The Detroit Society for Coatings Technology presents:
Future Of Coatings Under Study
47th Annual F uture O f C oatings U nder S tudy
Thursday May 4, 2023
The Inn at St. John’s Plymouth, MI
FOCUS 2023: Opportunities Driving Development
For over 45 years, paint professionals have been gathering together at FOCUS to discuss the opportunities and challenges we face in the coatings industry. They’ve changed a lot over time. Technologies have come and gone. Productivity improvements, quality management, environmental stewardship and new test method development are all items we want to stay on top of. FOCUS is the leading forum to expand your network, share ideas and learn what’s new in the industry.
The 2023 theme, Opportunities Driving Development , will include topics such as automation/digital, sustainability, anti-corrosion, specialty coatings, and color. The conference will be held in-person at The Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth, Michigan; however, a hybrid option is also available.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 4th for this special event.
Event details
What to expect
Continental breakfast fit for royalty
Panel discussion with industry experts
Two tracks of technical presentations with the option of specialized workshop activities
Leaders from top companies including: Ford, GM, Stellantis, Axalta, Eastman, Evonik, BASF, and PPG
Invigorating lunch (vegetarian available)
In-person poster session highlighting the talents from local universities
Industry exhibitor displays and product samples
Continuous networking opportunities to better connect you with all layers in the industry
Pound-for-pound, the best annual coatings conference at the lowest cost!
Explore venue →
Topics
Digital Printing Color Science Sustainability Corrosion
Why attend FOCUS?
Technology
Get the latest updates right from the experts! Hear from OEM’s, tier suppliers, and industry veterans.
Connections
Hear the voice of the customer! Network with the industry’s top researchers and discuss challenges with suppliers. Meet the next generation of professionals.
Value
Get a pulse on what the industry needs and generate real-world solutions for your organization.
Inspiration
Re-charge your battery with a bevy of new ideas and valuable contacts.
Register online
At PPG, our mission is to protect and beautify the world. We simply cannot reach that mission if we are not innovating new coating technologies to solve future problems. I join the FOCUS conference each year to understand the most pressing issues our industry is experiencing and transfer those learnings to our science and technology team, so we are well prepared to accomplish our mission!
As a technologist working in the field of aerospace coatings, I value the cross-industry network and technical insights that I’ve gained from attending FOCUS. The excellent presentations and discussions always spark new ideas to apply in my own work.
FOCUS continues to provide exceptional value combining interesting and relevant topics presented by leading experts with opportunities to network with a diverse cross section of industry professionals. This homegrown conference is a ‘must attend’ event on my calendar every year.
The technical presentations at FOCUS are directly relevant to meeting the challenges we face in the coatings industry. At FOCUS we get together with old friends to share stories as well as to network and form new friendships. FOCUS is our community.
The annual FOCUS conference is a unique event that I recommend to anyone involved in the automotive coatings industry. The single day format, is packed with auto related coating topics, where both industry experts and relative novices, are able to network and discuss mutual opportunities.
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
CEO, U-C Coatings
The FOCUS conference provides an excellent platform for industry experts to share the latest on trends and coating technology. The year over year growth of this conference is a testament to the value it brings to its attendees. Academia, industry experts, and young professionals all under one roof finding solutions to our industries greatest challenges. An incredible environment for exchanging ideas!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Detroit Society for Coatings Technology
John Boisseau, Eastman Chemical
Vernon Comeaux, Stellantis
Sarah Hodapp, General Motors
Deanne Jensen, PPG (Secretary)
Diane Langer, BASF (Co-chair)
Jon Lawniczak, Eckart (President)
Vijay Mannari, Eastern Michigan University
Tracey Moorer, FANUC
Brian Okerberg, PPG (Co-chair)
Keith Stricker Aalchem (Treasurer)
Jeff Tish, Anderson Development
Mikhail Trought, Ford Motor Company
Jake Welland, Axalta Coatings
Marcy Zimmer, Ford Motor Company
History
The Detroit Society for Coatings Technology has been presenting FOCUS – the premier automotive coatings conference – for over 40 years. Check out scenes and details from recent FOCUS conferences.
