As the global authority in materials protection and performance, AMPP recently hosted its 2024 Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. This event brought a significant opportunity for professionals in the corrosion control and protective coatings fields to influence legislation while promoting sustainable practices within critical infrastructure sectors.

Upon walking into the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, visitors are greeted by natural light coming through two huge skylights in the atrium. Each skylight is of impressive size, and after about 10 years, they had both begun leaking. Recently, Newton Roofing Services was called in to remedy the situation.

Despite its utility, blasting presents significant hazards to coatings professionals, and not just from the force of the materials themselves. When left unmitigated, these hazards pose the risk of serious injuries to employees and can result in substantial legal and financial consequences for coatings industry employers.

Sam Scaturro, president of Alpine Painting & Sandblasting Contractors, shares his insights on industry trends and keys to success. For Alpine, this includes an emphasis on safer and sustainable practices, as well as developing its workforce and communicating with clients.

While global demand for steel is projected to continue to rise, the industry is facing a scarcity of skilled labor. In addition to training programs and skill-building initiatives, robotics technology and automation are among the areas gaining momentum as a potential solution to address these challenges.

An effective onboarding process goes far beyond the obligatory paperwork and orientation checklist. It is thoughtfully designed to make new employees feel valued and to lay the groundwork for an enduring bond between the employee and employer.

In a panel discussion, member leaders Dawn Eden and Sandy Williamson share their insights regarding materials sustainability and the latest trends in 2024. Discussion topics include new focus areas within AMPP’s Sustainability Task Force; key takeaways and insights from the 2024 conference; and what could be on the horizon as global outreach is ramped up.

As AMPP’s publication for contractors working on high-performance coating projects in the field, CoatingsPro Magazine recognized and celebrated its 2024 Contractor Awards Program winners as part of a ceremony from the association’s flagship annual show.

After finding a water leak from its holding tank, the owner/operator of a town water tower reached out to Total Access Solutions Co. (TASC) to request an inspection. One TASC got on site, investigators were able to deduce more information about the potential cause(s) of the premature failure.

Significant changes are expected for federal hazard communications and for lead standards in California, and industrial painters should be especially vigilant because the impacts could be dramatic, according to a recent presentation from a leading U.S. regulatory expert.