Surface news

The surface community will meet in Stuttgart on December 4, 2025. The industry get-together will highlight specific application examples for artificial intelligence and digital processes - with contributions from raw materials development and application technology.

BASF Coatings has launched a highly automated production line for automotive coatings at its Münster site. The line is designed for high-demand, high-runner products and is intended to increase the quality, efficiency and sustainability of production.

Since July 2025, a new winding tower has stood in front of the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen as a symbol of the club and the region. ZINQ hot-dip galvanized the steel structure and then powder-coated it - a duplex structure with a long service life and low maintenance requirements.

BASF has manufactured the first products from the Verbund at its site in Zhanjiang (southern China). The core of the site is scheduled to be ready for launch by the end of 2025 - including steam crackers and downstream plants for the production of petrochemicals and intermediates.

According to Destatis, labor costs in the manufacturing sector are 43% higher than the EU average. The WSM is therefore calling for far-reaching social and structural reforms to stop the loss of industrial jobs.

technotrans solutions GmbH considers its appearance at K 2025 a complete success. It presented systems for energy-efficient and sustainable processes in plastics processing.

Horst Rose has extended his contract by a further five years and will remain with the company until the end of 2030.

In an open letter, several industry associations criticize the standstill in EU regulations and the reduction of bureaucracy. They are calling for reliable relief.

This year's General Assembly of the CETS (European Committee for Surface Treatment) in Solingen highlighted the extent to which European regulatory processes are now shaping electroplating and surface technology.

The SKZ has expanded its testing technology with a new measuring system. With the PermeH2O water vapor permeability tester, the barrier effect of films can be examined even more precisely and practically in future.

Milling tools for wood from Lukas-Erzett support precise and efficient pattern production in foundries - with high dimensional accuracy and smooth surfaces.

Presentation proposals can now be submitted for the ZVO Surface Technology Days 2026 in Karlsruhe. We are looking for practical contributions on current technical, economic and sustainability-related topics in surface technology.

At Hannover Messe 2026, Deutsche Messe will once again present the internationally renowned Hermes Award. The award recognizes technical innovations with industrial relevance. Applications can be submitted until February 15, 2026.

Paint manufacturer Peters is presenting ELPEPCB HSP 801 S, a heat sink paste at the trade fair that is characterized by a high thermal conductivity of 3 W/mK.

Researchers at Fraunhofer ILT have developed a laser process chain that enables hard-to-cut materials such as tungsten carbide to be structured and polished in a single clamping operation - efficiently and without tool wear.

Safechem launches Maxicheck Connect, a networked measuring system for bath monitoring in solvent-based parts cleaning. It automatically measures key parameters, provides trends in real time and supports audits with digital documentation.

The ZVO Surface Days 2026 in Karlsruhe will be brought forward by one week, from the originally planned September 23 to 25, 2026 to September 16 to 18, 2026.

Taniobis is realigning its production with a comprehensive transformation program and targeted investments in artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing.

The integration of Bridge Chemical expands Bodo Möller Chemie's sales and service capacities in core industrial regions.

For years, the buzzword "Industry 4.0" dominated debates about the future of production - with many visions but little substance in day-to-day business. Now the rapid development of artificial intelligence shows how quickly technological hype can turn into tangible progress. And even where it is…