Programming Set for PCI’s Powder Coating 2019 Technical Conference

PCI’s POWDER COATING 2019 Technical Conference & Tabletop Exhibition at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld® in Orlando, FL from April 1 – 4 is the place to learn about the latest innovations and explore all things powder coating.  The technical program is set, and this four-day event offers the perfect combination of training, keynote presentations, roundtable discussion, expert panels, and social activities for everyone in the powder coating industry.  PCI’s Executive Director, Trena Benson, comments, “The week will be filled with outstanding educational and networking opportunities geared to improving operations. Now is the time to make plans to join us at the single best opportunity each year to meet and interact with leading professionals in the powder coating industry.”

The four-day event officially begins Monday afternoon, April 1, with the popular Powder Coating 101: Basic Essentials Workshop and PCI’s Custom Coater Forum.  The Powder Coating Technical Conference and Exhibition will follow on April 3 & 4.  A tabletop display area will feature powder coating manufacturers, powder coating application equipment companies, systems houses, chemical suppliers and various services that support the powder coating industry. Check the website regularly for a current list of exhibitors at conference.powdercoating.org/exhibitors.html.

On Wednesday, April 3, the technical conference program opens with a lively presentation from Dr. Amber Selking, Lippert Component Inc.’s Director of People Performance.  After exceptional evaluations and attendee comments in 2018, PCI is thrilled to have Dr. Selking deliver another inspiring presentation entitled, “From Surviving to Thriving: Changing Your Corporate Culture,” which addresses finding and keeping skilled staff.  When her company’s workforce attrition exceeded 100%, efforts were made to completely change the company’s corporate culture.  Their efforts led to an 85% reduction in employee attrition and a company that people now want to join.  Learn how they did it in this opening keynote session. While their methods are innovative, they are also easy to implement.  This session promises to get you thinking and excited about your own operations.

Day two of the technical conference features Al Bohlen, president of Mazak Optonics Corporation.  Mr. Bohlen will present “Adhesion Advancements in Laser Cutting That Improve Powder Coating Performance.”  Lowering costs and becoming more efficient is critical to every powder coating operation and sometimes those savings and efficiencies come from sources you may not even consider.  Mr. Bohlen will discuss the ongoing advancements of laser cutting techniques specifically designed for paint adhesion improvement. As the fabrication industry has embraced powder coating, the challenges of removing oxidation and the methods utilized have been wide ranging. In this discussion, Mr. Bohlen will detail how new methods of laser cutting may eliminate the requirement of some secondary operations when powder coating, such as the use of abrasives, or aggressive wash stages, while lowering overall costs per part.

Following the keynote presentations attendees can choose from a wide range of concurrent breakout sessions as well as attend the Tabletop Exhibition and Reception on Wednesday evening. Session topics and speakers are listed below.  To view session descriptions and complete details visit conference.powdercoating.org.

Attendees can select from a variety of registration options for the three separate events in Orlando.  While each event has a separate registration fee, there are discounted rates for those attending the Technical Conference with either the Powder Coating 101 Workshop or Custom Coater Forum.  Note: The Powder Coating 101 Workshop and Custom Coater Forum registration fees alone do not include admission to the Technical Conference or Exhibition.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MONDAY
Powder Coating 101 Workshop and Custom Coater Forum

10:00 AM -- Registration Opens
1:00 – 5:00 PM -- Powder Coating 101: Basic Essentials Workshop
1:00 – 5:00 PM -- PCI Custom Coater Forum
5:00 – 6:00 PM -- Reception for Workshop & Forum Attendees

TUESDAY
Powder Coating 101 Workshop and Custom Coater Forum

7:30 AM -- Registration Opens
8:00 – 8:30 AM -- Breakfast for Workshop & Forum Attendees
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM -- Powder Coating 101: Basic Essentials Workshop
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM -- PCI Custom Coater Forum
Noon – 1:00 PM -- Lunch for Workshop & Forum Attendees
4:30 PM -- Workshop & Forum Conclude

WEDNESDAY
POWDER COATING 2019 Technical Conference and Exhibition

7:00 AM -- Registration Opens
8:00 – 8:30 AM -- Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:45 AM -- Opening General Session
10:00 – 11:30 AM -- Breakout Sessions
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM -- Lunch and Tabletop Exhibition Open
1:45 – 3:15 PM -- Breakout Sessions
3:15 – 6:30 PM -- Tabletop Exhibits Open
4:00 – 6:30 PM -- Reception and Tabletop Exhibition Open

THURSDAY
POWDER COATING 2019 Technical Conference and Exhibition

7:30 AM -- Registration Opens
8:00 – 8:30 AM -- Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 9:45 AM -- General Session
10:00 – 11:30 AM -- Breakout Sessions
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM -- Lunch and Tabletop Exhibition Open
1:30 – 3:00 PM -- Breakout Sessions
3:00 – 4:00 PM -- Closing General Session
4:00 PM -- Powder Coating 2019 Technical Conference Concludes      

TABLETOP EXHIBITORS (as of December 5, 2018)

ACT Test Panels, LLC
AkzoNobel Powder Coatings
Axalta Coating Systems
BCI Surface Technologies
BYK-Gardner USA
Caplugs/Shercon
CFCM
BASF / Chemetall
Chemical Coaters Association International
DeFelsko Corporation
Digilube Systems
Dinamec Systems, LLC
DuBois Chemicals
Elcometer, Inc.
EPSI Masking Solutions
Erichsen, Inc.
FAMIS, Inc.
Fischer Technology Inc
Fostoria Process Equipment, Div. of TPI Corp.
Gema USA Inc.
George Koch Sons
Global Finishing Solutions
Heraeus Noblelight America LLC
IGP North America
IntelliFinishing
IPCO
Keyland Polymer UV Powder, LLC
Menphis s.p.a.
Midwest Finishing Systems
Nordson Corporation
Parker Ionics
The Powder Coating Institute
Powder Coated Tough
Pretreatment Equipment Manufacturing, Inc. (PEM)
Products Finishing Magazine
Rapid Industries, Inc.
Richards-Wilcox, Inc.
Rohner
RollSeal
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Therma-Tron-X, Inc.
Trimac Industrial Systems, LLC
Wagner Industrial Solutions

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS  (as of December 5, 2018)
ACT Test Panels, LLC
Chemetall US, Inc.
DeFelsko Corporation
Gema USA Inc.
George Koch Sons
Nordson Corporation
Parker Ionics
The Sherwin-Williams Company
Therma-Tron-X, Inc.

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

(as of December 5, 2018; subject to change)

Wednesday, April 3
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

GENERAL SESSION
1   KEYNOTE: From Surviving to Thriving:  Changing Your Corporate Culture
 - Dr. Amber Selking, Lippert Components, Inc.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (select one)

10:00 AM - 11:30AM
2   The Building Blocks of a Successful Powder Coating System
 - Frank Mohar, Nordson Corp.
 - John Sudges, Midwest Finishing Systems, Inc.
 - Michael Withers, Axalta Coating Systems

3   Specialty Applications
Two-Coat Powder Coating System Selection - How They Make Cents (and Dollars) For Your Business
 - Tabitha McLeish, The Sherwin-Williams Company
 
Benefits, Myths, and Markets for TeflonÔ Powder Coatings
 - Chris Dohl, Intech Services

4   Running an Efficient Powder Coating Line
New Economical Fast Color Change System Allows Powder Coater to Minimize Lead Times
 - Carl Troiano, Trojan Powder Coating
 - Frank Mohar, Nordson Corp.

Learn to Love your Powder Application Process
 - Loren Smeester, Nordson Corp.
 - Greg Popp, SMC Metal

1:45 PM – 3:15 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (select one)

5   Understanding Batch Systems
Best Practices for Manual Pretreatment Applications
 - Kirk Beaster, BASF/Chemetall

Options to Consider in a Manual Powder Coating Application Process
 - Jackson Horne, Nordson Corp.

Efficient/Effective Racking and Hook Selection in Batch Systems
 - Isaiah Haley, Magic Rack/Production Plus Corp.

6   The Importance of Measurement & Testing: Getting it Right!
Best Practices for Preparing Samples and Performing Common Testing of Powder Coated Parts
 - Nick Liberto, Powder Coating Consultants, Division of Ninan, Inc.

New Technology - Measuring Coatings Over Aluminum
 - Jay Kunick, Fischer Technology Inc.

Explore Color and Gloss
 - Jeralyn Camp, BYK-Gardner USA

7   Curing Hot Buttons
Understanding Heat Transfer: What's the Right Technology for Me?
 - Marty Sawyer, Trimac Industrial Systems, LLC

Restricting the Limitations of Traditional Thermal Systems for Finishing Processes
 - Lee McWhorter, Heraeus Noblelight America LLC

Seeing Infra-RED Can Make You GREEN
 - Josh Gilmore, Trimac Industrial Systems, LLC

Thursday, April 4
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM

GENERAL SESSION
8   KEYNOTE: Adhesion Advancements in Laser Cutting That Improve Powder Coating Performance
 - Al Bohlen, Mazak Optonics Corporation

10:00 – 11:30 AM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (select one)

9   Optimizing Your Powder Coating Operations
 - Suresh Patel, BASF/Chemetall
 - John Sudges, Midwest Finishing Systems Inc.
 - John Cole, Parker Ionics

10 Automation for Today’s Powder Coating Lines I
The Future of Finishing is Automation and Connectivity
 - Jeff Hale, Gema USA Inc.

Process Control for the Pretreatment Industry
 - Robert Bodak, BASF/Chemetall

11 Pretreatment Improvements & Cost Savings  
Introduction or Improvement of a Pretreatment System
 - Sergio Mancini, BCI Surface Technologies

Savings in the Pretreatment Process that Reduce Costs Before Powder Coating Application
 - Tomasz Slezak, BASF/Chemetall

Will a Low Solids Water System Improve Your Pretreatment Process?
 - Gordon Johnson, Therma-Tron-X, Inc.

1:30 – 3:00 PM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS (select one)

12 Powder Coating Non-Conductive Substrates
Stop, You Can’t Coat That!
 - Chris Merritt, Gema USA Inc.

Plasma, Plastics and UV-Cured Powder Coating
 - Michael Knoblauch, Keyland Polymer UV Powder, LLC

Powder Coating on Alternative Substrates
 - Thomas Duesel and Scott Persyn, IGP North America LLC

13 Automation for Today’s Powder Coating Lines II
Benefits of Automating Industrial Finishing Door Systems
 - Zach Morrow, RollSeal  

Automation for Coating Operations – Specialty Movements
 - Marty Powell, Carlisle Fluid Technologies

Increasing Line Efficiency Using Robotic Pick/Place
 - Christopher Aiken, AikenControls

14 Architectural Applications
Architectural Powder Applications in the Monumental Building Market
 - Scott Moffatt, PPG Industries

Vertical Powder Coating for Aluminum Extrusions
 - Alberto Formenti, SAT S.r.l.

3:00 – 4:00 PM
CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

15 Applicators Roundtable
 - Michael Withers, Axalta Coating Systems


GENERAL INFORMATION

Location
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®
6677 Sea Harbor Dr., Orlando, FL 32821

Dates
April 1 – 4, 2019

Events
Powder Coating 101 Workshop – Basic Essentials
April 1 & 2

PCI Custom Coater Forum
April 1 & 2

Technical Conference
April 3 & 4      

Tabletop Exhibition
April 3 & 4                  

Hotels
PCI has a discounted group rate at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®.  Click the links below to make reservations directly with the hotel.  Note, rooms are limited at these rates so be sure to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible.  Please book your hotel within our hotel block listed below as it enables us to keep costs low for attendees, speakers and exhibitors.

CLICK HERE for Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld® - $199/night + tax & resort fee

The hotel cutoff date for reservations at our discounted rate is March 8, 2019. 

TO REGISTER:  Visit https://conference.powdercoating.org and click the Register button.