Coating Forum 2023: Interview with Dr. Evripidis Tsaousoglou

Coating Forum 2023, the leading event for the paint and construction materials industry in Greece, is organized by the Institute of Coating Technologies (IoCT). This year’s conference will take place on November 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at the Athens Concert Hall (Nikos Skalkottas Hall).

Renowned industry professionals will attend the conference to present the latest developments in the paint and construction materials industry, as well as new technologies, market trends, sustainability, and regulations.

Coating Forum 2023 offers attendees the opportunity to engage in dialogue on pressing issues, stay informed, and network with professionals across the construction sector, including manufacturers, suppliers, researchers, and academics. Companies will also participate to showcase their latest products and services.

Attached you will find the invitation and the event program.

Below follows the interview with Dr. Evripidis Tsaousoglou [CEO, Institute of Coating Technologies (IoCT)].

– What is Coating Forum 2023?

Coating Forum started in 2022, this year is the second edition, and in the future it will be held every two years. Coating Forum is the unique meeting place for all people involved in the coatings and construction materials industry, and a unique opportunity to discuss the issues concerning this sector. In recent years, science, technology, the policies of involved parties, as well as internal and external conditions, have been rapidly changing. Coating Forum hosts speakers who shape these changes, giving all of us the opportunity not only to become informed about these changes but, more importantly, through discussions and meetings, to actively participate in them. From its very beginning, the Forum has been supported by almost all institutions, companies, and ordinary members of the sector. It is notable that it is probably the only event where representatives from all coatings companies without exception met. This year, we already have the support of more associations and more sponsors. The title of Coating Forum 2023 is:
Exploring the way unlocking the potential from Industry 4.0 to Construction 5.0

– When and where does it take place?

Coating Forum is a one-day event, to be held at the Athens Concert Hall, in the Nikos Skalkottas Hall, on Friday, November 3rd, 2023.

– Who is Coating Forum 2023 addressed to?

Coating Forum addresses everyone involved in the lifecycle of production, application, study, education, specifications, inspection, supervision, and general engagement with coatings and construction materials. Indicatively, this includes:
• Engineers and architects
• Technical companies & contractors
• Engineering, consulting, and investment companies
• Construction materials manufacturers
• Suppliers and distributors of raw materials
• Suppliers of equipment for the chemical industry
• Policy makers & regulatory compliance officers
• Licensing specialists
• Certification bodies
• Business consultants
• Scientists, academics, and research laboratories

What topics will be emphasized at this year’s Coating Forum?

Again this year, the forum focuses on all pressing topics. Ask anyone in construction what they discuss, and they will mention the shortage of specialized technicians/staff, materials, future technologies, and how to follow a successful business strategy. These are the thematic sections of this year’s Coating Forum,

Business Cases: What companies and entrepreneurs have to say about their strategy and the future of the sector, including factors influencing the strategy such as ESG and sustainability.
Science today Coatings Tomorrow: Science and materials from the future.
Investing in the Future: Building a Skilled and Diverse Workforce: What kinds of technicians and staff we need and how to achieve this.
From Industry 4.0 to Construction 5.0: The 5th Industrial Revolution in construction, which repositions humans at the center of processes, moving from robots to cobots.
Coating Connect – Talks on the Intersection of Architecture and Coatings: New typologies for new desires, architecture, aesthetics and experience, sustainability and green architecture, cultural and multicultural sensitivity.
This year, for the first time, Coating Connect – Talks on the Intersection of Architecture and Coatings will take place, in collaboration with Vasilis Bartzokas, CEO of Design Ambassador and the Archisearch platform. Coating Connect is the architectural section of the Coating Forum 2023 conference. Within this framework, leading architects will talk about the buildings of tomorrow, related to the needs they serve and the use of coatings.

What challenges is the paint industry currently facing? What are the materials of tomorrow?

Building materials are constantly evolving through research conducted by scientific institutions as well as the research and development departments of companies. Although it would be difficult and bold to predict the innovations of the future, the four main axes for their development in the near future are as follows:

More environmentally friendly solutions
The search for environmentally sustainable solutions is a global trend that affects all aspects of our lives. The World Green Building Council (WGBC) published some worrying statistics in 2017 showing that construction activities account for 36% of global final energy use and 39% of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Consequently, the WGBC set the goal to accelerate actions to eliminate emissions in the building and construction sector by 2050.

Smart solutions
Aiming to optimize processes, manufacturers focus their research efforts on developing smart solutions. What does “smart solution” mean? The main characteristic of smart solutions is to provide a product with multiple properties that satisfy the customer’s needs. In this way, the professional in the field only needs to use one product to meet all requirements, increasing efficiency and optimizing time and materials.

Requirements at the finishing level
Apart from protection from external factors, the aesthetic aspect of the coating is becoming increasingly important. Surfaces often function as advertising platforms, and achieving a distinctive aesthetic while also obtaining high-quality finishing becomes a crucial factor.

Non-professional painters
The rise of the “Do It Yourself” movement, both worldwide and in Greece, also affects the coatings sector at a more local level. Products that until recently were found only in specialized distributors are becoming increasingly widespread and are reaching the hands of non-professional painters.

What is the current state of the workforce in the sector?

In Greece, there is a significant number of experienced technicians, but at the same time, there are many technicians who do not have substantial experience either due to their recent involvement in the field or because they are simultaneously engaged in other activities. The truth is that many of the experienced technicians often lack basic knowledge related to paints (such as proper surface preparation, correct use of materials, hygiene and safety, disposal of the product) and do not have a comprehensive, objective, and scientifically substantiated understanding. This is mainly due to the gap in technical education and training in this specific sector, both from public and private institutions and organizations. Over the past decades, there has been no formal education in the paint sector except for several product-specific seminars offered by paint manufacturing and trading companies. At the same time, university and technical schools do not sufficiently address paint as a material. Unfortunately, there is no specialized course in any higher education or technical school covering the production, application, and inspection of paint. A similar gap is observed in most construction-related professions. However, the current trend is for technicians to certify their knowledge adequacy and the correctness of their techniques, as seen with insulation technicians and scaffolding installers. Certification, though, cannot exist without education—both in technical matters and in health, safety, and environmental awareness. Simultaneously, Greece is experiencing a shortage of painting technicians relative to the volume of construction work generated over the last three years.

How will the transition from INDUSTRY 4.0 to CONSTRUCTION 5.0 be achieved, and what does this mean for your sector?

The 4th Industrial Revolution started relatively recently; the first reference was made by the German government in 2013, while the term was established in 2015 by the founder of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab. Industry 4.0 is not actually a new type of technology but a new approach to existing technologies in order to achieve a higher purpose than each served individually ten years ago. General goals include connectivity, resource waste reduction, productivity increase, flexibility, and so on. We’ve all heard terms like IoT (Internet of Things), cloud computing, cognitive computing, and smart factories. However, all these are already being transformed. Now, the human being is returning to the center. A new model of collaboration and interaction between humans and machines is developing. We are moving from robots in production to cobots, which means collaborators with human operators. Just yesterday, I read an advertisement that said: “Don’t be afraid that artificial intelligence will take your job, but be afraid of the person who knows how to use artificial intelligence.” So, we are already living the 5th Industrial Revolution.

What will someone who participates in the Forum gain?

They will listen, learn, reflect, and—most importantly—become active participants in the upcoming changes. The topics, participation, and aesthetic quality were key features that distinguished the 1st Coating Forum, and this year we are all working to surpass them. The Forum will offer attendees the opportunity to meet and network with professionals from Greece and abroad, who will share their knowledge and experience through engaging lectures and roundtable discussions, sparking creative dialogue on timely and relevant issues.

How can someone participate in Coating Forum 2023?

The registration process is quite easy and quick, both for companies and individuals. Simply visit the website coatingforum.gr, click on the ticket purchase banner, fill in your details, and immediately buy the tickets you want. Don’t forget to check your email for the confirmation message.

What is IoCT? When was it established and what is its vision?

As the esteemed Mr. Kontoulis mentioned in his greeting at the 1st Coating Forum, the IoCT is an organization that deals with the entire lifecycle of coatings. It was established fairly recently, in 2019, aiming to fill a gap that has existed for decades in Greece. The vision of the Institute is the development of professionals as well as all stakeholders involved in the coatings industry, with the goal of a fundamental upgrade. We aim to develop and promote scientific knowledge and technically substantiated practices at all stages of the production, distribution, preparation, application, and inspection of coatings.