DSCT presents: Future Of Coatings Under Study

This Year’s Theme

Defining Challenges, Discovering Solutions

Keeping pace with technology advances is tough! The automotive industry not only faces new coatings challenges—regulations, design, processing—but new twists to historical challenges: corrosion, appearance, and applications.

Defining these challenges helps drive new discoveries and new solutions. Industry leaders use innovation expertise, whether in benchtop formulation or computer simulated modeling, to bring solutions to market.

The 2018 FOCUS Conference will highlight solutions to industry challenges, and preview future concepts. Join us.

What to Expect

Continental breakfast
Two concurrent tracks featuring expert speakers on the leading edge of coatings technology
Panel discussion
Lunch (vegetarian available)
Poster session highlighting the talents of students from local colleges
Exhibitor tables from industry suppliers
Networking opportunities throughout the day
An outstanding value for your dollar!

Venue

MSU Management Education Center

811 W Square Lake Rd, Troy, MI 48098

We all face similar challenges in the paint business. FOCUS is a great way of networking and sharing information in North America. It is also a great opportunity to bring Paint formulators/suppliers and OEM end users together.

Kenny White
General Motors

FOCUS is a summit where top talent gets together to discuss new coating technologies and industry challenges. I admire the facilitation of open discussion from various industries and Academics.

Ankil Shah
General Manager—Materials Engineering, Toyota

FOCUS provides a unique opportunity for us suppliers who are not located in the Metro Detroit area to keep up with the trends in automotive paint industry. There are always interesting talks and the opportunity to interact with experts in the field on a more casual basis. I have attended FOCUS from its inception and will do so into the future.

Michael Gessner
Coatings Scientist, Nuplex Resins LLC

I attend FOCUS every year, and I always learn something new. FOCUS also gives me a chance to talk with my colleagues in the industry about important technical issues and solutions.

Mark Nichols
Technical Leader Paint Research, Ford Motor Company

The coatings professionals from BASF have always looked forward to the annual FOCUS event. A local, one day event is perfect for some education and insights into current topics, a chance to re-unite and network with our collegues in the marketplace, and get connected with some new contacts. The content—including vendors, customers, and academia—is well-rounded and our senior employees, as well as new hires, always benefit.

Kenneth M. Perry
Technical Director, BASF North America

FOCUS conferences are providing me with a rewarding professional experience. FOCUS is always conducted on a very high technical level, it gives me an opportunity to listen presentations by the experts in the coatings, meet with colleagues and exchange the ideas. What is also important for the busy professionals is the fact that this a local and very affordable technical event.

Alexander Yahkind
Senior Research & Site Manager Automotive & Aerospace Coating, AkzoNobel Coatings

FOCUS is a great place to see, hear, and discuss the latest advances and trends in the industry. The conference brings together OEMs, Coatings Companies, and Raw Material suppliers in a way not available anywhere else. I enjoy the networking opportunities with other colleagues from the industry. Automotive coatings are moving ahead and the FOCUS conference is a great place to challenge yourself and others to help drive that change!

Eric J. Degenfelder
Vice President of Global Product Management, Axalta Coating Systems

FOCUS provides an outstanding opportunity to interact directly with all parts of the value chain for automotive coatings. In recent years it’s also become a way to meet the next generation of automotive engineers and specifiers. The presentations and panel discussions are always interesting, engaging, and directly address the most significant emerging automotive trends.

Jim Charron
Vice President of Application Development, North America, Covestro

DSCT Committee

John Boisseau, Precision Coatings
Matt Boland, Axalta Coatings (Co-Chair)
Bev Bruner, retired (Secretary)
Chris Cachat, IMCD US
Chuck Cameron, retired
Scott Clifford, FANUC America
Bernadette Colonna, Covestro
Vernon Comeaux, FCA
David Cranfill, BASF
Paul Deskovitz, Covestro
Linda Gerhardt, General Motors
Jim Jakubowski, retired
Jon Lawniczak, Eckart
Vijay Mannari, Eastern Michigan University (President)
Lorrie McQuiston, PPG
Jim Pakkala, Durr
Rudy Pomper, General Motors
Carrie Semrau, Axalta Coatings
Keith Stricker, Maroon Inc. (Treasurer)
Jeff Tish, Anderson Development
Jake Welland, Axalta Coatings (Co-Chair)
Don White, BASF
Marcy Zimmer, Ford

DSCT Resource Team

Mary Sue Acker, General Motors
Tim December, BASF
Stephanie Egan, Specialty Chemical Sales
Todd Fitz, Honda
Vince Goldman, BASF
Greg Liedtke, Palmer-Holland
Tracey Moorer, FCA
Mike Mulligan, PPG
Mark Nichols, Ford
Cynthia Templeman, Toyota

The Detroit Society for Coatings Technology presents: