NewSkin OITB  partner Leitat Technological Center presented a poster "Thermal curing verses machine learning infrared curing system for powder painted industrial coatings" at ETCC 2024 – European Technical Coatings Congress, 23-25 September 2024, Palace of the Popes of Avignon, France.  #ETCC2024
ETCC 2024 was organised by the AFTPVA (French Association of Technicians of Paints, Varnishes, Printing Inks and Adhesives) on behalf of FATIPEC (Federation of Associations of Technicians for Industry of Paints in European Countries), and supported by sponsors: Arkema BASF Evonik KRONOS Worldwide, Inc. and partners: the FRENCH COLOR CENTER, Ecoat, ERMA (European Resin Manufacturers Association), Fipec, InfoChimie and UATCM (Union of Associations of Mediterranean Culture Technicians). ETCC 2024 had ~300 participants discussing technology advances and latest innovations in coatings towards enabling formulation industries to meet technical, regulatory and environmental challenges over 3 days.

In 2024, the tone was very much set by André Van Linden (R&D Director Scientific Academic Partnerships Akzo Nobel) in his opening plenary lecture with the statement "Collaboration is the quickest way to sustainable coatings". Topics in the congress included Surface treatment and production, Paint Science, Adhesives, Inks, Related Products, Bio-based solutions, Building Materials, Carbon footprint and decarbonisation, Colours and dyes, Anti-corrosion solutions, Formulations, Measurement and testing, Smart Coatings, Sustainability, and Wood as a substrate. 

In addition, the Summer School (run on Sunday 22nd of September), included topics such as: 

·         Experimental design in coatings by Dr. Christel PIERLOT - CENTRALE LILLE INSTITUT (Unité de Catalyse et de Chimie du Solide)

·         Particle wettability: Concepts, theoretical aspects, and application of the Washburn method by Jordan BASSETTI, CENTRALE LILLE INSTITUT (Unité de Catalyse et de Chimie du Solide)

·         Biocides: an essential raw material for water-based formulations by Dr Thierry LACOUR, R&D Director & Company Manager, BIOPRESERV France

·         Fundamentals of wetting and adhesion by Dr Alain CARRE, Consultant, Teacher, AFPEV, and

·         Coating product physical behaviour and challenges for predictive instrumental methods by Dr. Nicolas MOUGIN, Technical Manager and co-founder of RHEONIS

NewSkin OITB colleague Aina Cabrer Palomés, from Surface Chemistry at Leitat Technological Center, partook to showcase the latest advancements in the NewSkin OITB project. In her poster presentation, Aina discussed preliminary results from Leitat’s photonic curing system, emphasizing the integration of machine learning (ML) into the infrared (IR) curing process for powder coatings. This innovative technology has the potential to significantly enhance curing efficiency, reduce processing time, and lower energy consumption. READ MORE on LinkedIn
 
The NewSkin Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) provides essential tools and services needed to create innovative, cost-effective processes for manufacturing nano-enabled products and testing their enhanced features.