Exhibitors are Highlighting New Technologies at ECS 2023

03.27.23

Emphasis is on sustainability as ECS 2023 opens its doors.

As the European Coatings Show (ECS) 2023 opens today, leading exhibitors in the paint and coatings and ink industries have much in store for attendees, as they also look forward to seeing old friends as well current and prospective customers.

Shamrock Technologies president Joon Choo noted that being able to interact in person with friends and customers once again will itself be an important highlight, as well as highlighting new sustainable products.

“We also look forward to showcasing our latest developments at the booth, and connecting with customers and peers to work on next generation sustainable coatings that last for years to come,” Choo added. “Our commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly solutions is a key driver of our success, and we are excited to explore new innovations in these areas at the show. We believe this event will provide a valuable platform to share our ideas and learn from other industry leaders.”

In particular, Shamrock announced the expansion of its bio-based wax additives with the new BioSLIP series.

“The BioSLIP product line offers outstanding slip and mar resistance with a controlled impact on gloss and clarity,” Choo said. “For example, BioSLIP EC-722 is an all-natural based wax, formulated to achieve outstanding slip and abrasion resistance and release compared with fossil-based materials in metal packaging coatings. BioSLIP products integrate naturally sourced materials for ink formulations as well as coatings, improving their critical performance and extending the useful life of the products.  We are also excited to be launching our Maxwax PFAS-free product line to approach the properties of PTFE. MaxWax 70 and 80 have been found to provide an optimum combination of slip and wear resistance in many inks and coatings, inclusive of high temperature cured systems.”

“The best parts of ECS are sitting down and meeting with most of our key customers in one place,” said Robert Ruckle, global marketing and sales director for Siltech Corporation, adding that Siltech gave a talk on Monday afternoon on traditional coatings additives modified with bio-sourced carbon content.

Paul Sanders, vice president and business director, chemical intermediates for AdvanSix, said that the major highlight is seeing all of the innovations in the coatings industry and learning from peers.

“We always leave Nuremberg feeling inspired,” Sanders added. “ECS is the central meeting place for innovation and technology and the networking and learning opportunities are endless.”

Sanders noted that AdvanSix is highlighting its EZ-Blox anti-skinning agent, a breakthrough product developed to help customers prepare for and stay in compliance, given the EU’s recent MEKO reclassification.

“This high-performing, sustainable alternative is safe to use and proven to perform in alkyd-based paint systems,” added Sanders. “It is an easy, safe drop-in replacement and an EU REACH-registered substance, with comparable anti-skinning performance as the best MEKO, and is cost-effective, thanks to compatibility and minimal reformulation and qualification costs.”

Fabian Schwane, head of market communication for Evonik Coating Additives, said that meeting with customers is always the highlight of the show.

“The highlight is definitely meeting our customers face-to-face and showcasing our latest solutions in several product presentations at the event,” Schwane said. “We believe that modern coating products should be innovative and customized, as well as based on renewable raw materials to make them more resource efficient and environmentally sustainable. We will showcase our technical expertise and how we help our customers develop solutions that are fit for the future.”

Schwane observed that Evonik’s latest solutions focus on improving the performance and sustainability profile of customers' end products.

“Some examples are our new smaller size SPHERILEX DP-0110 silica, which provides gloss control for matte or satin finishes and improved durability of architectural and wood coatings, or our new TEGO Wet 290 and TEGO Wet 296, which improve wetting and anti-cratering properties for better leveling in waterborne automotive and wood coatings,” added Schwane. “Our TEGO Dispers 780 W dispersant for waterborne printing inks offers high performance at low dosage, excellent viscosity reduction, color strength development, pigment stabilization and improved impact resistance.”

Helene Pernot, Arkema Coating Solutions’ director of sustainable offer, pointed out that the opportunity to engage with other industry leaders who are committed to sustainability efforts across the value chain will hasten the shift toward a meaningful and sustainable transformation.

“On top of the historical focus on developing safer solutions for people and the planet, industry leaders are working together to reduce our collective carbon footprint and facilitate circular practices to preserve resources,” Pernot continued. “A transformation this significant is only possible if all industry players collaborate and take collective action - connecting the downstream consumer and market expectations with sustainable material innovation capabilities.

At the European Coatings Show, Arkema will seek out others across all areas of the industry to continue that conversation and identify better ways to work together toward a more sustainable future.

“At the 2023 European Coatings Show, Arkema will showcase its brand-new sustainable solutions to improve housing circularity, home efficiency, community health and wellbeing and accelerate decarbonization of the built environment,” said Pernot. “Arkema will leverage its pioneering specialty resins and additives offering, and expertise in the lowest volatile organic compound technologies (including powder, UV-LED-EB, waterborne and high solids), to build solutions-oriented answers addressing sustainability, high performance, and anticipation on regulatory evolutions.”

“We love participating at ECS with a show stopping booth that lets everyone see the benefits of using fluorescent color to set their brand and products apart from the rest,” said Darren Bianchi, president of Brilliant Color. “We put a lot of work and effort designing the booth, so seeing it come together and having it be a representation of everything Brilliant has to offer is certainly a highlight of our year.”

Bianchi said that Brilliant Color has some interesting new products to show at this year’s ECS.

“We’ll be showcasing newer products in the lineup such as our Fluorescent Emulsions for water-based applications where a sub-micron particle is required such as water flexo inks, marker inks and textiles, new products for UV ink applications and our long-afterglow phosphorescent pigments,” added Bianchi.

“ECS is one of our most important opportunities to meet new customers, re-engage with existing customers, and promote our newest additives for paints, inks, and coatings,” said Sue Sender, director of marketing for Micro Powders, Inc. Sender reported that Micro Powders has two new product themes for this year’s ECS.

“First, we have added two new composite powders to our portfolio of proven PTFE alternative additives,” Sender noted. “PolyTuf 1229 is now our best PTFE-free powder for maximum abrasion resistance. And with our new MP-28AL, we add a value engineered synthetic wax/aluminum oxide product that offers superior lubricity and scratch resistance. For our second theme, we are excited to launch NatureMatte C44, a cellulose powder that provides single digit gloss reduction with best-in-class film clarity. We are also relaunching our NatureTex series of naturally derived powders for gloss reduction, texturing, and haptic effects.”

Chris Fitzgerald, global vice president of coatings, adhesives, sealants, & elastomers, and rubber & plastic additives for Univar Solutions, said that as a global distributor, ECS gives Univar insight into the top trends and innovations impacting the paint and coatings markets, and the opportunity to interact with the key decision-makers, raw material suppliers, thought leaders, and innovators from all over Europe.

“The show is a look into our future—the demand for environmentally friendly coatings is driving product innovation across multiple markets and commercial applications, and ECS is the main international platform through which everyone can access the innovative ideas around market trends and technologies in one location,” added Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said that for Univar Solutions, this year’s ECS will see the debut of the interactive “The House that CASE Built.”

“At the show, we’re excited to unveil ‘The House that CASE Built’, an interactive, intuitive experience featuring our strong and growing portfolio of products used for coatings and many other CASE market end products you find in the average home,” Fitzgerald reported. “We’re also focusing on the infinite innovations possible with sustainable coatings, our expansive range of product offerings, and key technical considerations to keep in mind on your sustainability journey.”

Lorama Group will highlight its bio-based polymers and binders, such as its proprietary Polysaccharide Resin Technology, as well as liquid color dispersions like the Colourfal Zero Universal, VOC-free colorant technology at ECS 2023. Dev Chakravorty, marketing manager, Lorama Group, said that the global diversity of attendees that the ECS pulls into Nuremberg is the major highlight. 

“This is truly a global show despite its European focus, and it allows us to showcase our substantial expertise and commercially cost-effective sustainable solutions to new and existing customers across Europe as well as the world,” said Chakravorty.

Lim Hoong Heng, global marketing manager, Antifoams & Health Care and public relations manager, Silicone Business Unit for BRB, said BRB Silicones will showcase novel silane, additive, resin and water repellent at European Coatings Show 2023, including new additions to its BRB Silanil and BRB Siloen product lines.

Ginny Nijjar, Borchers’ European sales manager, noted that Borchers is hosting a booth happy hour, which will be taking place this year on March 29 from 4-6 pm, as well as having several product presentations at product presentation booth 3A-607.

“We will be featuring our full portfolio of performance coating additives, including high-performance catalysts, rheology modifiers, dispersants, and anti-skinning agents,” Niijar said, including new products in its Borchi and Ascinin lines.

CovationBio is showcasing its Susterra 1,3-Propanediol together with its homopolymer polyol PO3G Velvetol from its value chain partner Weylchem | Allessa. Patrick Van Waes, global marketing director for CovationBio, said that ECS allows CovationBio|PDO to showcase Susterra 1,3-PDO as a 100% bio-based alternative to fossil fuel building blocks and ingredients in the coatings space to build a more sustainable and circular economy.

“Sustainable, lower carbon footprint and renewable materials without compromise on quality and performance are the key elements for the show,” Van Waes noted.