Anticipation is heightening as the days to the start of the European Coatings Show (ECS) and Conference come every closer. Scheduled for March 18–21, ECS will bring together member representatives from all segments of the paint and coatings value chain from across the globe. Exhibitors, conference presenters, and attendees will be discussing the latest trends and issues facing the coatings industry and learning about new developments designed to overcome the toughest challenges across different formulation types, end-user industries, and applications.
Opportunities for limitless interactions across all aspects of the industry and promoting existing and new products and expertise seem to be the greatest drivers for participation in ECS in 2019. For King Industries, the ECS is a valuable platform for showcasing products and services to the global coatings industry and a diverse meeting place for customers, distributors, and technical experts across various market segments, according to marketing communications manager, Karen Stenger. For Clariant, ECS has evolved over the years from having a more regional focus to its current position as a leading exhibition in the industry, attracting participants and clients from all over the world, according to Sebastian Prock, global marketing segment leader for Paints & Coatings and Industrial Applications at Clariant. Similarly, for BYK, ECS affords a venue for the optimal presentation of its differentiated additive solutions combined with professional and trust-based dialog with international customers, according to head of Business Line Paint Additives Stefan Mössmer. “The concept of a one-stop shop where we can connect with our customers, distributors, suppliers, and other stakeholders is highly effective,” adds Geert Hofman, general manager Performance Additives at Nouryon (previously the specialty chemicals business of AkzoNobel). “We use ECS as a forum to introduce innovations to our customers, while our specialists also have the opportunity to deliver deep-dive presentations to wider groups,” he continues.
DCC LANSCO is participating in ECS in 2019 not only to promote its enhanced product portfolio, but to examine what is new and exciting in the coatings industry and introduce members of its senior management team to the European market, according to global product marketing manager Bruce Howie. “Attendance at ECS affords us the opportunity to closely network with customers, suppliers, distributors, and competitors to keep abreast of all situations related to the ever-changing world of color,” she observes. For BASF, ECS showcases a broad range of the latest products, new technologies, and industry trends. “As one of the world’s most innovative companies, BASF is proud to participate in the ECS where industry hot topics are discussed to drive future coating technologies,” asserts Gops Pillay, president of BASF’s Global Operating Division Dispersions & Pigments.
According to Claus Rettig, Evonik’s chairman of the Board of Management for Resource Efficiency, the company has two important goals in mind as it participates in ECS 2019. These are to maintain and strengthen intensive networking with its customers, generating even more customer proximity, and to introduce Evonik’s new solutions and highlights to the coatings, adhesives, and construction segments of the industry while bundling its expertise for those markets. Similarly, Lubrizol participates in ECS to reinforce awareness of the company as a supplier of innovative coating technologies, to enhance relationships with existing and new customers, and to observe key market trends and developments, according to Anja Kloth, regional marketing manager for Lubrizol Performance Coatings. OMNOVA, meanwhile, seeks to gain further exposure of the international paint and coatings community to is product portfolio and raise awareness of its innovations, as well as leverage face-to-face time with both existing and potential new partners, according to Sébastien Lochner, marketing manager EMEA&I Coatings at OMNOVA Solutions. Sun Chemical also hopes to demonstrate how its full range of tailor-made pigments and polymers can help customers and prospective customers achieve excellent results with any coatings application. “We look forward to interacting face-to-face with a much broader global customer base and learning what needs and requirements they are looking for with both their pigments and polymers,” notes Michael T. Venturini, marketing director for Coatings with Sun Chemical Performance Pigments.
ECS 2019 is particularly important for Dow Coating Materials, according to Issam Lazraq, the company’s global strategic marketing director for Industrial and Functional Coatings. The merger of Dow and DuPont was completed since the last ECS. “As we enter the new Dow era, ECS gives us a great platform to enhance our industry reputation for cutting-edge, technological innovation and showcase the latest breakthroughs in sustainable development,” he states. “ECS also gives us the chance to share the great potential of the new Dow and show how eager we are to work together with customers to carve out lasting, industry-changing developments that will drive future growth—supported by an enhanced suite of raw materials solutions,” Lazraq concludes.