In its 2025/2026 annual report, the Association for the Surface Finishing of Aluminum (VOA) highlights its continuing education offerings for anodizers, coaters, and those interested in the industry. Seminars, training courses, and workshops are designed to provide concrete inspiration for daily practice and impart specialist knowledge on processes, quality assurance, and current requirements.
In this way, the association closely links qualification with quality standards such as Qualanod, Qualicoat, and Qualistrip, which are regarded as benchmarks for tested surface quality in many companies.
Industry representation at national and international level
Another focus is on representing the interests of the industry vis-à-vis politicians, authorities, economic organizations, and the media. The VOA brings the specific concerns of aluminum surface finishing into national and European decision-making processes and works together with umbrella organizations and the European industry organization Estal to this end.
Managing Director Dr. Alexa A. Becker emphasizes the importance of voluntary work within the association in the report: "We would like to thank everyone who is involved – on the board, in the technical commission, as experts in the VOA project groups, and in the testing committees and international bodies of Qualanod, Qualicoat, and Qualistrip."
Network as a factor of stability in a changing environment
The 2025 General Assembly in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is seen as an expression of intensive networking. Personal exchange and the pooling of common positions are becoming increasingly important against the backdrop of regulatory and economic changes. The next General Assembly will take place in Augsburg from June 17 to 19, 2026. The annual report is available online.