Surface news

Noah Seiler was awarded a Medal for Excellence at WorldSkills 2026. As a German competitor in the automotive painting trade, he was among the top performers in his field.

With the DJIC-AS01, Tramaco markets a water- and IPA-based coating system based on PEDOT:PSS. The functional layer is designed for applications that require a defined surface resistance combined with minimal impact on transparency.

SATA used Automechanika 2026 to present new special editions of the jet X spray gun and the jetstream robotic solution to an international audience of industry professionals. The focus was on applications for base coats and clear coats, as well as automation in automotive refinishing.

Eight months before the trade show begins, Ligna 2027 has attracted approximately 1,100 exhibitors across 100,000 square meters of occupied space. The main drivers of growth are the Ligna.Builds and Ligna.TruckStop formats, while the hall layout is being organized in a more compact manner.

Axalta has selected "Redefined" as the 2027 Global Auto Color of the Year. The deep ruby-red automotive paint combines luminosity with subtle glossy effects and is an evolution of "Radiant Red," the color with which the company launched its annual color initiative 13 years ago.

Abstracts for the European Coatings Show Conference 2027 may be submitted until September 18, 2026. We are seeking unpublished research findings and technological developments in areas such as coating and paint technology, as well as digitalization.

How practical is AI-powered robotic painting today? Oliver Bayer and Giuseppe Palopoli from Gohm + Graf Hardenberg took a close look at the Sehon AI revolution during the workshop. In the video, they discuss the shortage of skilled workers, paint quality, process reliability, and the question of…

AI and robotics are intended to make the painting process more efficient and reduce the workload on skilled workers. In the video, Timo Sehon explains what the company has learned from its first five workshops with its painting robot—and why spot painting, material savings, and the software in…

The shutdown of Leuna Polyamid could cost an additional 30 million euros. Following the failed search for investors, the chemical plant in Leuna is being phased out. The closure will also affect the chemical site’s materials and energy network. Co-partner Leuna-Harze produces, among other things,…

Evonik plans to close two smaller sites in Hamburg and Bitterfeld in 2027 and consolidate operations there at larger German sites. The moves will affect the cosmetics and personal care products and chlorosilanes divisions. Customer supply will continue through the Essen and Rheinfelden sites.

Axalta showcased a connected refinish system at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026. New features include the Irus AutoDose automatic paint mixing solution and a UV-A system for faster spot repairs and minor damage repairs.

AI-Based Robotics for Automated Wet Painting of Complex Components and Batch Size 1. A robot that scans complex components and independently generates and executes painting paths is pushing the current boundaries of automated painting. The system impressed seasoned professionals at workshops hosted…

Surface technology companies can still include research and development activities from 2022 for the research tax credit. If the fiscal year coincides with the calendar year, the regular four-year assessment period generally ends on December 31, 2026.

Dürr is equipping Volvo Cars’ new electric vehicle plant in Košice, Slovakia, with final assembly technology. The scope of supply includes conveyor, filling and testing systems for largely automated production. Production is scheduled to start in 2027, with the plant designed for a maximum capacity…

Surventis has appointed Dr Rebecca Koch as Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Executive Committee effective 1 September 2026. She will lead the coating technology company’s global HR organisation, with a focus on corporate culture, leadership and people development.

IST METZ is presenting its modular swap4cure platform for label printing at LOUPE Americas 2026. The system combines UV, LED-UV and thermal drying and allows users to switch between the technologies within a single machine concept.

Tioxide has resumed production of titanium dioxide pigments at its Greatham site near Hartlepool. Following the acquisition of the plant by LB Group earlier in 2026, the facility is initially operating on a single-stream basis. Production capacity is set to increase gradually, with full operational…

The German Federal Association of Automotive Refinishers (BFL) will present training, craftsmanship and technological developments in the automotive refinishing profession at Automechanika Frankfurt from 8 to 12 September 2026. Digital applications, automation and recruitment of young talent will be…

Surventis and Aumovio have entered into a strategic development and collaboration agreement for microstructured optical functional films. The aim is to advance and industrialise optical films for automotive displays and head-up displays.

BASF has expanded its dispersion production capacity at its Durban site in South Africa. The aim is to provide a more stable supply of dispersions for customers across Africa serving coatings, construction and paper applications.