and the Sustainable Innovation
Supplier Award was presented to Hexigone Inhibitors for Intelli-ion.
The sustainability theme carried on through the evening with the
Coatings Care Progress Award, and the Coatings Care Overall Best
Performer Award. The Progress Award was given to joint winners
Steyport and PPG Industrial Coatings, and Overall Best Performer
was awarded to Farrow & Ball. The Corporate Social Responsibility
Award was taken home by AkzoNobel for their True Colours
Community Fund initiative.
The Customer Service Award was presented to Sherwin Williams
Consumer Brands Group. For Marketing Campaign of the Year, it
was the ‘Dulux Simply Refresh, with Changing Rooms’ campaign
that took home the award for AkzoNobel.
The evening concluded by celebrating outstanding individual
talent in the industry, recognised in the Apprentice of the Year
Award, won by Andrew Roser from AkzoNobel; Young Leader of
the Year Award, won by Emma Porter from hubergroup UK and
Student of the Year Award, which saw Sam Gumbley from Belzona
win.
Finishing – November/December 2022