Viewpoint - March 2007

Pack your bags. There are some good events coming up that you need to be aware of and start making plans to attend.

Pack Your Bags

There are some good events coming up that you need to be aware of and start making plans to attend. This year, from June 13-15, we are holding the 10th International Coatings for Plastics Symposium and, for the first time, the event will be held in Chicago. Typically this symposium has been held in the Detroit area, but the Chicago venue offers easier traveling and convenience for many attendees and speakers alike. Many people want an opportunity to spend some time with family in Chicago in early summer – so start planning folks!

This symposium is dedicated to a niche market that is growing steadily and is not at all a small market. The symposium explores emerging trends and technologies that impact coatings on plastic substrates. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when plastic, as a coating substrate, was deemed almost impossible to coat. Today it is quite common, and a great deal of innovative application, preparation and formulation techniques account for these advances.

The 2007 program includes 24 papers that focus on new technology and new chemistries, characterization, economics and innovation that impact the automotive industry as well as appliances, electronics and construction. Apart from the technical content of the papers, the networking and attendee interaction has made this particular event very successful based on past feedback. Visit our website (www.pcimag.com) to see the full technical program plus housing details, etc.

In addition, from June 11-12, we are once again offering our Powder Coating 101 seminar designed for formulators, raw material suppliers, applicators, distributors, educators, engineers, sales and marketing and quality control managers. The two-day seminar examines the fundamentals of powder coating from formulating to market issues and new technology. This is a must-attend for people who are new to powder coatings or need to understand a bit more of the basic technology, as it delivers the most introductory and newest technology for powder coating formulation and performance issues. The symposium structure offers a great deal of interaction with the instructors and fellow attendees. Chicago is the host city this year and again is an ideal travel venue.

In addition, for those who have never attended the European Coatings Congress and Show it is another event that should be a must on everyone’s calendar. It is a biennial event, and this year will be held in Nürnberg, May 7-9 (Congress) and 8-10 (Exhibit). This event is truly one of a kind in scope and offerings for everyone who attends.

One last parting thought, please visit our website and look for our new CD on extender technology. It should be of great value to formulators, as well as sales and marketing personnel.