The European Coatings Show and the European Coatings Conference return to Nuremberg, Germany, from March 24-27.

The leading exhibition for the international coating and paint industry, the European Coatings Show (ECS) plus Adhesives, Sealants, Construction Chemicals is held every two years at Messe Nuremberg in Nuremberg, Germany. In 2023, when the ECS returned after the COVID-19 pandemic, the ECS brought together 24,605 attendees and 1,017 exhibitors; this year¡¯s ECS, which is organized by Vincentz Network, looks like it will break records for exhibitors and attendees alike.

Matthias Janz, director trade shows for Vincentz Network GmbH & Co. KG, anticipates that this year¡¯s show will be its largest ever.

¡°The European Coatings Show 2025 will be the biggest show ever, with over 1,200 exhibitors showcasing their innovations,¡± Janz said. ¡°Pre-registration figures indicate strong interest from industry professionals worldwide, reflecting the event¡¯s significance in the coatings sector.¡±

Janz noted that ECS 2025 will span eight exhibition halls, each dedicated to specialized segments of the industry.

¡°Notably, six halls will focus exclusively on raw materials for coatings, printing inks, adhesives, and construction chemicals, along with related services,¡± he added. ¡°Hall 4 will feature laboratory and production technology, testing and measuring equipment, application technology, and environmental and occupational safety. Hall 4A will combine all these segments, offering a comprehensive overview of the industry¡¯s advancements.¡±

Janz observed that sustainability remains a central theme at ECS 2025.

¡°The conference will delve into topics such as sustainable practices, bio-based raw materials, and solvent-free formulations,¡± said Janz. ¡°These discussions aim to address the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and high-performance coatings solutions.¡±

European Coatings Conference

The European Coatings Conference begins on March 24, running through March 26. More than 280 submissions were sent in for the conference program, a record.
Janz pointed out that the European Coatings Show Conference, offers two and a half days of in-depth learning and networking.

¡°The program includes over 140 presentations covering the latest research findings and industry trends. Pre-conference tutorials on March 24 will provide participants with foundational knowledge, enhancing their conference experience,¡± Janz said.

Prior to the start of the conference, there will be 10 pre-conference tutorials featured on Monday morning, March 24 led by industry experts. The topics will be Bio-Based Coatings, Wood Coatings, Functional Coatings; Introduction to Coatings Formulation; Formulating Adhesives and Sealants; Dispersing Pigments and Fillers ¨C Theory to Practice; Digitalisation; Fundamentals of Water-Borne Coatings; Key Aspects of Preservation in the Paint Industry; and Introduction to Polyurethane Coatings.

After the tutorials, the Plenary Session will be held, with a pair of keynote presentations. First, Dr. Frank Brouwer of Stahl will speak on ¡°The Impossible Project: A Journey of Transformation,¡± followed by Prof. Katja Loos of the University of Groningen, who will focus on ¡°Designing Renewable Dynamic Polymers for Circular and Advanced Applications.¡±

The conference begins during the afternoon of March 24, with more than 140 presentations planned. These talks include presentations from industry leaders from companies such as AkzoNobel, Asian Paints, Behr Paint, Berger Paints, and Kansai Helios Slovenia, among others.

There will be six concurrent sessions, covering Research Insights, Functional Coatings, Radiation Curing, Water-Based Coatings, Automotive Coatings and Polyurethane Coatings.

Tuesday, March 25 features a wide range of topics for attendees, with six concurrent sessions each in the morning and afternoon. The morning features talks on topics such as Digitalisation, Functional Coatings, Water-Based Coatings, Wood Coatings, Printing Inks, and Construction Chemicals. The afternoon sessions include Bio-Based Coatings, Protective Coatings, Architectural Coatings, Industrial Coatings, PFAS Alternatives, and Construction Chemicals.

Wednesday, March 26 concludes with a half day of six concurrent sessions, featuring the following topics: Bio-Based Coatings, Testing and Measurement, Architectural Coatings, Industrial Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants, and Grinding and Dispersing.

In addition, the best conference submission will receive the European Coatings Show Award in 2025. Also new for 2025 is the ECS Student Poster Award.
¡°The top ten poster submissions from international students will be presented in a pitch during the poster session and networking reception after the first day of the conference,¡± Janz reported. ¡°The winner will be chosen live by a public vote.¡±

European Coatings Show

The European Coatings Show will bring together leaders from paints and coatings, adhesives, sealants, printing inks and construction chemical manufacturers with raw material and equipment specialists to learn about the newest technologies.   In addition, in Halls 3 and 5, there will be 100 product presentations, with exhibitors discussing their newest technologies. There will also be a start-up area in Hall 2, as well as a new digital platform for attendees.

¡°We¡¯re excited to introduce ¡®My ECS,¡¯ a new digital platform designed to enhance the visitor and exhibitor experience,¡± Janz said. ¡°This tool offers comprehensive information about the exhibition, exhibitors, and presentations, seamlessly integrating with the ECS app. Features include personalized planning and a scan function to facilitate contactless information exchange, aiming to make participation more efficient and interactive.¡±

David Savastano, Contributing Editor