ATSSA Releases Detailed Report on Global Shortage of Raw Paint Materials

FREDERICKSBURG, Va., June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recent news of global shortages of several key raw materials used to produce paint, thermoplastic and epoxy used to stripe roads and highways around the world has prompted a U.S.-based roadway safety trade association to prepare a report that outlines the crisis and offer solutions.

The document, "Report on Raw Materials Shortages in the U.S. Pavement Markings Industry," was prepared by the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), whose members are roadway safety experts and advocates. The purpose of the report is to provide a deeper understanding of the raw materials shortage issue to roadway project owners, paint manufacturers, roadway contractors and the general public. The report also recommends alternative methods of guiding vehicles to ensure that the safety of our roadways is maintained.

"There are many questions and concerns regarding the raw materials shortage," said ATSSA Chairman Joe Jeffrey. "Through this report, ATSSA wanted to provide the roadway safety industry, the motoring public and others a level playing field of information on the raw materials shortage issue, ensuring roadway safety remains the number one priority for our nation's motorists."

Today, ATSSA distributed the report to the roadway safety industry and to state DOTs across the country. The Federal Highway Administration will forward the report to its division offices coast-to-coast.

Other factors for the shortages and price hikes of the materials include shut-downs or repairs at production facilities and increased global demand for the materials. The roadway safety industry is operating at roughly 55 percent of its normal allocation of supplies as a result of the shortage.  

The following are the raw materials that make up the shortage:

Acrylic Resin: The backbone for all waterborne traffic paint.

Rosin Esters: The primary resin system used in "alkyd-based" thermoplastic.

Liquid Epoxy Resin: There have been severe shortages in feedstock for epoxy resin production causing sales allocation across all epoxy industries and price increases in the neighborhood of 30-plus percent.

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2): The white pigment used in all white roadway paint, thermoplastic, epoxy and a multitude of other chemistries.

The complete report is available at the "Member Center" tab of ATSSA.com.

SOURCE American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA)