Coatings update: review articles on maintenance coatings

A recent survey on maintenance paints compiled jointly by Smith, Stanley & Co., Inc. and the American Paint Journal Company has been re‐viewed in the American Painting Contractor [54, March (1977) IMP Sec. p. 27]. This study highlights the increase in the use of water‐borne paints for maintenance applications. This trend has been motivated by environmental regulations and is possible because of the development of improved coating systems. According to the study, there are nine subsections or “end‐use markets” for maintenance paints. The largest of these is manufacturing plants and equipment. This fragmented market is composed of over 300,000 establishments and is serviced by 700 maintenance paint formulations. Other end use markets are represented by public utilities, water processing areas such as sewage disposal plants, highways, ships, off‐shore oil riggings and a non‐manufacturing segment which includes hospitals, schools and office buildings. This latter sector is largely serviced by water‐borne paints. Another important trend in the maintenance painting industry is the switch to rollers from brushes.