Take Full Advantage of Industry Events

Welcome to the February issue of Products Finishing — it always seems like February is when the new year really starts after the post-holiday reentry into the work schedule. Suddenly travel plans for the year are in the works, planning ramps up for Spring industry events and everyone gets plugged back into the business at hand. As we weigh our busy schedules and make our plans to attend one event or another, it’s important to remind ourselves that conferences and tradeshows are not just about networking and showcasing products, but are also they are also important opportunities for learning, collaboration, innovation and business growth. The evolving trends in manufacturing influence the work that finishing operations will see throughout the year and attending events is essential for staying ahead of the curve and moving your business forward.

Every business has to factor the expenses for such events into the cost of its business, yet sending members of your team — particularly newer hires — affords them the opportunity to benefit from the experience of industry leaders, innovators, experts and peers. This investment should be considered a crucial part of training your team and fostering their industry education. Your employees will gain new insights, reinforce best practices and learn about the latest developments. The panel discussions, seminars and workshops your team has access to at these events should be thought of as tools for discovering competitive advantages for your business, staying on top of the latest regulatory updates and keeping your business relevant in the ever-changing world of manufacturing.  

In addition, as consumers and OEMs place a growing focus on sustainability in manufacturing processes, surface finishers must continue to stay on top of the latest regulatory guidelines and explore eco-friendly solutions for their processes. Industry events offer a chance to learn about new sustainable approaches and alternative materials.

The new year promises many such opportunities. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the industry events on the horizon.

This year’s Powder Coating Week, scheduled for March 11 to 13 in Orlando, Florida, is the perfect opportunity for powder coating industry professionals to expand their knowledge and network with colleagues. The program, comprised of four separate events, offers the perfect combination of training, presentations, technical sessions, tabletop exhibits, roundtable discussions, expert panels and social activities. You can learn more about the event here: short.pfonline.com/pcw2024

ECOAT 2024 is scheduled for April 2-4 in Orlando, Florida. This biennial event is a wonderful opportunity for electrocoating professionals to connect and learn about the latest developments, or for those interested in adding ecoat to their offerings to learn about the technology.  In this issue, you’ll find a helpful preview to the event, complete with the full conference schedule and an overview of the networking opportunities the event has in store for attendees (see page 32).

For coaters looking further afield for the latest innovations and technologies, PaintExpo in Karlsruhe, Germany, will take place April 9-12. The event showcases the latest industrial coating innovations, applications, future technologies and trends. From the latest spray guns, equipment and materials to advances in automation technology, PaintExpo is a great way to get a global perspective of what’s happening in the industry. And if you can’t make the show, I’m excited to say that PF is planning to attend and report back with some of the highlights.

The Women in Finishing (WiF) FORUM will take place in Orlando April 15-17, featuring a variety of professional development and industry related sessions. Designed for women in industrial finishing-related careers from the shop floor to executive management, WiF covers everything from business strategies to the latest finishing industry trends.

Of course, later in the year, additional events are on the horizon including SUR/FIN (the National Association for Surface Finishing surface technology industry tradeshow, scheduled for June 5-7), the Parts Cleaning Conference at IMTS2024 on Sept. 10, and FABTECH (North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event, happening Oct. 15-17).

Education and networking are crucial components of your strategy for forwarding your business. The importance of opportunities to connect with clients, through leaders, industry experts and peers cannot be overstated. Fostering collaborations and relationships often leads to new opportunities, from securing business deals to gaining insights into processes or finding novel solutions for problems.

You can learn more about these industry events by visiting PF’s event calendar at pfonline.com/events. We hope to see you there!