The National Paint and Coatings Association (NPCA) and the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology (FSCT) are moving forward with a merger of the two organizations following a majority vote by FSCT members endorsing the merger plan. The FSCT board of directors certified the vote at a recent meeting, verifying that 84% of those members who participated in the process voted to approve the bylaws changes necessary for the merger.

“This endorsement underscores the support of the membership for integrating the management and operational resources of both organizations. The merger will allow NPCA and FSCT to enhance the overall quality and breadth of programs and services provided to the industry and to efficiently and effectively apply resources to industry priorities,” said NPCA president Andy Doyle and FSCT executive director Joe Pontoski in a joint statement.

In February, NPCA and FSCT signed a memorandum of agreement, outlining the details of a prospective merger of the two organizations. The agreement framed a “governance merger” that will consolidate the governance, management and administrative functions of both groups under NPCA, while preserving each organization’s separate identities, operations, functions and member services. NPCA and FSCT will remain as separate organizations managed through a common governing structure.

As a final step in the merger process, FSCT submitted certain changes of its bylaws to its members for their approval. Approval of the proposed amendments to the bylaws required the affirmative vote of a majority of the members casting votes during the voting period, provided that at least five percent of the members entitled to vote as of February 29, 2008, cast votes. At the conclusion of the vote on May 2, the necessary quorum was achieved.

As part of the merger, FSCT and NPCA agreed to combine the International Coatings Expo (ICE) with the American Coatings Show and Conference (ACS) to be held on June 2-5, 2008 in Charlotte, N.C. With the combination of ICE into the ACS, ICE 2008 in Chicago has been canceled. NPCA and FSCT have fully endorsed and support the American Coatings Show as the premier industry exhibition for the coatings industry. In addition, NPCA and FSCT are endorsing and supporting the FSCT’s international technology conference, FutureCoat!, which will continue as the signature science and technology event for the industry and a forum for the FSCT’s annual meeting. A complement to the American Coatings Conference, FutureCoat! will be held October 14-16, 2008, in Chicago and feature multi-track educational programming focused on Globally Responsible Coatings.

All aspects of the merger should be completed by June 3, 2008, at which time the new FSCT board of directors will convene for its first meeting.