Surface Top Stories

Artificial intelligence is also on the rise in surface technology. Participants at the DFO conference "European Automotive & Plastics Coating" in Mörfelden were able to gain an insight into current projects.

Record number of registrations: LIGNA 2025 (May 26 to 30 in Hanover) will once again be the international hotspot for the wood and furniture industry and clearly shows that surface technology is undergoing a profound transformation. Developments are focusing intensively on sustainability,…

Premiere: A carbon-neutral future with maximum efficiency and renewable energies - this is actually possible and can also be implemented economically. This is demonstrated by a paint store from Bad Aibling, which consistently relies on renewable energy and a holistic consumption and supply concept…

Digital product passport: opportunity or bureaucratic challenge? The digital product passport is coming - it will be mandatory for the first product groups from 2026. In the surface industry in particular, it poses considerable challenges for the predominantly medium-sized companies. However, the…

The 34th Powder Symposium Dresden 2025 once again marked an important meeting point for experts from the powder coating industry. With more than 300 participants and over 50 exhibitors, the two-day event at the Dresden Congress Center provided a platform for an intensive exchange of knowledge and…

Digitalization, complex production tasks and an increasing focus on sustainability are shaping the future. Innovative technologies such as RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and intelligent solutions for process optimization are penetrating more and more areas of production and are now also…

Many holes in a metal sheet can be very important functionally - the applications range from radiator grilles to pure design elements. The challenge, however, lies in the enormous edge length of such a perforated sheet. To ensure durability and quality, edge protection and edge covering are crucial.…

2025 will be another test - and not just for the surface industry. Rising energy prices, volatile supply and regulatory changes are challenging the industry - in a difficult environment.

Stricter regulations, the impending ban on bisphenol A and the threat of punitive tariffs on titanium dioxide pose major challenges for the surface industry. Read our latest top story to find out what measures companies can take now to remain competitive and how sustainability opens up new…

The 12th Industrial Coating Practice Forum in Wetzlar once again offered in-depth specialist knowledge and new impetus for the industry. Despite the challenging times, 235 experts from industry, research and business as well as 35 exhibiting companies came to the town hall in Wetzlar. As usual, the…

No chance for germs: The coronavirus pandemic has shown everyone how important it is to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses as early as possible. Depending on the pathogen, contaminated surfaces also play a key role in the transmission of microorganisms. Researchers have now developed an…

In mid-October, Audi celebrated the inauguration of the new building, including the base coat line, with more than 200 invited guests from politics and the press as well as company employees and suppliers. The new base coat line is characterized by sustainable concepts, including thin-layer…

John Deere has invested over 80 million euros at its German site in Mannheim. One part of the modernization is a new paint shop. It has now been successfully put into operation.

The surface industry's largest networking event took place this year at the Leipzig Congress Center. The agenda for the two-day event included almost 100 presentations. In addition to the classic coating topics, there was a focus on management, hydrogen and digitalization.

On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, the Industrial Parts Cleaning Association (FiT) will announce the winner of the third round of the FiT2clean Award, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, at the 32nd Industrial Parts Cleaning Conference. The association presents the award annually for outstanding…

AI is still at the beginning of its development, but its enormous potential is already taking shape. However, AI as an instrument also harbors great risks. But is a future without AI even possible?

The trend is clearly moving towards more and more automation - only when it comes to cleanliness inspections does the manual, time-consuming standard procedure according to VDA 19 continue to define the benchmark. However, there are now faster, automated alternatives with even better results.

Surfaces are a key factor for many future technologies, from batteries and solar cells to catalytic converters. However, it is virtually impossible to examine these surfaces because many measurement methods penetrate too deeply into the material. A newly developed gold membrane now makes it possible…

Sustainability requirements and stricter VOC regulations are making solvent-based paints less popular. However, the switch to more environmentally friendly systems also requires a new approach to paint drying. There are various systems to choose from, depending on the time and energy requirements.

Coating thicknesses are also an important issue for roller-coated, flat substrates. Until now, sample material has been weighed more or less precisely and regularly. Coating thicknesses that are too low quickly lead to complaints, while those that are too high waste resources and drive up costs -…