The German Society for Materials Science (DGM) is offering the continuing education course “Modern Coating Processes” on March 16 and 17, 2027, in Dortmund-Hörde. This two-day in-person course provides a practical overview of innovative surface treatment processes—ranging from thin-film to thick-film technology, and covering everything from technical design to quality assurance and sustainable circular economy practices.
The training course will be led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Möhwald from Leibniz University Hannover and Dipl.-Ing. Hanno Paschke from the Fraunhofer Institute for Thin Film and Surface Technology IST. The event is aimed at experts from industry, research, and development who design, apply, evaluate, or further develop coating and surface treatment processes.
Course Content
The first day of the event will focus on key surface engineering processes. The program includes presentations on CVD technology, PVD technology, thermochemical surface treatment, and edge-hardening processes, as well as on electroplating processes and analytics. In addition, various thick-film technologies will be covered, including flame spraying, high-velocity flame spraying, and cold gas spraying; arc and plasma spraying; dip-coating, brazed wear-resistant coatings, and weld-deposited wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings.
The second day is dedicated to the complete process chain in surface engineering. Topics covered include pre- and post-treatment, heat treatment, and quality assurance. Other topics include sustainable approaches such as recycling, reuse, and life cycle assessment (LCA), as well as electrical and optical surface functionalization and related business models.
Workshops in Dortmund and Witten
To deepen practical understanding, two parallel laboratory workshops in rotating groups are planned. At the Dortmund Surface Technology Center, the focus will be on conveyor belt processes for bipolar plates and applications in hydrogen and fuel cell technology. At Fortis in Witten, modern thick-film applications, current developments, and demonstrations from industrial practice will be presented. In-depth lectures, lab tours, and a group dinner are designed to combine technical learning with professional exchange and networking.