Celebrating the Experts of Surface Finishing

My job is humbling. I see my byline on stories, my face in Products Finishing magazine and our videos. Each time I am reminded that it’s not about me. My day-to-day is spent researching things that the experts in the finishing industry already know. I talk to people working on shop floors and visit facilities where I get insights into just how much more I still have to learn.

Recently at Powder Coating Week in Orlando, Florida, at a roundtable discussion, Tom Whalen of TCI Powder Coatings graciously introduced me to a colleague saying, “Scott works for Products Finishing and is really in tune with what’s going happening in the industry.” I had to take a moment. The reason I attend events like Powder Coating Week is to learn firsthand from the folks who truly are in tune with the industry — the ones who live it every day. On behalf of Products Finishing, I’ll take the compliment (thanks, Tom!), because at PF, we work hard every day to dig into the issues and topics those working in and around finishing want to know about. We do our best to relay important industry news, let you know about the latest technologies, and keep a finger on the pulse of what matters to finishers. But, I have to be honest and confess that every day for me is a reminder that the real experts, the real fountains of information, the real stars are, in fact, all of you.

In March, PF hosted its fourth National Surface Finishing Day (NSFD), a day designed to celebrate and showcase the important roles plating and coating facilities play in their communities. Facilities are encouraged to host events and work with local media to build awareness.

In 2021, in the height of a global pandemic, out of necessity the event shifted to a largely online celebration. I feared participation would suffer. Instead, finishing operations, chemical suppliers, equipment suppliers, associations, and industry advocates fully embraced the virtual event by posting photos and videos, sharing tributes to their hardworking employees, hosting educational webinars, virtual demos and shop tours. It was nothing short of inspiring to see the surface finishing community come together in this way. It was proof that the sense of camaraderie, collaboration and optimism that we see at in-person industry events extends well beyond the conference rooms and exhibit floors. This year the event gained even more momentum as a virtual celebration. 

The return to events like Powder Coating Week and upcoming finishing industry events — ECOAT22 this month, SUR/FIN in June, PF’s Electroless Nickel Conference 2022 in October, and FABTECH in November, to name a few — is so very welcome. The excitement at Powder Coating Week was so palpable. People are thrilled to have the opportunity to network in person again. The challenges that the past few years have set before all areas of manufacturing are formidable, but the opportunities are also there. There is good work to be done and real gains to be made. As the saying goes, “in the middle of adversity lies opportunity.” Exciting days are ahead as the whole of manufacturing looks to address environmental and sustainability concerns while enabling new technologies. The past few years have revealed pain points and problem areas — and at times it has been excruciating. As we look forward, no one’s pretending to have all the answers. But I can tell you from first-hand experience that there are some good people in the finishing community who care about making the world a better place. Products Finishing will be here to help you tell that story. Let’s do this!