Are you ready to explore the latest technology, share knowledge, network with industry peers, and gain insights into finishing and manufacturing trends that will help you prepare for what’s ahead? FABTECH 2023 is the place to be. This year FABTECH returns to McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, from Sept. 11-14. Among the hustle and bustle of the trade show floor covering a range of metal forming, welding and fabricating solutions, you’ll find the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) FINISHING Pavilion, presenting the latest finishing technologies and opportunities for networking and exploring the latest trends in the industry.
Now in its 14th year as a FABTECH partner, CCAI’s FINISHING Pavilion and Conference continues to grow, offering insight and innovations covering all aspects of industrial surface finishing. Training and education have always been at the forefront of CCAI’s mission, and the conference program features 27 sessions with expert-led presentations that cover a wide range of technical topics for all finishing professionals.
FABTECH 2023 also features the sixth edition of CCAI’s FAB to FINISH Production Experience, a program providing attendees with a first-hand opportunity to witness a part’s production from fabrication to finishing. The production route follows a souvenir part being laser cut and bent, and then through a finishing production route to participating CCAI corporate member exhibitor booths, to experience the part being cleaned, powder coated and cured. Some routes feature selective plating, while others include coating thickness measurement. Don’t miss out!
FABTECH 2023 Finishing Conference Program
10:00 – 11:30 AM
C11: Lean & Green Curing — Save Space, Time and CO2 (I)
Marty Sawyer, Trimac Industrial Systems
C21: Introduction to Powder Coating System Design (B)
John F. Sudges, Midwest Finishing Systems, Inc.
Frank Mohar, Nordson Corporation
Michael Withers, Axalta Coating Systems
C31: Don’t Take Safety for Granted (B)
Marty Korecky, MJ Korecky Consulting LLC
2:00 – 3:30 PM
C13: Under the Gun: How Powder Guns Work and Troubleshooting Tips (I)
#1 Method to Troubleshoot a Powder Gun Problem… Follow the Air
Jeff Hale, Gema USA Inc.
Tips for Manual and Automatic Gun Settings
Dan Bowens, Nordson Corporation
C23: Cleaning Up Costs in Your Pretreatment Process (I)
Pretreatment Real-world Hacks for Cost Savings
Jeff Blain, Circle-Prosco, Inc.
Lowering Operational Cleaning Costs Using New Technology
Charles Sexton, Kyzen Corporation
C33: Improving Your Masking, Racking, and Paint Removal Processes (I)
Innovations in Masking Design and Materials
Cliff Shephard, Echo Engineering
Part Hanging on the Line: Beyond the Basics
Jeremy Davitz, Magic Rack
Sustainable In-house Paint Removal: Improving Productivity and Lowering Costs
Stephen Taylor, Atotech USA
Tuesday, September 12
8:00 – 9:30 AM
C14: Batch vs. Automated Finishing Systems: Which is Right for You? (I)
Nick Dawson, Koch Finishing Systems
Frank Mohar, Nordson Corporation
C24: Choosing the Right Conversion Coating (A)
Which Conversion Coating is Right for Your Process — Zirconium vs. Iron Phosphate
Mark Miller, Torch Surface Technologies
Sustainable Pretreatments — Alternatives to Traditional Technologies
Terry Sjostrom, Henkel Corporation
C34: Technology to Bridge the Skills Gap in Finishing (I)
Derek DeGeest, DeGeest Corporation and LestaUSA
10:00 – 11:30 AM
C15: See It, Touch It, Fix It (I)
David Schimpff, DuBois Chemicals;
Max George, DuBois Chemicals;
Tabitha McLeish, The Sherwin-Williams Company
C25: Leveraging Liquid Paint Equipment to Improve Quality and Efficiency (I)
Making Money with Paint
Josh Gilmore, Sames
Achieving Automotive Quality Finishes for General Industry
Josh Gilmore, Sames
C35: Layer Without Limits: How to Choose the Right Protective Coating (B)
Matthew Rush, Christopher Graniero and Sarah Sisley, PPG
2:00 – 3:30 PM
C17: Powder Performance, Past and Future (I)
Battery Electric Vehicles and the Future Ahead
Kevin Hales, AkzoNobel Coatings Inc.
Powder — The Sustainable Choice for Corrosion Protection
Matthew Rush, PPG
Sameer Shaikh, Arkema Coating Resins
C27: Going Extreme with Thermoplastics (I)
Thermoplastic Powder Coatings: What’s New and Where Can They Be Used?
Michael Withers, Axalta Coating Systems
Powder Coatings for Extreme Applications
Zak Eckel, Arkema, Inc.
C37: Basics of Infrared Curing for Finishing Applications (B)
Scott Bishop, Alabama Power Company
Wednesday, September 13
8:00 – 9:30 AM
C18: Maximize Your Powder Coating Performance (B)
Aric Yarosz, AkzoNobel Coatings Inc.
C28: Let's Have a Blast…Cleaning (I)
The Critical Role of Abrasives in Blast Cleaning
Kumar Balan, Ervin Industries
Choosing the Correct Shot Blasting Equipment
Carl Panzenhagen, Blast Cleaning Technologies
C38: Reducing Lead Times with Capacity Planning and Other Profit-Boosting Strategies (I)
Jeff Halonen, Steelhead Technologies
10:00 – 11:30 AM
C19: Come On, Do the Automation (B)
Let’s Talk Automation in the Finishing Industry
Hope Dollarhide and Barton Faylor, FANUC America Corp.
How Do You Paint When Nobody Wants to Work?
Josh Gilmore, Sames
C29: Innovations in Cleaning Methods (I)
CO2 Spray Cleaning Options for Cleaning of Manufactured Surfaces: Technology, Effectiveness, Operating Cost
Nelson W. Sorbo, Ph.D., Cool Clean Technologies LLC
Digital Advances in Shot Blasting: Reducing Running Cost and Optimizing Blast Performance Through Digital Tools
Derek Yesmunt, Norican Group
C39: Automation Options for Your Powder Line (I)
Automating Your Powder Coatings System, What Are Your Options? From Applications to Color Changes
JR Rogers, Wagner Industrial Solutions
2:00 – 3:30 PM
C102: Get Immersed in Ecoat (A)
Corrosion Initiation Differences for Ecoat
Lee Steely, PPG
Cutting Edge Advancements in Ecoat and Pretreatment to Improve Your Paint Operations
Brandon Lloyd, Atotech USA
Michael Bauer, The Sherwin-Williams Co.
C202: R.O.I. Drives Profit in Finishing (I)
Ryan Allen, Gema USA, Inc.
C302: Minimizing Energy and Water Usage with New Technologies in Paint Finishing Systems (I)
Steve Onsager, Horizon Performance Technologies LLC
Thursday, September 14
8:00 – 9:30 AM
C103: Maximize Your Paint Finishing System (I)
Dan Nesper, Max George and Dave Garczynski, Dubois Chemicals
C203: Invest in Liquid Coating Operations to Lower Costs and Become More Sustainable (I)
Michael Thomas and Jesse Hernandez, Wagner Industrial Systems
C303: Navigating EPA Regulation Changes (I)
Environmental Regulation of Emergent Contaminants in the Metal Finishing Industry
Erik Mroz, Drewry Simmons Vornehm and Matthew Traister, Ramboll
