Topic: International Growth for PaintExpo
More than five months
before the 4th PaintExpo opens at the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre, the
exhibitor list already includes roughly 300 companies (revision level: 8
November 2011). They come from 19 nations with 23.6% from countries other than
Germany. Further growth in exhibitor numbers and internationalism is thus being
experienced by the leading international trade fair for industrial coating
technology. Nearly all of the market and technology leaders are already
represented in the various exhibition segments.
“Offerings which are focused exclusively on the process sequences
for liquid painting, powder coating and coil coating provide exhibitors and
visitors with a clear-cut value advantage. And this is being recognised by more
and more manufacturers of industrial coating technology both inside and outside
of Germany.” This is how Jürgen Haußmann, managing director of event promoters
FairFair GmbH, explains the relentless growth of the international trade fair
for industrial coating technology. What he didn’t mention is the fact that the
majority of the visitors from all over the world come to PaintExpo with
concrete tasks, investment plans and the intention to place orders. And this
will also be the case at the upcoming event, which will take place at the
exhibition centre in Karlsruhe from 17 through 20 April 2012, because companies
from all sectors with in-house painting operations, as well as job-shop
coaters, are interested in increasing the efficiency, the quality and the
ecology of the painting process. And in this respect, it doesn’t make any
difference at all which industry sector requires painting of parts made of
metal, plastic, wood, glass or other materials.
Solutions Ranging from
Pretreatment right on up to Final Inspection
Exhibitors from all sectors are offering new products and services,
as well as further developments targeted at optimising processes. Where the
pretreatment of metals is concerned, for example, a trend towards nano-ceramic
conversion coatings is becoming apparent. Alternatively, solutions are being
offered which generate a plainly visible oxidized protective layer with a
thickness of just a few nanometres. This allows for easy visual inspection. Moreover,
pretreatment can be completed very quickly (within 20 to120 seconds) at
temperatures ranging from 20 to 35° C, by means of which energy savings and
high throughput rates are made possible.
Ever smaller lot quantities and a continuously increasing variety of
colour tones, as well as shorter and shorter life cycles, also represent
significant challenges for operators of painting and coating systems. With
system concepts and optimisation solutions which are laid out consistently for
flexibility and efficient use of materials, the exhibitors are making a
significant contribution to streamlined operations, and thus a sharp
competitive edge, for companies with in-house painting facilities.
One of the focal points in the field of powder coatings involves low
temperature powder coating systems and powdered enamels, which provide
optimised corrosion protection. Newly developed powdered enamels with metallic
effect will also be introduced. These include, for instance, high-temperature
resistant metallic powder and paint systems which provide the coated surface
with a certain 3D effect, as well as greater resistance to fingerprints and
moisture. Innovative controllers and systems for effective powder conveyance
and application also offer answers to questions about how quality and
efficiency can be increased, end energy consumption reduced. Potential savings
can also be exploited by means of greater degrees of automation. Modern
painting robots will be demonstrated which are easy to programme and allow for
improved reproducibility of painting results, reduced scrap rates and thus
improved quality and economy. The exhibitors will also offer new products in
the area of conveyor systems.
The use of infrared heat provides impressive results in many cases
where shorter drying or curing times are required, and at the same time reduced
energy consumption is desired. Space requirements can often be significantly
reduced as well in this way.
Further segments for which PaintExpo’s exhibitors will present
numerous new solutions include paint stripping, quality assurance and
accessories such as masks and hangers, as well as printing, identification and
packaging.
Further information and a preliminary exhibitor list can be accessed
at www.paintexpo.com.
