Russell Raad, president of “one-stop shop” Abrasives Inc., shares his unique insights regarding marketplace trends, changes, and regulatory impacts. Other topics in this interview include challenges related to the surface preparation of industrial coatings jobs; strategies to incorporate feedback from contractors and end users; and an outlook for the future.

Meghan Barrera, business director for the Allied Products refinishing brand at paints and coatings manufacturer PPG, explains how she and her team are working to develop practical solutions that help body shops grapple with technician shortages, higher productivity expectations, and a growing need for sustainable practices.

Kaveh Meghdadpour, an executive with Crown Polymers, shares his perspective on industry trends and pain points within floor coatings. In this conversation from our podcast series, the Crown Polymers executive shares several strategies that can potentially address both concerns and opportunities over the years ahead.

Under AMPP’s new program, Protective Coatings Specialist (PCS) certification holders will have demonstrated proficiency in technical aspects of coatings, failure analysis, project management, specification review, application, and inspection. The goal is to ensure optimal performance of each coating system throughout its projected service life.

An underground oil pipeline at a Spanish refinery was suffering from severe corrosion, and it would have incurred severe metal loss if left unchecked. Instead, a composite wrap solution allowed the customer to avoid a complete replacement.

U.S. Navy veteran Matt Flory is currently working as a global business director at Sherwin-Williams, where he leads the industrial group’s military coatings segment. With a team comprised largely of Veterans, Flory shares perspective on what they bring to the coatings industry and the role they can play in overcoming workforce development challenges.

In this “Never Again” article, Jon Cavallo explores whether the role of solvents and/or thinners is simply to control viscosity. As part of this review, an investigation of observed bridge coating failures near Panama City, Fla., was conducted on several fronts.

Maintaining exterior paint in industrial environments requires a strategic approach, from product selection to application. By using these tips and your professional expertise, you can offer solutions featuring exterior paints and coatings that can last longer and look better.

After confirming an amine blush problem, the contractor determined that the amine exudate needed to be removed effectively to ensure the adhesion of subsequently applied coating materials. They also had to closely watch the atmospheric conditions going forward, to make sure that the heater didn’t cause further troubles.

The advancement of coating and lining technologies is crucial to future wastewater infrastructure maintenance, and appropriate collaborations between manufacturers, engineers, and applicators can optimize the effectiveness of these protective solutions.

Investing in a high-quality blast room involves a substantial initial cost, and neglecting its basic maintenance can drastically reduce the lifespan. To avoid that scenario, here are seven critical maintenance actions that should be prioritized at the top of a regular upkeep list.

Prior to the 2024 Olympics, the propeller shaft on a ship carrying the Olympic Torch from Greece to Marseilles was repaired. As part of the restoration, the ship required a repair for its propeller shaft suffering from salt-water corrosion. Belzona rebuilt the shaft to its original profile and then applied a corrosion-resistant coating to mitigate future damage.

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.

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.