International Finishing and Coatings Summit

When the International ThermProcess Summit (ITPS) debuted in 2016 for executives in the U.S. thermprocess industry, Products Finishing Publisher Todd Luciano and Chemical Coaters Association International Executive Director Anne Goyer agreed finishing needed to be part of future events. Both were in attendance and noticed the interesting exchanges happening among executives and the positive comments that were circulating about the event.

As a result, CCAI and Products Finishing are sponsoring the International Finishing and Coatings Summit (IFCS) in conjunction with ITPS July 30–August 1, making this joint summit a critically important event for these two manufacturing segments.

Scheduled at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta hotel, the summits will bring together an impressive and diverse group of business leaders offering information to help executives stay on top of the latest trends and innovations affecting their manufacturing operations.

Co-sponsored by the Industrial Heating Equipment Association (IHEA) and CCAI, Goyer says that the combined event will provide a unique platform for industry intelligence and collaboration that drives manufacturing excellence.

“There is no other event like this in North America for executives in these manufacturing segments,” she says.

Two general sessions will feature presentations that appeal to all manufacturing executives, while two breakout sessions will focus on topics specific to the industrial heating and the industrial finishing and coating segments. When combined with an array of social and networking activities, Goyer says this is a must-attend event for thermprocess, and finishing and coatings executives.

Here is a sneak peek at the program:

Monday, July 30

Welcome Reception

 

Tuesday, July 31

General Sessions

Factories of the Future / What Does the Future Workforce Look Like?
Dr. Irene Petrick, Market Innovation Director, Industrial Solutions Division/Internet of Things Group, Intel Corp.
An internationally recognized expert in strategic road mapping, Dr. Petrick has worked with a wide variety of companies ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies and the U.S. military. Her presentation will focus on the future of manufacturing and the manufacturing workforce.

Trends in Additive Manufacturing
Todd Grimm, Founder and President, T.A. Grimm and Associates
An expert in additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping, Grimm will present the latest technology trends and developments. Known for his energetic and passionate presentations, he effectively delivers highly technical aspects of this rising technology to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Manufacturing USA Initiatives: What They Are and How You Can Benefit?
Thomas Kurfess, Ph.D., P.E., Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Kurfess is the HUSCO/Ramirez distinguished chair in fluid power and motion control, and a professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. He will provide an overview of the Manufacturing USA initiative focused on coordinating public and private investment in emerging advanced manufacturing technologies and explain how manufacturers can benefit from these efforts.

Congressional Priorities and Policies
Omar Nashashibi, Founding Partner, The Franklin Partnership
Nashashibi lobbies Congress, the White House and federal agencies on behalf of manufacturing companies and other groups. This is your chance to hear directly from a Washington insider about the latest on trade, workforce training, regulations and implementation of the new tax law, among other timely issues.

 

Finishing & Coatings Breakout Sessions

Opportunities & Threats in the Finishing Industry, Speaker TBA

OEM Perspective on the Finishing Industry, Mark Prehar, AGCO, and Anteneh Kebbede, GE Global Research

Finishing Economics, Michael Guckes, Gardner Intelligence

Benchmarking Your Finishing Shop: Steps to Improve Efficiencies and Profits, Tim Pennington, Products Finishing

 

ThermProcess Breakout Sessions

Opportunities & Threats in the ThermProcess Industry, Tim Lee, Honeywell Thermal Solutions

OEM Perspective on the ThermProcess Industry, Chad Spore, John Deere

Risk Management Strategies for Industrial Combustion Systems, Chris Della Mora, HUB International Risk Services

Cutting Edge Trends: A Consultants Panel Looks at the Future

 

Taste of the South Dinner

Following a day of interesting and informative presentations, you’ll have the chance to network with other executives and speakers, and exchange conversation, ideas and knowledge with all those in attendance in a casual setting.

Wednesday, August 1

General Sessions

Driving Consistent Performance Excellence
Dr. Amber Selking, Founder, Selking Performance Group
Through her experiences working in manufacturing for SPX Corp. and as the mental performance consultant for the University of Notre Dame football team, Dr. Selking will share insights from the field of human performance psychology that will help you deliver your best on a more consistent basis.

Cybersecurity: Keeping Your Business Secure
Chad Hunt, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Atlanta office
Hunt leads a team of agents and analysts who conduct investigations in support of the FBI’s Cyber Division mission to identify, pursue, and defeat cyber adversaries.

Economic Trends
Chris Kuehl, Co-founder and Managing Director, Armada Corporate Intelligence
As Armada’s economic analyst, Kuehl has worked with a wide variety of private clients and professional associations. His presentation will focus on economic trends and their impact on manufacturers.

Tomorrow’s Talent Today
Noel Ginsburg, CEO, CareerWise Colorado
This presentation outlines the skilled-workforce shortage facing manufacturing today, and how the CareerWise youth-apprenticeship program can help address it by moving business from being merely a consumer of talent to becoming a producer of talent.

OEM Manufacturing Perspective
Several representatives of major OEMs will share their insights on the state of manufacturing in their industries. Confirmed participants include Susanne Lauda, AGCO and Brian Westfall, Trane.

Transitioning Your Business to the Next Generation
Speaker TBA
It’s no secret that US manufacturing stands to lose an enormous amount of business intelligence and knowledge through retirement in the next 5 to 10 years. Are your company executives thinking about this? Can you fill the increasing gap between upper management and your workforce?