Surface news

Kabe Pulverlack Deutschland GmbH is restructuring its sales organization in northern Germany and handing over customer service to experienced coating expert Arben Nokaj.

At LogiMAT 2026, Nilfisk will present new cleaning solutions for intralogistics. The focus will be on autonomous machines and the new OIL230 industrial vacuum cleaner for demanding continuous use.

ZVO scholarship recipient Andreas Winter has successfully completed his master's thesis on the anodization of recycled aluminum casting alloys, gaining important insights into surface technology in the process.

With its Direct Coating in-mold coating technology, Covestro combines injection molding and coating in a single integrated process. The aim is to achieve more efficient production of coated plastic components for automotive applications.

With X.Cellify DC, Dürr presents a process for dry coating battery electrodes. The technology does not use solvents and enables a closed material cycle right up to lamination.

Wagner expands its portfolio with a compact system for high-speed rotary coating. The combination of TF Bell 2 and Wacon Spray significantly reduces operating and integration costs and opens up new user groups.

In 2026, FreiLacke will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Since 1926, the family-owned company from Döggingen has grown from a regional paint wholesaler to an internationally active supplier of paint systems.

The Plastics Center SKZ has agreed a distribution partnership with the Lenzing Education Center for the Austrian market. Selected SKZ training courses will therefore also be offered in Austria in future.

The application deadline for the Stuttgart Surface Technology Award "Die Oberfläche" is approaching. Innovations from all areas of surface technology can be submitted until February 20, 2026.

The organizers of the International Conference on Plasma Surface Engineering (PSE 2026) are calling for abstract submissions. The conference provides a platform for research, development, and industrial applications of plasma and thin-film technology.

The Atmospheric Pressure Plasma User Group (ak-adp) is organizing a two-day workshop at Plasmatreat in Steinhagen in April 2026. The workshop will focus on economical, process-stable, and sustainable applications of atmospheric plasmas.

The latest Color Report from BASF Coatings shows that the most widely used automotive paint colors worldwide are changing, with green and gray gaining market share.

The EFDS (European Research Association for Thin Films) invites you to attend the workshop "Designing Interfaces – Innovations in Environmental and Biosensor Technology and Applications" in Tuttlingen. Research findings on functional coatings, thin films, and interfaces that enable the next…

At PaintExpo 2026, Wagner will present systems and applications for liquid and powder coating. The focus will be on resource-saving processes, digital functions, and practical automation solutions.

With the LEDcure NX, IST Metz introduces a water-cooled LED UV system for industrial curing processes. The system is designed for energy efficiency, process stability, and integration into existing systems.

Since January 2026, Dr. Christian Noß has been supporting the office of the German Industrial Association for Hygiene and Surface Protection (IHO) as a consultant for science and technology.

Biesterfeld expands its existing distribution partnership with Songwon CS for stabilizers in the CASE industry. Antioxidants and light stabilizers will be offered in additional European markets in the future.

In view of declining productivity and high costs, the Steel and Metal Processing Industry Association is calling for industrial policy measures that will take effect in the short term. The focus is on the national CO₂ price and the solidarity surcharge.

At PaintExpo 2026, the QUBUS and IFO group of companies will present a combined offering of planning, consulting, testing, and analysis for companies in the surface technology sector.

A long-term analysis by IFAT Munich shows that despite an increasingly difficult market environment, exhibitors of environmental technologies are looking to the future with growing optimism—especially with regard to the circular economy and resource efficiency in industrial processes.