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Start Your Engines

The 2026 American Coatings Show and Conference returned to Indianapolis in Maynwith 542 exhibitors, more than 136,600 square feet of exhibit space and more than 8,000 participants from 63 countries. The concurrent American Coatings Conference drew nearly 900 attendees for 96 selected presentations across 16 topical sessions.

During the opening remarks, live poll results showed many participants were attending the American Coatings Conference for the first time, while others had attended once or multiple times before. When asked about digitalization in R&D, attendees most often pointed to integrating data across labs and sites, followed by limited budget or unclear ROI. Restrictions on substances of concern ranked as the strongest current regulatory impact on formulation work. Customer pressure to reduce costs and the need to shorten time-to-market stood out as leading product development challenges.

Dr. Bedri Erdem, chief technology officer at Rust-Oleum Corp. and RPM Consumer Group, delivered the keynote address, “Reimagining Chemistry as the Catalyst: Driving Innovation, Sustainability, Performance to Fuel Growth in the Coatings Industry.” Erdem looked at how chemistry can help the industry respond to sustainability needs, performance expectations and market growth, tracing progress from waterborne and powder coatings to nanocoatings, smart coatings, advanced pigments, self-healing coatings, automation and AI-supported development. 

Following the keynote, the conference recognized Dr. Ioanna Tzortzi, associate specialist in the Coating Solutions business unit at Perstorp, along with her coauthors with the 2026 American Coatings Award for the paper “Accelerated Alkyd Emulsification through AI-Driven Experimentation.” The paper focused on a closed-loop AI sequential-learning workflow for waterborne alkyd emulsification and AI-guided experimentation in complex bio-based and waterborne systems.

PCI in the Pit Lane

For PCI, ACS was a chance to be more visible on the show floor and connect with editorial contributors, advertisers and attendees. At our booth, we highlighted PCI’s technical content, industry news, multimedia coverage, upcoming PC Academy courses and the 2026 Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit, which will take place Sept. 15-17 in Lombard, Illinois.

We also caught up with members of PCI’s Editorial Advisory Board over breakfast. The board helps keep PCI’s content connected to the realities of the paint and coatings industry, offering input on emerging topics, editorial direction and the CTT Summit technical program. 

This year also marked a new step in PCI’s event coverage. In addition to written reporting from the show, PCI recorded booth videos and live podcast interviews from ACS.

• Live from ACS, Sun Chemical discussed evolving pigment performance, from ceramic whites for exterior durability to effect pigments and high-performance color chemistries.
• Live from ACS, BYK discussed additives shaping dirt pickup resistance, conductive coatings performance and evolving sustainability demands across coatings applications.
• Live from ACS, ystral highlighted powder dispersion and jet stream mixing approaches improving process efficiency, energy use and formulation consistency.
• The Coatings Minute: Live at ACS with DKSH featured PCI’s visit to DKSH at the 2026 American Coatings Show to learn what the company was showcasing this year.
• The Coatings Minute: Live at ACS with Orion featured PCI’s visit to Orion S.A. at the 2026 American Coatings Show to learn what the company was showcasing this year.

On the Show Floor

Across the show floor, exhibitors showcased materials, additives, pigments, preservatives, process technologies and formulation tools aimed at performance, sustainability, regulatory compliance and faster development.

Ashland

Ashland showcased its expanded solutions portfolio for industrial and architectural coatings, with technologies designed to support high-performance, more sustainable formulations. Product highlights included aquavis ULS 250 and aquavis ULS 255 nonionic synthetic associative thickeners, easy Wet 310 substrate wetting agent, easy release BR 110 specialty surfactant, drewplus foam control agents and pHlex zero pH neutralizing agents. The company also promoted iSolve, its customer portal for product information, technical data sheets, regulatory documentation and application-focused insights.

Arkema

Arkema focused on advanced coating materials for green building and high-growth markets such as data center construction, electronics, mobility and energy generation. The company highlighted resins, monomers, photoinitiators and rheology modifiers for coatings used in electronic components, cool surfaces, HVAC insulation, EV batteries, cables and related applications. Arkema also emphasized bio-based and lower-carbon-footprint materials, decarbonization advancements and solutions designed to improve energy efficiency.

Arxada

Arxada featured recent innovations and new launches tied to its 360-degree preservation strategy, which looks at contamination control and product protection from manufacturing through shipment, shelf life, application and long-term film protection. The company highlighted TMMA, or The Microbial Management Advantage, a consultative plant hygiene service that includes audits, microbiology laboratory analysis and species identification. Arxada also showcased a new wet-state preservation solution, Polyboost multifunctional additive and TIME Controlled Release dry-film preservation technology, including Polyphase 763CR for North American customers.

BASF

BASF launched Efka PX 4720, a high-performance acrylic dispersing agent designed for ultra-matte, solvent-free UV-curing coatings. Developed using controlled free radical polymerization technology, Efka PX 4720 is designed to stabilize treated and untreated silica-based matting agents while reducing viscosity and supporting higher matting-agent loading. Suggested applications include industrial coatings, furniture, flooring and floor care.

DKSH

DKSH exhibited as a specialty chemicals distributor supporting product development through technical expertise, market knowledge, formulation support and supply chain capabilities. The company highlighted full geographic coverage across the United States and Canada and showcased supplier innovations for coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, protective coatings, inks, laminations, construction applications, resins, functional polymers, plastics, composites, rubber and fibers. DKSH also featured a joint booth with ICL Halox focused on corrosion inhibition technologies for coating durability.

Dow

Dow Coating Materials showcased technologies focused on performance, sustainability and customer collaboration. Presentations covered OPTI-MATT MT-8 100% Acrylic Emulsion Extender in specialty paints, polymer design strategies to improve acrylic coating adhesion to roof substrates, DOWSIL 213S and 214S next-generation slip and mar additives for abrasion and scuff resistance and updated exterior exposure methods for emerging architectural coating trends.

Elementis

Elementis highlighted additive technologies for architectural, industrial and specialty coatings. The company’s display area featured side-by-side application panels comparing its technologies with market references. Featured solutions included the Opacity Toolbox for balancing opacity, cost-in-use and sustainability, HYPOMER MT-2550k for premium matte finishes, CVS Functionalized Additives for post-tint viscosity stability, biobased and renewable additives, THIXATROL AS 8053 and THIXATROL PM 8058 high-efficiency thickeners and THIXATROL 5050W and RHEOLATE 290 for metallic color development.

Engineered Polymer Solutions

Engineered Polymer Solutions featured high-performance polymer and colorant technologies for architectural coatings, construction products, industrial applications and pigment dispersions. The company highlighted polymers made without intentionally added fluorosurfactants for interior and exterior applications, construction polymers with resistance to yellowing, dirt pickup, asphalt bleed-through and blushing, industrial resins for water, corrosion and chemical resistance and colorants with broad compatibility for POS and OEM systems. EPS also presented research on quantifying blushing through a digital approach to sealer evaluation and development.

Hexion

Hexion highlighted developments with VeoVa vinyl esters and Cardura glycidyl ester for industrial and architectural coating applications. Highlights included Veocryl technology, which uses VeoVa 10 monomer to upgrade acrylic polymers for improved hydrophobicity and exterior protection in wood, exterior architectural and roof coatings. Hexion also featured fluorine-free protective coatings, VeoVa vinyl ester-modified acrylic polyols for durability and weatherability, Cardura monomer for low-VOC resins without PCBTF or t-BAC and VeoVa monomer for intumescent coatings.
 

hubergroup Chemicals

hubergroup Chemicals showcased sustainable, high-performance solutions for coating and ink technologies, including its ELARA additive series and UV oligomer UHVPI-222200. ELARA is designed to meet increasing technical and regulatory requirements and is largely PFAS- and VOC-free. UHVPI-222200, an amine-modified polyether acrylate oligomer, enhances curing behavior and surface quality in UV-curing systems for industrial coatings, UV flexo inks, organic photovoltaic devices and wood coatings.
 

LANXESS

LANXESS introduced lower-carbon pigment technology, next-generation low-VOC additives and microbial control solutions. Highlights included Bayferrox Scopeblue micronized iron oxide yellow pigments, designed to reduce the carbon footprint of premium coatings while offering drop-in use. LANXESS also introduced Koalex MFX, a multifunctional low-VOC coalescent for waterborne coatings, and featured tailored in-can and dry-film preservation strategies. The company also presented its Control, Detect and Prevent concept for plant hygiene management, supported by Bioban QK 20 for short-term preservation and rapid microbial control. 

Microban International

Microban International highlighted technologies that can be manufactured into coatings to provide durable product protection against microbial growth. The company also presented “Accelerating the Development of Exterior Coatings through Test Design,” led by James Rapley, liquid formulations manager at Microban. The session introduced an accelerated laboratory test method developed by Microban to screen technologies for algae resistance and antifungal performance under controlled conditions.

Orion S.A.

Orion S.A. showcased ECOLAR 50 POWDER, made from bio-circular feedstocks, along with grades designed to provide high jetness in waterborne and solventborne systems. The company also presented “High Performance Conductive Coatings with Specialty Carbon Blacks,” highlighting the role specialty carbon blacks can play in conductive coatings performance.

Shamrock Technologies

Shamrock Technologies spotlighted its portfolio of performance additive solutions for the evolving coatings market. The company focused on PFAS-free, bio-based and microplastic-free additives developed to help formulators meet regulatory, performance and sustainability requirements. Shamrock also highlighted emulsions and dispersions for water-based systems, with additive technologies addressing slip, abrasion resistance, surface modification, release and handling efficiency. The company brought its “Better Formulas Start Here” message to life with race-car-inspired visuals and a 15-foot racetrack demonstration.
 

Sun Chemical

Sun Chemical presented advanced materials and color solutions for coatings, including functional polymers, effect pigments and digital tools. The company highlighted low-monomer polyisocyanates for polyaspartic systems, high-performance polyurethane dispersions, Ceranate hybrid acrylic siloxane technologies for outdoor durability and Hydran GP high-solid PU dispersions. In color materials, Sun Chemical showcased Glacier Exterior Ceramic White S1303M, Paliocrom Sparkling Crimson L 4050, Fanchon Orange 36, Sunbrite Red 177, Cinquasia and Paliogen high-performance organic red pigments and Heliogen blue and green phthalocyanine pigments.

SUSONITY

SUSONITY showcased its expanded portfolio of effect pigments, functional materials and actives for coatings applications. The company highlighted new product developments, inspiration-driven styling tools and technical expertise for effect pigment coating applications. Among its featured innovations was Xirallic NXT Leopard White, described as the cleanest and brightest expression of its Living Sparkle technology, offering maximum sparkle at low loadings with an almost neutral appearance. SUSONITY also presented work on functional core-shell nanoparticles designed to improve scratch resistance in high-gloss, solvent-based two-component polyurethane automotive clearcoats.
 

Syensqo

Syensqo showcased solutions designed to help formulators meet regulatory, sustainability and durability demands. Highlights included a new alternative to fluorosurfactants for emulsion polymerization, Rhodoline HBR for early hot-block resistance in waterborne paint formulations, APE-free Abex specialty emulsifiers, Rhodasurf nonionic surfactants, Rhodoline OTE 600 for open-time extension and Rhodoline FT 100 for freeze-thaw stability. Syensqo also featured Rhodiasolv green solvents, Sipomer MAC specialty monomer for corrosion protection, Reactsurf 2490 for water resistance, Addibond 106 for adhesion and corrosion resistance and Rhodoline 7500 polymeric dispersant for universal pigment compatibility.

Univar Solutions

Ingredients + Specialties from Univar Solutions showcased formulation strategies and specialty product technologies for coatings, including high-performance innovations, sustainable coating technologies, supply chain security support and distribution-driven pathways to accelerate speed-to-market. The team highlighted its CASE portfolio, formulation expertise, supplier partnerships and Global CASE Solution Centers, which support benchmarking, testing, reformulation and product development. The company also shared presentations on a novel underwater-curable epoxy for submerged bonding and extending film preservative longevity in water-based coatings.

Westlake Epoxy

Westlake Epoxy showcased its latest innovations under the theme “American Manufacturing. Global Products. Future-Ready!” The company highlighted a lower-yellowing epoxy system, lower-temperature cure system and higher-chemical-resistance system. Westlake also emphasized its epoxy expertise and support for customers with specific formulation needs.
 

ystral

ystral presented its high-shear vacuum expansion technology for powder dispersion in paint and coatings production. The process is designed to deliver strong dispersion quality while reducing production time, costs, raw material use, energy consumption, labor and floor space. According to the company, the technology can save up to 20% of raw materials, up to 90% of process time and an average of 70% of the energy previously required, depending on the application. ystral also presented “Vacuum Expansion as a Booster for Inline Dispersion Performance,” explaining how the technology separates and singularizes powder particles before they enter the high-shear inline dispersion zone.

The Final Lap

Looking ahead, the next American Coatings Show and Conference will take place March 28-30, 2028, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

I always try to fit in a little sightseeing when I travel for a show. In Indianapolis, that meant a stop at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. As usual, it was a reminder that coatings are everywhere: the finishes on historic race cars, the color and gloss that make each vehicle recognizable and the durability needed to protect surfaces built for speed, heat and wear.

One display that stood out was the PPG Cup Championship Trophy, presented annually to the Championship Auto Racing Teams series champion from 1980-1998 before it was retired after the 1998 season. It was a fitting reminder that coatings show up in places people may not immediately think about, from the show floor at ACS to the track at Indianapolis.