Новые технологии контроля и автоматизации помогают производителям повышать качество и эффективность процессов покрытия

From securing parts on hooks to protecting threads and managing air pressure, purpose-built masking products are helping manufacturers reduce rework, improve efficiency and achieve more consistent finishing results. Ecoclean’s two automated process control solutions, the Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) system and Smart Drying technology, are designed to meet the high quality standards of water-based cleaning processes. Both methods evaluate corrosion resistance, but they don’t always produce the same results. Understanding the key differences can help suppliers stay ahead of evolving automotive OEM requirements. Dr. Elizabeth Podlaha-Murphy wins the 2026 NASF William Blum Award for her groundbreaking research on electrodeposition of Ni-Fe-Mo-W alloys. Explore her full project reports. After years of monochromatic styling, blacked-out trim packages and painted trim, OEMs are once again using metallic surfaces to create distinctive vehicle identities to define consumers’ in-vehicle experience. Daily or per-shift viscosity readings may feel sufficient, but if your booth cycles a rack per minute, you need measurements in seconds. Explore the engineering principle that explains why — and what’s at stake. The global electric vehicle market has been on a steady rise for more than a decade, but with slow adoption in the U.S. relative to the rest of the world, what can the coatings industry do to support OEMs? The best operations aren’t necessarily smarter — they have better visibility. Gardner Business Media's new Manufacturing Connected platform is designed to give every manufacturing professional that same edge. Pretreatment is the foundation of coating performance. When it's right, adhesion and corrosion resistance are consistent and predictable. When it's off — even slightly — problems often surface months later as rust, blistering or rework. In this webinar, Hubbard-Hall pretreatment expert Gary Raihl draws on decades of plant-floor and lab experience to focus on the three variables that most directly control results: time, temperature and testing. Rather than stopping at routine titrations, this session examines how cleaner exposure, stage temperature, line speed and bath control influence soil removal, water break and conversion coating formation. Attendees will see how these fundamentals translate into coating weight, adhesion and corrosion performance — and why good chemistry can still fall short when process drift or poor communication between operations, equipment and chemical teams goes unchecked. The goal is to clarify what should be monitored, why it matters and how small deviations in pretreatment conditions can become major coating problems downstream. Agenda: Why coating failures start in pretreatment: how incomplete cleaning or poor conversion lead to corrosion, adhesion loss and rework months later The impact of time and temperature on performance: how dwell time, bath temperature and line speed control soil removal and coating formation What to monitor beyond titrations: key indicators such as dwell time, temperature, water break, coating weight and in-process verification How testing connects the lab to the line: using salt spray, coating weight and process logs to confirm performance and detect drift early Why communication is a process control tool: how coordination between chemical, equipment and operations teams prevents compatibility issues and downstream failures Do you know what is in your electroplating bath? While X-ray fluorescence (XRF) has traditionally been used in electroplating facilities to measure the thickness and composition of plated coatings, many in the industry are now recognizing its value for monitoring the elemental composition of plating baths as well. XRF enables simultaneous multi-element analysis with significantly reduced sample preparation time and cost compared to conventional techniques. This enhanced visibility into bath chemistry allows for more consistent process checks, enabling operators to maintain bath stability and respond proactively to changes before they result in process disruptions. Advancements in automation and inline measurement now make it possible to integrate XRF directly into plating lines — facilitating real-time analysis and automated bath adjustments for optimized performance. Join Fischer Technology to explore the latest innovations in how electroplaters can leverage XRF to improve efficiency, quality and control in their operations. Agenda: How XRF technology can analyze plating bath chemistry How this analysis can improve your plating quality, efficiency and costs How this compares to alternate methods How to improve control and quality traceability with continuous monitoring using inline XRF In powder coating, performance starts long before the powder ever hits the part. This session takes a closer look at the role of surface prep chemistry and how it shapes coating outcomes — from adhesion to corrosion resistance and overall durability. Attendees will hear real-world examples of how shops are adjusting their pretreatment process based on part geometry, metal type and soils — from cold rolled and hot forged steel to extruded and architectural aluminum. Hubbard-Hall will explore the role of cleaner-coaters, deoxidizers and derusters — and how to work through issues like stearates on drawn steel or paraffin-based lubricants. Whether you're running a five-stage washer or working through inconsistent results, this session shows how looking beyond time, temperature and concentration — and toward chemistry, process flow and substrate condition — can lead to more consistent, higher-performing finishes. Agenda: Understand how surface prep chemistry interacts with different metals and soils Learn how cleaner coaters, deoxidizers and derusters fit into a modern pretreatment process See how real shops have improved performance by adjusting their surface prep approach Gain troubleshooting tips for resolving common coating failures tied to inadequate prep Young professionals are a vital asset to the finishing industry, and it is important to acknowledge those who are making great strides in shaping the industry's future. Products Finishing is proud to announce a new awards program that recognizes individuals in the industry that are making important contributions to forward the surface finishing industry. In-line solution achieves digitalized nondestructive measurement of paint layer thickness for exterior plastic parts in series production for resource conservation and more accurate quality inspection deployment. Brighton Science uses decades of experience, 2-second surface measurements and a framework of data-based specs and KPIs to help manufacturers advance toward reliable, predictable bond quality for faster, high-performance production. Introduction of a rail-mounted gantry automation for passivation and surface finishing provides consistency and efficiency for regulated manufacturing environments. The 20XP incorporates a UR20 cobot that’s modified to be explosion-proof and an innovative programming system to create a safe, easy-to-use method for automating liquid painting processes. Elinor Coatings (Fargo, North Dakota) has been registered as a single-site quality management system in conformance with ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D by PRI Certification, coming out of an audit conducted in accordance with the requirements of AS9104/1:2012-01. PRI Certification is accredited under the ICOP Scheme. The company provides custom development of chromate-free anti-corrosion and specialty coatings and metal protection systems for several sub-sectors, including the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The scope of registration covers the design, manufacturing and testing of specialized coatings. The certificate number is 23830, issued July 8, 2026, and expires July 7, 2029. By focusing on effluent treatment and efficient tin recovery, this Indian surface treatment plant meets stringent environmental standards and sustainable high-quality production. The Association for Materials Protection and Performance collaborates with global partners to highlight corrosion risks and solutions on World Corrosion Awareness Day, April 24, 2026. Loading Powered By: Sign in or sign up Set up your free account Sign in to Products Finishing We'll send a secure link to your inbox, no password required. Sign in to Products Finishing Enter your email and password below to sign in. Please enter your email below to sign up or sign in