The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is here and Industry 4.0 is well underway. In the coming decade, coating technology will be interconnected across the entire supply chain. Production lines can now predict future orders, order materials, perform setup, and monitor their own quality. Ecoaters who have yet to adopt this technology may already be missing opportunities. This is the future and it is equal parts exciting and scary. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

One of the most durable and corrosion resistent coatings is ecoat. Considerations surrounding system design criteria, types of systems, environmental factors, facility requirements and manpower and management of the system are discussed when adding ecoat to your product offerings. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Panel Discussion: The trend toward lightweighting in the automotive industry has presented performance challenges with conventional pretreatment and ecoat. An understanding of the role of substrates, pretreatment, film build and cure, and formulation changes will help in addressing and overcoming these challenges. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Companies with increasing production demands need to maximize their part finishing capacity by increasing line speed or decreasing cycle times on their paint systems. This presentation looks at equipment and chemistry considerations to ensure success when increasing line speed, as well as the impact on operating cost and efficiency. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Labor-intensive racking / unracking practices used by many industrial electrocoaters, along with high turnover rates, can be used to justify the consideration of robotics. Learn about types of robots, areas of a coating operation that would benefit from robots, and a cost analysis/justification for installing them. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Powder coating over electrocoat results in superior corrosion and chemical protection. Managing the combination of these coatings is critical in order to avoid waste, inefficiency, and spiraling costs. Learn about the process of applying powder over ecoat, new technologies for improved coverages, better material utilization and color change flexibility. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Advanced pretreatments offer significant process cost savings. The decision to switch to newer technology should incorporate a structured Management of Change (MOC) approach to ensure that the proper considerations are identified as part of management's review and approval process. This strategy also defines practices and procedures to effectively implement any changes. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Today's finishers are facing the reality of processing multiple substrates through the same line. This can be challenging since the acid descalers required for a high-quality finish with steel can harm softer metals like zinc and aluminum by over-etching them, leading to defects. Neutral descaling, however, can still give the expected performance on steel while not harming zinc and aluminum substrates. Learn about descaling challenges with multiple substrates and the pros and cons of implementing a neutral descaler to meet them. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

This presentation discusses the planning and execution steps taken in a General Motors plant in China to convert from a traditional zinc phosphate system to the new zirconium conversion coating process. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.

Learn about the evolution of ecoat ultrafiltration products from tubes and hollow fibers to spirals, including a comparison of drop-in and potted spirals. Test data will be presented showing the performance of a new high flow potted spiral vs. the standard potted spiral. Conference GOLD sponsors: Axalta Coatings Systems, BASF Corporation, George Koch Sons, LLC, PPG, Therma-Tron-X Inc.