What You May Have Missed at ECS 2025

Many people recently returned from the European Coatings Show and Conference, held March 24-27 in Nuremberg, Germany. The PCI staff spent three full days meeting with suppliers to the coatings industry, learning about technology launches and discussing the latest trends, challenges and solutions the industry faces. While we didn’t have time to meet with all 1,216 exhibitors, we did our best! Below is a recap of several of our meetings, giving you a snapshot of what was showcased at the ECS. 

Albert Invent

Albert Invent showcased its AI-driven platform that digitalizes synthesis, formulation and materials science, aiming to revolutionize the chemicals sector. It integrates electronic lab notebooks and laboratory information management systems, allowing chemists to analyze molecular-level data from past experiments. The platform is utilized by companies in the chemical and materials science industries to unify R&D processes and accelerate innovation. 

PCI met with Roger Pellegrini, director of marketing, and Jonathan Weis, Ph.D., scientific innovation architect. Pellegrini stated that feedback has been extremely positive, and the company has a strong growth trajectory. He noted that their customers are seeing massive change with this technology. For example, projects that would typically take three months are now being completed in two days. Weis stated, “Companies are recognizing more and more that their biggest asset is their data.” 

Arkema

Arkema Coating Solutions emphasized its collaborative and transparent approach, both in booth design and company mindset. In a conversation with Julie Haevermans, chief marketing officer; Séverine Dumay, global communication manager; Hélène Pernot, global sustainability marketing director; and Richard Jenkins, senior vice president and member of the executive committee, the team highlighted their open-booth concept — no walls, all divisions represented — symbolizing the cross-functional collaboration they see as essential across the value chain. Sustainability, once viewed as niche, is now a non-negotiable element woven into every layer at the company, from marketing to manufacturing. Arkema sees education as part of its responsibility, not only to its customers, but to the consumer at the very end of the chain.

Richard Jenkins, Hélène Pernot, Courtney Bassett (PCI), and Julie Haevermans. 

As an indicator of Arkema’s willingness to adapt, engage, educate and lead industry-wide conversations, the company hosted a thought leaders panel discussion on the first day of the ECS, which brought over 400 attendees to their booth. The topic was carbon footprint reduction across the coatings value chain, and brought together high-level executives from AkzoNobel, Omya, Beckers, ADEO and PPG to discuss how, collectively across the coatings industry, carbon footprint reduction can be accelerated. The discussion focused on high-performance, tangible solutions that represent the future of the industry. Topics of discussion included:

· Addressing consumer expectations and the request for more informed choices;

· Introducing low-carbon options with bio-circular content, leveraging formulation intelligence;

· A roadmap to net-zero prepainted metal infrastructure; and

· Exploring how coatings play a role in improving EV battery safety and enabling lower carbon-intensive processes.

 A memorable comment during the discussion came from Nadine Nicolai, director global business development at OMYA, when she stated, “The true magic happens when all of the companies in the value chain work together to reduce the carbon footprint.”

Arkema's thought leader panel discussion. 

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Arkema announced the 60^th anniversary of its flagship product, Kynar 500^® PVDF, which has been specified in high-performance, durable construction coatings around the globe and protects some of the planet’s most iconic buildings, which were featured during a slideshow presentation. The fluoropolymer is highly resistant to sunlight, UV and the relentless attack of harsh climates. The resultant paints enable more sustainable urban environments due to their outstanding durability – being able to protect buildings for several decades without noticeable paint deterioration and without the need for maintenance or recoating. Beyond PVDF, Arkema is also a recognized leader in the development and sale of a broad portfolio of coatings resin solutions in all major polymer technology platforms. 

Arxada

Arxada’s presence at ECS 2025 highlighted both innovation and visibility. Geoff Clay, marketing communications associate director, and Nigel Atkinson, vice president, Paints and Coatings, discussed the company's new multifunctional additive, which took center stage at their creatively designed booth. The display is built around Arxada’s forward-looking vision: “The dawn of a new age of innovation,” signaling a focus on next-generation technologies for the coatings space. The company embraced the show’s visibility opportunities, and was excited to be featured on one of the blimp drones in the venue’s entrance hall. When asked about the value of in-person events, Clay emphasized that nothing replaces face-to-face interaction — calling their ECS attendance “invaluable” for fostering meaningful industry engagement.

Arxada's Geoff Clay and Nigel Atkinson, with PCI Publisher, Tom Fowler.   

At the show, Arxada launched its new LEAP (Leverage Enhanced Additive Performance) platform, including the unveiling of Polyboost™, a multifunctional additive developed to enhance a wide range of paint and coating properties. “The paint and coatings industry faces numerous challenges,” said Atkinson, “from increased product recalls, a diminishing list of approved formulation ingredients to work with, and tightening safety and environmental standards. Polyboost is a multifunctional additive that improves stability of both pH and viscosity of paint formulations and supports low preservative use rates, which may avoid an H317 hazard label. “Polyboost is currently undergoing final evaluations at over 10 major multinational manufacturers and is achieving excellent results,” he added.

The company also presented its portfolio of TIME (Technology for Innovative Micro-Encapsulation) controlled-release dry-film preservatives marketed under the Polyphase^® preservative and Troysan^® preservative brands. “Leveraging advanced encapsulation methods, TIME preservatives offer resistance to leaching of the active material into the environment, and deliver excellent real-world performance against a broad spectrum of microbial threats,” Atkinson said.

BUSS Corp.

BUSS offers unique compounding solutions for heat- or shear-critical applications. The company featured the PCS Co-Kneader for high-gloss and structured powder coatings. Designed for precise temperature control and uniform processing conditions, the PCS ensures consistent coating quality while minimizing material waste and production interruptions. With its optimized wear-resistant components, the PCS improves production uptime and efficiency. Benefits of this technology include: shear-gap control, the ability to handle shear-sensitive and temperature-sensitive compounds, temperature control at any position, intensive distributive mixing, high filler loadings, maximum process flexibility, meets narrow process windows where needed, abrasion and corrosion resistance, and tailored process part materials.

PCI's Tom Fowler meets with BUSS Corp.'s Ruedi Sommer.

BYK

BYK’s presence centered on both transparency and transformation. Marcel Krohnen, global head of the paint additives business line, and Julia Kleist, manager global communications, shared that their open booth concept — with meeting rooms located across the aisle from their booth, and an in-booth, open theater for scheduled presentations — was intentionally designed to welcome attendees and add real value to the show experience. Rather than relying on standard product showcases, BYK opted for its own on-site presentation space, reinforcing the importance of engagement and stakeholder justification for attending. 

BYK's open booth concept at the ECS.

 

A major focus this year was the company’s phase-out of PFAS-containing additives by the end of 2025 – sending a clear signal to the industry. BYK believes this reflects the direction of the full value chain and demonstrates leadership. BYK also emphasized efforts to establish multicontinent manufacturing capabilities to meet rising demands for second-source options. On the relevance of trade shows today, Krohnen was clear: “We believe in this industry,” he said. “For BYK, attending ECS is less about landing deals and more about continuity, visibility and reaffirming our commitment to the market.”

BYK Additives focused on three main themes: sustainability, additive solutions for formulating PFAS-free systems, and reduction of product testing and product development times. BYK develops environmentally friendly products such as its CERAFLOUR wax additives, and the new VOC-, mineral oil- and silicone-free powder defoamer BYK-1693 SD. BYK is also pioneering the development of additives for formulating PFAS-free systems with newly developed defoamers BYK-1810, 1811, 1815, 1816 and 1818, which provide excellent performance. In addition, BYK presented its fully automated, high throughput screening (HTS) facility, which performs serial tests with impressive speed and efficiency. The ability to test up to 220 samples in just 24 hours shortens development cycles, improves product quality and enables customers to be supplied with customized additives even faster.

BYK Instruments premiered two new products at the ECS: the color2go color meter for measuring solid colors; and new BYK-match color matching software for effect and solid colors. Also, for the first time they displayed the recently acquired PELT product family for multilayer film thickness measurement with new and innovative high frequency transducers for ultrathin layer measurements. 

Cargill

Cargill unveiled its groundbreaking PriNext™ polymer technology, which offers a high-performance product range alternative to the use of isocyanates in 2K polyurethanes formulations, addressing both regulatory and practical concerns. This technology maintains the high-performance qualities of traditional polyurethane applications and removes the need for safety training typically required for handling isocyanates. And with fast curing speeds and no moisture sensitivity, energy is saved during application and storage. 

The company launched other products that support sustainability. Cargill has the first wide range of 100% bio-based polyester polyols for polyurethane, high-performance applications. Building on the success of its Priplast™ offerings, the company launched the Priplast RE range, a versatile collection of PET recycled-based polyols designed for polyurethane CASE applications. With the new Priplast solutions, formulators can combine bio-based and recycled based polyols in their products. 

Chemours

At the Chemours booth, PCI met with Johan Rommens, Ph.D., technical and sustainability manager Titanium Technologies, EMEA. At the ECS, Chemours was excited to introduce Ti-Pure™ TS-6706, a TMP- and TME-free version of the company’s universal, flagship grade, Ti-Pure R-706. It features the same durability, undertone and universal properties. Ti-Pure TS-6706 also has the same physical properties as Ti-Pure R-706 that make it so universal in the coatings industry – high gloss combined with excellent durability. It has the same blue undertone and hiding power, along with easier dispersion and wet-in, which enables its use in many coatings applications. It offers flexible uses in waterborne, solventborne and powder formulations, and can be used as a drop-in for Ti-Pure R-706 with minimal reformulation efforts.

Clariant

Several weeks prior to the ECS, Clariant held an online press conference, giving members of the press a sneak peek at what the company would be showcasing at the event. Stefan Brejc, global vice president of Clariant’s Coatings and Adhesives division, opened the press conference by addressing key transformation drivers in the chemical industry. He highlighted three central trends: enhanced product performance, sustainability and regulatory compliance. These factors are shaping future innovations, and Clariant is committed to leading this change, rather than merely following it. Brejc introduced three major product innovations that would be featured at the ECS: AddWorks™ IBC 760, Ceridust™ 1310, and a new melamine-free flame retardant, all focused on improving performance, sustainability and safety in the chemical sector.

JeanYves Desrats, senior technical business development manager, Coatings, shared information about AddWorks IBC 760 stabilizer, which was developed in partnership with OMYA and launched two years ago. This technology addresses key industry challenges including yellowing, UV stability and regulatory compliance. The partners have new data demonstrating how this innovation sets new benchmarks in weathering performance and heat stability. The data show that the solution extends SMP sealant service life by up to 50% compared to conventional stabilizers, reaching 3,000 hours in accelerated weathering tests.

Additionally, in May 2024, Clariant and OMYA implemented a significant packaging improvement for AddWorks IBC 760, further enhancing its sustainability profile. The new packaging solution has delivered a more than 80% reduction in paper usage through innovative packaging redesign, 125% increased logistics efficiency, has doubled shipping capacity from 6,400 kg to 14,400 kg per truckload, and has reduced CO₂ emissions through reduced packaging and higher transport efficiency.

The next speakers were Tobias Niederleitner, global market manager for coatings and inks, and Simon Bodendorfer, technical business development manager, who discussed Ceridust™ 1310, an innovative wax solution designed to address the increasing supply chain complexities facing formulators who rely on carnauba wax. This micronized rice bran wax blend is manufactured through controlled industrial processes, ensuring consistent quality that helps formulators avoid the production adjustments often needed with naturally sourced waxes. This innovative, bio-based wax delivers outstanding performance across a range of high-end applications, including premium packaging with premium matte finishes, glossy magazines, specialty labels, and water-based topcoats that demand superior scuff resistance and clarity.

The third innovation, discussed by Achim Hennemann, market segment manager, and Sebastian Moschel, technical business development manager PFP, was Clariant’s Exolit^® AP flame retardant technology, which is celebrating 50 years of protecting lives and property. Based on advanced ammonium polyphosphate technology, these pioneering flame retardants have become an industry benchmark in a wide range of applications, including intumescent coatings, fire barrier sealing systems, thermoset composites for e-mobility battery housings and coatings, rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation foams and more. Clariant recently launched a melamine-free version of this product, responding to the rising demand from health- and sustainability-conscious consumers and brands, including those who are actively seeking safer alternatives to products containing substances of concern. Clariant noted that similar to the growing adoption of PFAS-free alternatives across various markets, there is a clear shift in purchasing behavior towards safer solutions in passive fire protection.

Engineered Polymer Solutions

Engineered Polymer Solutions (EPS) showcased its portfolio of innovative, water-based acrylic polymers for the industrial, construction and architectural coatings industries. “Our commitment to excellence drives us to deliver advanced polymers that empower coatings manufacturers to develop groundbreaking solutions,” said Massimo Longoni, senior sales manager at EPS. “We are excited to present our products and reconnect with our customers at the European Coatings Show.” 

The company featured a diverse range of high-performance products, including: 

· PC-MULL^® 815: An acrylic copolymer with up to 15% bio-based content designed for industrial and residential wood applications, offering fast hardness development along with excellent chemical and block resistance. 

· EPS^® 563: An acrylic copolymer formulated for 2K industrial metal, glass and plastic applications, providing high gloss and superior chemical resistance. 

· EPS 719: An all-acrylic emulsion that minimizes asphalt bleed-through in cool roof coatings while maintaining flexibility and toughness. 

· Pigment Dispersions: Next-generation pigment dispersions for POS and in-plant OEM systems in architectural and industrial applications. These dispersions are manufactured to some of the highest standards in the coatings industry, ensuring exceptional batch-to-batch tinting uniformity. 

Evonik

Evonik showcased its latest innovations in coatings, printing inks, adhesives, curing agents and additives for construction. “We are excited to present our 'We Go Beyond to Formulate the Future' approach, which underscores Evonik’s commitment to develop high-performance and sustainability solutions for the coatings, inks and adhesives industries,” said Elias Lacerda, head of Evonik Coating Additives. “The European Coatings Show gives us a valuable opportunity to connect with our customers and showcase our latest innovations firsthand.”

Just a few of the key innovations featured at the ECS included:

· TEGO^® Wet 570 Terra and TEGO Wet 580 Terra: 100%-natural, readily biodegradable biosurfactants offering a high-performance alternative to conventional surfactants, specifically designed for paint and ink formulations.

· TEGO Wet 270 eCO and TEGO Foamex 812 eCO: mass-balanced wetting agents and defoamers produced using ISCC-certified raw materials, enabling a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of end-use applications.

· Ancamine^® 2858: a curing agent tailored for high-temperature climates, offering extended pot life and strong adhesion to concrete in epoxy flooring applications.

· Ancamine 2849 and Ancamine 2859: exhibit high chemical resistance in epoxy formulations and are made for low-temperature cure, meeting stringent regulatory demand in industrial coatings.

· VESTAGON^® BF binder series: offers low-temperature curing solutions for PU powder coatings, ideal for heat-sensitive substrates, while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.

Hexion

PCI met with Hexion’s Annie Fonze, global marketing communication and product manager. She noted that the company was showcasing its Versatic™ acids, VeoVa™ vinyl esters and Cardura™ glycidyl ester for coating applications. 

Versatic Acid 10 is a chemical intermediate to safeguard businesses affected by the 2‑ethylhexanoic acid reclassification and subsequent regulatory actions. 2-ethylhexanoic acid and most of its salts have been reclassified as Reprotoxic Category 1B by the Risk Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which took effect November 2023. Versatic Acid 10 is already a commercially available alternative to 2‑ethylhexanoic acid in a broad series of applications.

VeoVa vinyl ester emulsions are for use in high-performance intumescent paints. With its unique bulky structure, this product is particularly suitable for the preparation of vinyl acetate-based emulsions for high-performance intumescent coatings. Its high carbon content and synergy with intumescent additives yield intumescent paints exhibiting excellent char formation, premium fire protection even at a minimal layer thickness, superior performance compared to acrylics and VAE polymers, long-term in-can paint stability, and high water resistance. 

Cardura E10P glycidyl ester, the glycidyl ester of Versatic Acid 10, has been used for decades as a building block for high-performance resins for automotive, industrial and construction applications. It enables the production of (ultra) high solids and waterborne low-viscosity polymers with good substrate wetting, UV and chemical resistance. Cardura glycidyl ester's epoxy group is reacting with amines, acids, alcohols and other functional groups. It works as a building block and/or a reactive diluent. 

Ingevity Corporation

PCI met with Chuck Jones, market segment manager at Ingevity. The company was very pleased with the number of attendees at the ECS – even on the last day. Jones noted that typically the last day at trade shows is quite slow, but Ingevity was seeing a steady stream of booth visitors and also had several meetings scheduled for that day. He stated that the success of the ECS is a reflection of the health of the coatings industry. 

At the booth, Ingevity demonstrated the versatility of Capa polyols for solventborne and 100%-solids coatings applications, and showcased new products including Capa PROTX 3112, a low-viscosity polyol used for safer coatings. Ingevity’s products enhance coating formulations by offering improved scratch and abrasion resistance while maintaining high gloss.

Shaun Birss, coatings application manager at Ingevity, presented a study on the performance and sustainability attributes of Capa polyols in 2K polyurethane coatings. The study explores how new Capa polyols not only help coatings protect surfaces, but also enable coatings that are safer for people and the environment.

Ink Invent BV

PCI met with Ink Invent’s Jeffrey Stouthamer, chief strategy officer, and Paul Mijnen, CEO, to discuss their innovative product RheoLight, a novel class of crystal glass effect pigments. The pigments have the unique ability to refract light in a way that no existing effect pigments can.

RheoLight improves visibility for both humans and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like LiDAR and Computer Vision. It achieves this by enhancing the visibility of objects, which is crucial for reducing response times during emergency braking and collision avoidance. PCI published a technical article on this technology last year, which you can read here.

During our meeting, Mijnen and Stouthamer stated that as of March 18, one of the largest coatings manufacturers has approved their waterborne product for commercialization. 

Innospec Performance Chemicals

Specialty chemicals company Innospec exhibited at the European Coating Show for the first time this year. According to Mariangela Morelli, global business director, “It was a great opportunity to make Innospec better known within the coating industry and establish our commitment to supplying valuable products to support the waterborne segment of the industry.”

In addition to a broad range of commonly used products, Innospec also provides a more sustainable portfolio that includes products that are free of alkylphenol and dioxane. The company showcased its application range, which includes anionic emulsifiers, wetting agents, dispersants, wax emulsions and rheology modifiers. These products are commonly used in the preparation of emulsion polymers as well as coating formulations.  

The company also has a strong portfolio of technically advanced solutions for use in the construction industry. These additives can be used in the production of plasterboard, on-site plaster and dry mix mortar applications, the formulation of concrete admixture and tunneling to improve efficiency, performance and provide significant benefits to each of these applications. 

“The ECS was also a good chance to see new trends in this industry and benchmark what our competitors are doing,” Morelli stated.

LANXESS 

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS presented its extensive product portfolio for the manufacture of high-quality paints, varnishes and coatings. This includes coating raw materials, organic and inorganic color pigments, biocides, environmentally friendly colorants and plasticizers, as well as coalescents, flame retardants, additives, preservatives and solvents. 

LANXESS has developed the “Control – Detect – Prevent” (CDP) concept as a strategic approach to modern hygiene in industrial plants. It aims to control microbiological risks, detect them at an early stage and take preventive measures. As an integral part of the CDP concept, LANXESS presented Preventol OX, a powerful, chlorine-free disinfection and oxidation product for a wide range of industrial applications. Preventol OX offers highly effective control of microorganisms. The product can be used for the disinfection of production water, recycled water and equipment as well as for the oxidative removal of organic deposits. 

With Klarix XIT, LANXESS presented a new nonbiocidal additive for paints and coatings, adhesives, emulsions and other water-based industrial products. The product allows the use of the biocidal active ingredient CIT/MIT during production and then to remove these again completely or partially after they have taken effect. By adding Klarix XIT, CIT (chloromethylisothiazolinone) and MIT (methylisothiazolinone) are broken down within a short time – no CIT and MIT residues are left in the final application. 

LANXESS also showcased a particularly sustainable variant of its Bayferrox iron oxide yellow pigments, which are ideal for high-quality formulations such as pigment pastes and highly pigmented facade paints. These pigments, which are marketed under the company’s own Scopeblue label, have a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) that is around 35 percent lower compared to regular Bayferrox product types as a result of the use of more eco-efficient raw materials.

The company’s Polymer Additives business unit highlighted water-based pigment dispersions called Levanyl (organic) and Levanox (inorganic) in its range of high-quality colorants. They are free of binding agents and are characterized by high color strength and low viscosity. 

LANXESS also featured benzoic acid in various degrees of purity under the trade name Purox B. All forms of Purox B are easy to handle, virtually odorless and have a low tendency to agglutinate. In the production of alkyd resins, for example, benzoic acid is used to control viscosity and improve the properties of the alkyd coating such as gloss, adhesion, hardness, and chemical resistance. Additionally, even at low concentrations, it effectively protects against corrosion and flash rust.

Microbial Control Executive Council (MCEC)

PCI met with members of the Microbial Control Executive Council, including Arxada’s Richard Strittmatter, Ph.D., chief technology, innovation and sustainability officer; and Tim Hadingham, group head of technical marketing at Thor. The MCEC is an initiative of the world’s leading companies that develop and supply microbial control technology and solutions, and is made up of Arxada, BASF, ICL, LANXESS and Thor. Since 2012, MCEC has been communicating about the safe and effective use of microbial control technologies. MCEC member organizations are committed to the improvement of public health and wellbeing through the advancement of sustainable microbial control technologies. Microbial control is needed for an array of different applications such as preventing paints from breaking down during storage, preserving their viscosity, texture and adhesion ability. Due to misconceptions regarding microbial control technologies, one of the key commitments of MCEC is to educate different stakeholders about these technologies and to ensure their continued availability.

Look for a roundtable discussion article with members of the MCEC is a future issue of PCI this year.

Micro Powders

Micro Powders’ focus at the ECS was centered on transition and innovation. Rich Czarnecki, vice president, spoke about the company’s strategic exit from the PTFE market, which will be completed by the end of the year. While the move aligns with shifting regulatory and environmental pressures, Czarnecki emphasized that it’s also an opportunity to innovate. The company showcased a portfolio of new PTFE-free technologies designed to meet evolving performance expectations without compromising sustainability. The booth reflected this forward-looking approach, highlighting how Micro Powders is redefining surface-enhancing additives for modern coating systems. The conversation underscored a theme heard throughout the show: change is coming, and companies that lead with transparency and innovation will be best positioned to support the full value chain.

Many of the company’s most successful products are based on composite wax technology, where two or more materials are mixed, melted, and then precisely size reduced into fine and coarse powders. These unique hybrid products offer elevated performance, stability and efficiency not possible by simply mixing two wax powders together. More recently, the company has expanded its portfolio into nanocomposite wax technology, where it employs unique, high-performance ingredients such as aluminum oxide, ceramics and graphene to enrich their composite wax powders. These products can dramatically improve performance while reducing cost.

OXERRA

OXERRA’s CEO, Kevin Miles, and Kevin Sonby, vice president sales, met with PCI to share what the company was highlighting at the ECS. The company showcased its high-performance inorganic pigments, discussed industry trends, and explored sustainable solutions for coatings, plastics and specialties. Iron oxides are OXERRA’s core business. The company supplies a range of materials, all manufactured to strict ISO qualities. 

The company’s global development over the last decade has seen a distinct shift towards addressing the need for color performance without compromising quality, affordability or convenience. OXERRA’s ranges of micronized iron oxide pigments add vibrant color to a wide range of products including pigment pastes, industrial coatings, powder coatings, wood lacquers, automotive and marine paints, architectural paints and plastics. These pigments are lightfast, color consistent, UV-stable, weather resistant, alkali and mild acid resistant, insoluble in water, synthetic and have excellent dispersibility.

Perstorp

PCI met with Perstorp’s Dr. Oliver Eyrisch, vice president for resins and coatings. The company shared an integrated booth with BRB International BV, a manufacturer of silicone resins. Both companies are now wholly owned subsidiaries of PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG). Eyrisch noted that one of the goals at the ECS was to introduce these integrated businesses, and to showcase how Petronas’ raw materials portfolio, combined with BRB’s and Perstorp’s product technologies, provide supply security, feedstock integration and more cohesive solutions to the global coatings industry.

A major theme at the Perstorp booth was the company’s move into water-based alkyds with the launch of the Neptem^™ portfolio of emulsifier solutions. “This is creating huge noise,” Eyrisch stated. In response to the coatings industry's shift towards solutions with a lower environmental impact, Perstorp has developed this portfolio to enable the reduction of the carbon footprint and VOCs of alkyd formulations by enabling a seamless transition to waterborne alkyds.

Helene Dérand, vice president of innovation, stated, "Our new range of Neptem products redefines what’s possible for waterborne alkyds. It is well known that waterborne alkyds have a significantly lower climate footprint than solvent-based. By enabling a smooth transition away from solvent-based resins, we’re helping our customers future-proof their business and lead the industry toward a more sustainable future."

Eyrisch noted that based on the response from customers and visitors at the ECS, the timing of this innovation is perfect. "This series of Neptem products for alkyds shows our commitment to driving the sustainable transformation of our industry while delivering high-performance solutions that anticipate the future needs of the coatings industry," he stated.

Further reinforcing its versatility, Neptem emulsifiers expand the potential of waterborne alkyd resins, accommodating a broader range of alkyds with different oil lengths than ever before, making it possible to formulate beyond the traditional applications.

By offering technical support, Perstorp positions Neptem for alkyds as a product and as a partnership, ensuring resin producers gain access to formulation assistance and benefit from a seamless transition to waterborne technologies.

Rhopoint Instruments

Rhopoint Instruments showcased and demonstrated its Aesthetix^® surface appearance measurement system – an innovative solution for quantifying and optimizing surface quality. Aesthetix is a modular, high-precision instrument that objectively analyzes surface characteristics, providing unparalleled insight into gloss, texture, waviness, haze and effect finishes. With multiple measurement modules, it can be tailored to various industry applications, from automotive coatings and high-end consumer goods to industrial surfaces.
 

Songwon

SONGWON presented its sustainable, high-performance coatings stabilizers. The company showcased its comprehensive and expanded range of additives for coatings that improve durability and protect surfaces, adhesives and sealants from the damaging effects of light and heat. Among the products on display were liquid hydroxyphenyl triazine (HPT) UV absorbers, specifically developed to maximize the performance, efficiency and sustainability of coatings for numerous substrates. 

Further highlights included SONGSORB^® UV absorbers (UVAs), hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and SONGNOX^® antioxidants (AOs). These additives were designed to meet the specific requirements of steel, wood, ceramic, plastic and composite coatings used in industries such as automotive and transportation, decoration and architectural, furniture and flooring, industrial and agricultural. Demonstrating its commitment to advancing innovation in the coatings industry, SONGWON also presented its latest liquid HPT solutions developed for the rapidly growing waterborne coatings segment. 

Commenting, Steffen Dobberstein, leader Business Unit Coatings, said, “The coatings industry is a high priority for us, and SONGWON has invested significant resources to support the growth of this demanding market, particularly in Europe. As the industry becomes increasingly more diverse, we are well-positioned to stay ahead of the growing complexity of demands and emerging trends thanks to our innovative product technology, advanced manufacturing and strong distribution network. Additionally, SONGWON’s flexible supply chain logistics and tools offer customers a strong combination of global reach and local execution.” 

Sun Chemical 

Sun Chemical launched two new effect pigments alongside its full range of high-performing color stylings, and showcased new innovative polymers, resins and packaging film treatments for the coatings industry. The company also presented color solutions and trend stylings for motorcycle coatings, as well as new digital pigment tools and extended supply for perylene pigments.

“We are delighted to be exhibiting at this year’s European Coatings Show,” said Brian Panczyk, president of Color Materials, Sun Chemical. “The show offers a chance to highlight our newest colorful solutions and demonstrate how they can help customers deliver high-performing coatings in vibrant, innovative shades.”

Visitors at the booth got a first look at Paliocrom Premium Orange L 2900, the newest effect pigment from the Paliocrom brand family, which are recognized for their maximum chroma and brilliant metallic effects for golden-to-red premium colors. Sun Chemical also presented Lumina HD Exterior Sienna S3903V, the next grade in the Lumina high-definition mica effects line. Based on fine synthetic mica with the highest performance properties, the Lumina HD line enables exceptional chroma, enhanced distinctness of image and subtle sparkle. 

The company’s Advanced Materials division presented its latest product innovations, including several new solutions for coatings, polymers and packaging film treatment. “The European Coatings Show gives us the opportunity to showcase Sun Chemical’s transformative polymer solutions that help meet the needs of our global customers,” said Mehran Yazdani, president of Advanced Materials, Sun Chemical. “We look forward to showing how these solutions can accomplish customer goals to achieve high performance and sustainability.”

Syensqo

Syensqo, formerly part of Solvay Group, showcased new additives, specialty monomers and green solvents. PCI met with Sel Avci, global marketing director, Coatings. PCI asked how Syensqo sees the coatings industry evolving in the next three to five years, particularly in terms of raw materials. Avci stated that in consumer end applications such as architectural paints, they see the demand for safer ingredients. The main area is to eliminate chemicals of very high concern. This includes fluorosurfactants, any material containing certain types of biocides and high-VOC-containing materials. Additionally, they continue to see the demand for conversion to APE-free materials globally. 

In terms of trends, he stated that in addition to easy-to-use, one-coat application products, customers are looking for increased durability, including improved dirt-pick up resistance, scuff resistance, and easy-to-clean, stain-resistant paints.

Avci noted that the tricky part is balancing sustainability goals with maintaining the performance standards required. “As we move towards more sustainable materials, the performance must still be the same as less sustainable ingredients. We are working very closely to address our customer’s sustainability goals while maintaining or improving their coatings performance,” he said.

Syensqo’s exhibit was built on three pillars to meet the industry’s sustainability needs: solutions for safety improvements, decarbonization and durability enhancement. The first pillar of the platform featured food-contact-approved, label-free, low-dioxane and fluorosurfactant-free solutions for architectural and industrial paints. A key highlight in this category is Rhodoline^® HBR, a new substrate wetting agent for waterborne coatings and paints. This fluorosurfactant-free specialty additive shows exceptional early hot block resistance and is a great alternative to fluorosurfactants. It also provides dirt pick-up and stain resistance.

Aiming to drive business growth through decarbonization, Syensqo presented low-carbon-footprint solutions and partially bio-based products. The Rhodiasolv^® range of green solvents is designed to deliver sustainable performance across a wide array of applications, from industrial processes to consumer products. Additionally, Syensqo’s new universal wetting and dispersing agent, Rhodoline 6100, enhances pigment paste formulations and is especially suitable for waterborne and solventborne paints. It offers strong tinting power, excellent color consistency and long-lasting stability. 

In an effort to improve coatings durability without sacrificing performance, the company featured Addibond™ 106. Specifically designed for waterborne coating formulations, this adhesion promoter additive helps metal coatings maintain their adhesive properties once dried and when exposed to moisture or water (i.e., dry and wet adhesion). Additionally, the company launched Sipomer^® MAC, a new generation of specialty monomers for the enhancement of adhesion and corrosion resistance to improve overall durability. This product is designed for waterborne latex applications and is especially suitable for direct to metal (DTM) coating applications.

“The paint and coatings industry is striving for safer and more eco-friendly formulations with comparable or superior performance to incumbent solutions,” said Corinne Duffy, market director, Coatings, EMEA, at Syensqo. “As an innovative company dedicated to anticipating the needs of the coatings market, we are proud to join the industry at this pivotal event, sharing our latest innovations with our trusted partners,” she added.

Vibrantz

The Vibrantz Color Solutions team showcased its expanded portfolio of sustainable products for paints and coatings, and unveiled the latest advancements with Pearls tinting technology. The company also offered construction updates on its new Pearls plant, and offered cost savings calculations utilizing the company’s Cool Colors to increase energy efficiencies in buildings. 

Featured products included:

· Pearls high-performing, sustainable tinting technology for coatings. This is the industry’s first and only volumetrically dosed tinting system of solid colorants designed for use in waterborne architectural and industrial applications. 

· Cool Colors infrared reflective pigments and dispersions are designed to help lower heat absorption of building exteriors to improve energy efficiency. 

· Innovatint integrated software ensures optimal performance and control over the entire color matching and tinting process. 

WACKER  

WACKER’s 300-square-meter booth highlighted specialty chemicals for the coatings, adhesives and construction materials industries, and demonstrated relevant products in the booth’s three “Zones” for Coatings, Adhesives and Construction applications. True to the company motto, “Here for You,” WACKER focused on talks and collaboration with customers. 

The company hosted a media event that kicked off with a panel discussion with Peter Summo, president of WACKER’s Polymers division; Tom Koini, president of WACKER Silicones; and Florian Degenhart, media relations manager. They started off by discussing the importance of in-person trade shows, stating that trade shows give companies the opportunity to connect with business partners about trends and innovation, and to “talk shop” about the solutions they are offering. 

 WACKER’s Media Get-Together at ECS with Florian Degenhart, Peter Summo and Tom Koini.

 

The discussion focused heavily on the strategies WACKER has in place to support sustainability, including binder technology to increase productivity and significantly reduce carbon footprints. “Our focus this year is, for instance, on innovative hybrid polymers based on our new alpha3 technology," said Koini. “In terms of elastic modulus and recovery, they surpass their predecessors in every way. Moreover, they also allow the formulation of tin-free products, which is a significant gain in consumer safety.” 

Sustainability was a key topic of the discussion for WACKER's Polymers division as well, which presented special dispersible polymer powders that enable the formulation of high-quality tile adhesives based on emissions-reduced cement. “Sustainability is no longer a trend, but a business imperative along the value chain.” said Summo. “We want our solutions to enable our customers to establish future technologies that cut CO₂ emissions and conserve resources. Sustainability is the key to future success.”

The three men also discussed today’s coatings industry challenges, including the need for increased speed to develop new solutions for customers. Summo and Koini stressed the value of AI for the future of the industry, especially in terms of accelerating product development. They noted that while it traditionally can take three to seven years to introduce a new product, with AI and data lakes, products can now come to market in 12-18 months. 

Following the discussion, members of the media were given a tour and technical presentation at each of the three zones, followed by one-on-one conversations with technical experts on some of the company’s latest technologies.

PCI met with Dr. Dieter Heldmann, technical manager industrial coatings performance solutions EMEA, WACKER Silicones. He discussed the newly launched SILRES^® HP 2000 LV. SILRES HP 2000 LV is an improved version of the company’s successful hardener system for epoxy-polysiloxane topcoats. The new product contains significantly less volatile compounds, as indicated by the suffix “LV” (for low volatiles). Consequently, it is now possible to formulate high-performance metal coatings that are safer to process and to apply. 

Other featured products under the SILRES name included SILRES BS 6920 and SILRES BS 6921 silane-based binders, which can be used to create solvent-free formulations for thin coatings with varying degrees of hardness and elasticity. The main purpose of SILRES BS 6921 is to lend flexibility to SILRES BS 6920, which is used for transparent, extremely hard-wearing coatings for concrete floors. When SILRES BS 6921 is part of the mix, formulators can create elastic coatings that can withstand both thermal expansion and mechanical deformation. Formulations like these form a very strong bond not only to cementitious floors but also to epoxy and polyurethane substrates. 

Metal sheets after a conical bending test. Due to the flexibility of SILRES HP 2000 LV, the pigmented epoxy-polysiloxane topcoat remains crack-free. Photo courtesy of WACKER.

 

 

We also met with Dr. Ulrich Lauter, global technical service manager for VINNOL Resins, who discussed VINNOL^® L6868, the next generation of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers. This unique resin is engineered to deliver excellent solubility in an extensive range of solvents, from ketones, esters and acetates, to certain glycol ethers and aromatics. Additionally, the product provides broad compatibility with a wide range of UV monomers and reactive diluents. Areas of application include printing inks, plastic coatings, wood coatings, paper coatings and film coatings. Lauter also shared information on new VINNOL^® H 15/45 M Renewable Energy, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate containing carboxyl groups, which is mainly used as a binder for heat-sealing coatings, industrial coatings and printing inks. The product is manufactured using electrical energy generated from renewable energy sources, significantly lowering the carbon footprint (PCF value).

Wanhua Chemical

Wanhua Chemical focused on coating raw materials, packaging and building, showcasing its environmentally friendly products and competitive solutions. The company’s high-performance isocyanate curing agents meet market demands for environmental protection and efficiency. The low-viscosity WANNATE^® HT-300 plus, WANNATE HT-3100 plus and WANNATE HB-200 reduce VOC emissions and significantly improve application efficiency. The fast-drying WANNATE IT-170B/S features excellent chemical resistance and fast-drying properties, making it suitable for automotive, refinish and industrial coatings. The blocked WANNATE HTBL/ITBL offers outstanding weather and chemical resistance, making it ideal for coil coatings and metal baking paints. The ITBL product is FDA-certified for use in food-contact applications.

The company’s water-based 2K solution for general furniture offers superior appearance, high hardness, chemical resistance, wear resistance and good application properties. For outdoor wood, the high-gloss, high-transparency Lacper^® 4572 provides excellent water, weather and antiblocking resistance. 

Wanhua’s bio-based PDI is derived from biomass lysine, and has a bio-based carbon content of over 71%, reducing CO₂ emissions by 20% compared to traditional isocyanates while maintaining excellent yellowing resistance and flexibility. The high-bio-content wood furniture coating emulsion Lacper 4605 breaks through the previous 30-40% technical barrier for bio-based content, while balancing appearance, antistacking and performance characteristics.

Westlake Epoxy 

PCI met with Westlake's Dr. Gunda Kuhlmann, sustainability innovation leader, and Francoise Heine, global R&D and technical service. The company launched several new products at the European Coatings Show, including the EpoVIVE™ portfolio of products, which provides sustainability advantages as compared to traditional Westlake formulas in one or more of the following categories:

· Lower Carbon Footprint: Utilize ISCC PLUS mass-balanced bio circular or circular raw materials to reduce carbon emissions.

· Energy Efficiency: Combine renewable energy with energy-efficient practices to reduce the carbon footprint.

· Safer Materials: Use of safer materials that are free from SVHC (substances of very high concern) and CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic), improving safe handling.

· Emission Reductions: Achieve lower VOC (volatile organic compounds) waterborne epoxy resin dispersions, contributing to the reduction of VOC emissions during customer applications.

· More Circular Solutions: Support improved circularity with innovative formulations and recycling processes that allow for enhanced ability to reuse, recycle, or repurpose products in the EpoVIVE™ portfolio.

Designed to meet the increasing demand for low-emission, and SVHC-free alternatives that use bio-circular or circular materials, these products offer enhanced durability, corrosion protection, and ease of use while improving the environmental footprint through operational innovations and product offerings with reduced environmental impacts.

The EpoVIVE range introduces new EPIKOTE™ Resins 901 and 902, providing CMR-free alternatives to conventional C12-C14 diluted resins for high-performance flooring. The portfolio also features the AQUAREOUS™ epoxy systems enabling lower-VOC, solvent-free coatings for concrete and metal, while SVHC-free AZURES™ products deliver CMR-free labelled, high-performance solutions for coatings, civil engineering and adhesives.

Westlake also introduced the enabling curing agent EPIKURE™ 6874-WZ-50, which simplifies waterborne formulations and enhances corrosion protection for smooth steel.

"Our commitment to improved sustainability drives us to continuously innovate and deliver solutions that help our customers meet their environmental and performance goals. The launch of the EpoVIVE portfolio and related product developments reflect Westlake Epoxy's dedication to reducing the environmental impact of our products while maintaining our high standards of quality and performance," said Karl-Martin Schellerer, Westlake senior vice president, Performance and Essential Materials, Europe and Asia.

X-Rite 

X-Rite demonstrated how paint and coatings manufacturers can accelerate color formulation, ensure accurate color matches on solid and effect paints, and reduce costly rejections while enhancing part-to-part harmony and approvals. 

“As the paint and coatings industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, our solutions help manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce waste and deliver consistent, high-quality colors,” said Matthew Adby, product management director, X-Rite. “At ECS, we’re introducing Autura, our new cloud-native software built specifically to formulate effect finishes in paints and coatings. This latest innovation helps fast-track color formulation, optimizes recipe and specification management, improves the evaluation of special-effect paints and coatings, and supports sustainability goals by minimizing correction steps and reducing waste.”

X-Rite also featured advanced solutions to support manufacturers and suppliers during each step of the workflow, including products for color formulation and visualization for effect finishes; color formulation for solid and transparent finishes; production and quality control; inline color measurement; and visual assessment. 

It was great to learn about all of these technologies in person, and to see where the coatings industry is headed. We look forward to publishing many technical articles in the future. Save the date for the next European Coatings Show and Conference, which will take place April 19-22, 2027, in Nuremberg.