What’s New: In Brief (September 18, 2008)

PPG Automotive Refinish has been named a preferred supplier by Volvo Car Corporation for its worldwide network of dealerships and independent collision centers. The designation includes PPG’s waterborne Envirobase High Performance and Nexa Autocolor Aquabase Plus.Volvo’s objective is to provide its customers with premium-level repair quality in the aftermarket, according a release, and consequently, Volvo rigorously tests all materials to make certain they meet the company’s strict standards before they are approved.”One of the major criteria for selecting preferred suppliers is quality assurance which will safeguard the Volvo repair quality in our network,” Peter Larsson, deputy director, painted body engineering, Volvo, said in the release. “PPG continues to demonstrate high quality and commitment for its paint products and processes. I am very pleased to say this collaboration will bring benefits to our international network.”

Hurricane Ike is estimated to result in US$7 to US$12 billion in onshore and offshore insured losses, down from an original estimate of US$6 to US$16 billion, according to Risk Management Solutions (RMS). The estimate includes both onshore and offshore losses resulting from strong winds and storm surge, but does not include losses covered under flood policies issued by the National Flood Insurance Program, or loss of oil and gas production due to pipeline supply interruptions, the company notes. The revised estimate is based on analysis of damage reports, verified wind speed and tidal gauge observations, and on-site assessment from multiple reconnaissance teams.”Our reconnaissance teams have focused on evaluating wind and storm surge damage in the landfall region, and they have found that despite some severely affected coastal areas, Ike wasn’t as damaging as initially feared,” Christine Ziehmann, director of model management at RMS, noted in the release.