Alexandria, VA — The powder coating industry, one of America's most dynamic high-technology businesses, is using the information revolution to make its current and potential customers' lives much easier. The industry's Powder Coating Institute (PCI) has launched a spreadsheet application called "The PCI Powder-vs.-liquid Operation Cost Analysis." PCI is providing the software diskette free of charge to any company that uses or is interested in utilizing powder coating.

"This software is a powerful tool that lets companies compare the costs of using liquid paints to the costs of powder coating," says Greg Bocchi, Executive Director of PCI. "And it can be easily customized to meet the specific needs and capacities of any business — large, small, or medium."

Each diskette contains two versions of the software: one in Microsoft Excel version 5 and one in Lotus 123 Release 5 for Windows. Each diskette also includes a completed sample spreadsheet and user-friendly instructions. Users enter specific values and cost projections into the program and identify potential sources of cost savings that can come with an upgrade to powder coating.

"By booting up this new software," added Bocchi," A company can make powder-vs.-liquid comparisons using the costs it cares most about — material costs, operating expenses, the impact of environmental compliance, etc."

In powder coating, often called "dry painting," electrostatically-charged dry particles of pigment and resin are sprayed onto products ranging from automobile parts and vacuum cleaners to roofing tiles and decorative glass bottles. The powder particles are then heated in an oven, permanently fusing them to the surface. The powder coating industry has been expanding as manufacturers and consumers recognize the cost and performance benefits of powder coating over liquid paint and other finishes.

For a free copy of The PCI Powder-vs.-liquid Operational Cost Analysis program, contact: The Powder Coating Institute, 2121 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 401, Alexandria, VA 22314, or call (703) 684-1770 or (800) 988-COAT or e-mail pci-info@powdercoating.org.

The Powder Coating Institute, representing the North American powder coating industry, promotes powder coating technology and communicates the benefits of powder coating to manufacturers, consumers, and government.