The city of Cleveland is setting the stage for an important coatings industry event in 2017—the ACA’s CoatingsTech Conference. From March 20 to 22 at the Westin Cleveland Downtown, this major conference will focus on “Meeting the Sustainability Challenges of Today and Tomorrow.” Through a series of special lectures, technical sessions, and advanced training sessions, the 2017 event will offer an unprecedented opportunity for coatings professionals from all levels of the industry to participate. The conference also offers the prospect for middle managers to learn best practices in industry management trends.

Short Courses

Prior to the opening of the technical conference on March 20, ACA will host a series of half-day short courses. Designed to provide critical training for industry personnel from entry level technicians to research managers, topics include:

  • Coatings 101
  • Weathering & Service Life
  • Smart & Multifunctional Coatings: How They Are Conceived and Made
  • R&D Management—Giving Projects the Go: From Fostering Ideas to Finding Funding
  • Special Challenges in R&D: Integrating Biobased Materials, Nanotechnology, and New Chemistries
  • Paint Film Defects: Assessing Problems and Aligning Solutions

CoatingsTech Conference Technical Program

These intense short courses will lead into the opening session of the CoatingsTech Conference technical program, where a keynote address will set the tone for this important industry event. Following the opening, concurrent technical tracks will focus on topics of importance to the industry. Subjects to be covered include novel waterborne materials, protective coatings, renewable and biobased coatings, advances in analytical technology, and corrosion and adhesion. To be introduced in 2017, a session will explore the coatings industry’s role in meeting regulatory and sustainability challenges that support end users.

Mattiello Lecture

One of the most highly anticipated presentations given to the coatings industry each year is by the Joseph J. Mattiello Lecturer.  This award honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to science, technology, and/or engineering related to the coatings industry. The lecturer is selected based on standards of technical accomplishment, service to the industry, and leadership. Joseph J. Mattiello, in whose memory the award is dedicated, did much to expand the application of science in the decorative and protective coatings field.

CoatingsTech Award

The CoatingsTech Best Paper Award, new to the conference this year, will be given for the best overall paper presented during the conference. The winning contribution will be recognized for high technical merit, relevance to coatings technology, and potential impact on the future of the industry—standards set by CoatingsTech magazine. Those participating in this competition will be judged not only on the quality of their paper but their presentation ability as well.

Roon Awards

One of the most respected technical awards given in the coatings industry is the annual Roon Award. The award recognizes original work presented at the conference that is of the highest scientific caliber. Papers considered for Roon Awards may not have been previously published or presented.

Student Focus

A major objective of the CoatingsTech Conference is to encourage student participation. At the conference, undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. level students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the industry and the work they have done through the Student Presentation Award competition and Student Posters. Papers submitted by students for presentation will be judged based on experimental design and execution, originality, and relevance. A popular feature of the conference, the Student Poster Session, will take place on Monday, March 20. The Student Poster session will provides a forum for individuals who are involved in coatings research. The session is a noncommercial arena for new ideas and techniques. It also showcases preliminary results and work that is significant, but not fully completed.

General Information

Complete details on the CoatingsTech Conference, including program information, hotel accommodations, and registration rates will be available in the near future. Visit paint.org/2017-coatingstech-conference for updates.