Impetus for the industry: specialist presentations and discussions
Organizer Dr. Thomas Herrmann was enthusiastic afterwards: "We are proud that we were able to put on an event with a strong presence and many interesting specialist presentations despite the digital alternatives." Topics such as energy efficiency, CO2 reduction and new approaches and technologies in the field of plant engineering proved to be particularly relevant. In line with current times, the overall focus was on sustainable solutions for powder coating in order to meet rising energy prices and stricter environmental regulations.
Focus on the challenges facing the industry
"The biggest challenges currently lie in securing the energy supply, the shortage of skilled workers and adapting to new regulatory requirements," emphasized Dr. Herrmann. The discussions about the CO2 footprint and the optimization of production processes were particularly well received by the participants.
Practical insights: expert opinions from the industry
Markus Vüllers, an expert in vocational training, emphasized the importance of qualification measures in his presentation: "Especially in times of a shortage of skilled workers, it is essential to train and qualify existing employees in a targeted manner." His appeal: companies should actively use the funding opportunities to ensure their competitiveness.
Thomas Querfurth from HangOn GmbH sees considerable potential in optimizing the flow of goods carriers in many companies. In a presentation, he presented one of the most recent projects in which considerable improvements in productivity and logistics costs were achieved: "By reducing the number of goods carriers, we were not only able to make massive savings in the number and storage capacity of racks, but also significantly reduce process costs."
Diverse agenda with forward-looking topics
The symposium agenda ranged from energy efficiency and sustainable production to digitalization in process control and new developments in pre-treatment and application technology. Panel discussions provided space for controversial debates and valuable insights into practice. You can read details on the individual topics and presentations in the detailed follow-up report in mo 3/2025. You will also soon find a detailed video follow-up report with interviews and statements on the central topics of the event on oberflaeche.de.
Conclusion and outlook
Dr. Herrmann drew a positive conclusion: "The response was overwhelming. We are already looking forward to the 35th Powder Symposium in February 2026, which will also mark another small anniversary."