The programme included a range of informative presentations and lectures on various aspects of coating technology. The conference was held this year for the woodworking and furniture industry, and for the plastics and automobile supply industry together (not alternately as in previous years). This gave the attendees an even better opportunity to network and to share cross-industry information and experience with users and suppliers. Some visitors also attended some of the other group's presentations.
As in the past, the focus was on presentations and lectures on practical topics, highlighting interesting possibilities and giving the participants an understanding of state-of-the-art technologies.
The first series of lectures in the "A2 Forum" was followed by practical demonstrations in the Venjakob Technical Centre. These included an impressive demonstration of dry ice cleaning with pellets by Jan Verbruggen of Cryonomic-Artimex. In the area of woodworking and furniture, the focus was on the subject of high gloss. The user report by Norbert Hunke of Hunke Möbelwerkstätte GmbH, in cooperation with Christoph Büttemeyer of Plantag Coatings, was followed by a practical demonstration in our Technology Centre. Workpieces with demanding geometries were coated with aqueous UV and solvent-based high gloss paint on the coating machines VEN SPRAY VARIO and PERFECT with the assistance of Votteler and Plantag.
Andor Bariska of WinterthurInstruments gave a talk about the inline thickness gauging of coatings and demonstrated it on the VEN SPRAY VARIO with the necessary technology specially installed.
Professor Adrian Riegel from the University of Applied Sciences Ostwestfalen-Lippe gave a very interesting talk on the research project "A quality concept for evaluating high-gloss surfaces" during the joint evening programme.
Following the last lecture of the first day, it was revealed that the special seating did not just create a pleasant atmosphere but was also multifunctional. The guests were encouraged by Drum Olé to take part in a drum session on the special percussion chairs to avoid after-dinner drowsiness. Any initial reluctance was soon overcome due to the easy to learn rhythms and the two enthusiastic musicians.
According to the feedback, the attendees' expectations of the event were more than met. The change in the schedule, allowing more time for travelling to the event on the first day, was also positively received.
The next Venjakob Surface Meeting is scheduled to take place in two years time.