PaintExpo showcases world premieres and top trends of the industry on the international stage

From April 14 to 17, 2026, the international coating industry will gather in Karlsruhe to experience the latest solutions and world premieres. The range of innovations spans sustainable coating systems, energy-efficient solutions, and AI- and automation-driven process optimizations. "PaintExpo is the heart of industrial coating technology – in Germany, in Europe, and worldwide. It connects leading companies, innovative technologies, and global decision-makers on one platform and sets standards for the industry's future," explains Carmen Bender, Project Director, looking ahead to the event in four weeks.

Sustainable Coating Systems and Material Innovations

Resource conservation and sustainability are shaping developments in coating technology. This is demonstrated by the following exhibitors with their new developments:

– Venjakob presents both robotics for delicate and complex shapes and a mobile coating system for columns weighing up to 2,000 tons.
– Gema Switzerland showcases, with the Germany premiere, how perfect coating results are possible even with the most complex application requirements and difficult part geometries.
– J. Wagner again demonstrates live solutions at the trade fair booth that make the work of coating professionals easier – through intuitive operation, resource-saving material use, optimized processes, and increased automation.
– Jürgen Emptmeyer highlights the increasing demands on product safety, traceability, and quality with CE-compliant hooks and racks.

Additional sustainable innovations will also be showcased. Vulkan Inox presents stainless steel blasting media for corrosion protection, and TOPO Powder Coating introduces robust anti-graffiti powder coatings to the market.

Automation, Robotics, and Digital Process Intelligence

The digitalization of coating processes and the use of artificial intelligence are more prominent than ever among numerous exhibitors. Notable examples include:

– FerRobotics automates time-consuming masking before painting and defect correction on plastic parts.
– Walther Trowal debuts the Rotamat R 60 for insulation coating of particularly small electronic components, as well as the new R 100 for large flat-density elements in e-mobility.
– REITER GmbH & Co. KG enables intuitive teaching of painting robots with the RoboTwin, allowing less experienced personnel to achieve precise results.
– Micro-Epsilon Measurement Technology presents a world premiere with fully automated surface inspection of raw car bodies.

Furthermore, innovations from robotics and automation from other leading providers highlight the future of smart manufacturing: SURFIN Technology with intuitive robot programming and Fraunhofer ITWM with measurement systems for simultaneous layer thickness and process analysis.

Process Safety and Quality

Consistent quality and stable processes are crucial for economical production. At PaintExpo, companies from around the world will demonstrate how innovative systems enhance process safety. Examples include:

– Dürr presents spray painting free of overspray and a modular color supply system including material recovery, quick color change, and low rinsing agent consumption.
– Eisenmann introduces the new hybrid wheel gripper E-Gripper Wheel for precise and gentle wheel handling as a flexible and energy-efficient solution to increase and sustainably secure production efficiency.
– Krautzberger will showcase two new automatic spray units designed for increased efficiency with abrasive media, offering advantages in performance, ease of maintenance, and cost-effectiveness.
– Sherwin-Williams displays an innovative portfolio of coatings specifically developed for the ever-evolving requirements of global energy infrastructure.
– Blastman introduces a world premiere for sandblasting small parts in confined spaces.

Energy Efficiency, Resilience, and Resource Conservation

Optimizing energy and material use is a central theme for sustainable production. At the world’s leading trade fair, exhibitors will demonstrate how efficiency gains can be practically implemented:

– Feige Coating Systems has developed a new air technical system architecture for industrial spray booths that combines high-level heat recovery with near-complete separation of paint-contaminated particles for the first time.
– NoxorSokem from Italy showcases, for the first time at a trade fair, an automated process for stripping wheels without manual intervention while maintaining consistent quality.
– Maston Oy presents, as a world premiere, one of the fastest and most efficient portable filling machines, capable of filling up to six 400ml aerosol cans per minute with its 5-liter paint cone.
– Alvarez Schaer introduces a new compact anodizing system for aluminum processors, aiming for high-quality anodizing with reduced space requirements and lower resource and operational demands.

Global Networking and Business Opportunities

From April 14 to 17, PaintExpo will once again emphasize its role as the most important platform for industrial surface technology and coating processes. It showcases the entire spectrum of industrial coating technology products and services along the value chain. It is the unique platform where manufacturers, suppliers, and decision-makers from around the world meet. The concentration of innovations, products, and industry experts creates an environment that fosters intensive technical discussions, knowledge exchange, and new collaborations. Visitors can specifically identify business opportunities, establish partnerships, and prepare or finalize concrete orders.