PaintExpo 2018 Germany, Karlsruhe report
From 17-20 April 2018, Messe Karlsruhe was the arena for the seventh edition of PaintExpo, the leading trade fair for industrial coatings technology. This event proved to be record-breaking in many respects: the number of exhibitors, visitors and technologies on display was the highest in the history of previous editions. PaintExpo 2018 confirmed that the paint and coatings industry is moving towards increasing innovation and professionalisation.
The figures speak for themselves
PaintExpo 2018 brought together 537 exhibitors from 29 countries, an increase in the share of foreign companies - around 36% of all exhibitors. There were 11,790 visitors, 12% more than at the previous edition. Visitors came from 88 countries, reflecting a very broad internationalisation - both from suppliers and technology users. The exhibition halls were spread over three evenly filled halls and the net exhibition area increased by approximately 17% to 15,674 m².
Themes and technological solutions explored
At PaintExpo 2018, issues related to material and energy efficiency, process optimisation, reduction of operating costs and digitisation of coating processes dominated.A lot of attention was also given to surface preparation equipment and systems - both chemical and mechanical, drying and curing of coatings. Powder and fluid technology, coating robots, application automation, as well as products and solutions to improve coating quality control were all developed.
What benefits exhibitors and visitors have noticed
Participants in the fair highlighted the high quality of the visitors - there was a wide mix of professionals with very specific technical needs, often decision makers looking for solutions to investments.
In many cases, trade fair conversations led directly to offers and requests for quotations - which, for companies in the paint/coating industry, means that the investment in the stand can be quickly recouped. The atmosphere was positive: halls full of interest, lots of live presentations, machine and equipment demonstrations.
Conclusions and outlook for the future
PaintExpo 2018 showed that the coatings industry is on the move - not only technologically, but also organisationally and in terms of the market. Requirements for material savings, finish quality, production flexibility and environmental aspects of the paint process are increasing. For companies such as ROMER, it is important to be present at such events - to observe trends, to present solutions (e.g. powder applicators, pre-treatment, automation) and to make contacts that later translate into concrete projects. PaintExpo 2018 set a high standard - future editions will be measured precisely against this quality, internationality and technological scope.
