"Gathering Innovation in Wuxi: The 2025 'Paint the Future' Industrial Coatings 3.0 Tech Summit Concludes with Success!"

Spring Coatings Tech Salon

On March 21, 2025, the "Paint the Future: Industrial Coatings 3.0 Salon", hosted by Kastar, successfully concluded in Wuxi. This salon featured expert speakers from Milliken’s Additives Division (Borchers®), Dow Chemical, Imerys, and Kastar’s own technical team, who shared the latest specialty products and cutting-edge application solutions in the industrial coatings sector.

Spring Coatings Tech Salon

Mr. Hu Zhong, Chief Engineer of CNOOC Changzhou Coatings and Chemicals Research Institute, Senior Research Engineer, Technical Expert of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Chairman of the Waterborne Technology Committee of the Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, Chairman of SC10 Subcommittee of the National Technical Committee for Coatings and Pigments, and Editorial Board Member/Reviewer of Coatings Industry, attended the salon as a distinguished guest invited by Kastar. In his speech, Hu Zhong emphasized that "the wave of the new era is profoundly reshaping the coatings industry landscape." From smart manufacturing to green and low-carbon development, from digital R&D to precision applications, industrial coatings are undergoing unprecedented technological transformation. He shared four key industry insights:  1. Green transformation is an irreversible trend, 2. Standards are the compass for industrial upgrading—without high standards, there can be no high-quality development. 3. Intelligent solutions are imperative—whether in additive formulation design, production control, or application processes. 4. High performance is the core competitiveness, with rising demands for extreme temperature resistance, corrosion protection, longevity, and lightweight properties. He expressed his hope for collaboration across the industry chain to build a complete technology ecosystem, spanning fundamental research to engineering applications.

Milliken & Company Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd

Asia-Pacific Technical Service Manager, Zhang Xiaoni

Zhang Xiaoni delivered a keynote presentation titled "Borchers® Coatings Additives: Innovation Dialogue in Wuxi", providing an in-depth analysis of Borchers® products' innovative applications across various industrial scenarios. She comprehensively introduced Milliken's Borchers® four major product lines to attendees and clients: Waterborne Rheology Modifiers, Metal Drying Catalysts, Dispersants, Dehydrating Agents. Key products highlighted during the session included: Borchi® Gel 0620/0630, Borchi® Gel PN, Borchi® Gel 0625, Cobalt-free high-performance drier: Borchi® OXY-Coat 1101, Solvent-free eco-friendly catalyst: Borchi® Kat 0244, Borchi® Gen 0451/0851 & Borchi® Gen 1252.

Dow Chemical (Shanghai) Company Limited

Application Technical Service Engineer, Shi Lili

Shi Lili explored the innovative applications of DOWSIL™ additives in the coatings industry, providing an accessible yet in-depth explanation of the characteristics of DOWSIL™ silicone-based coating additives and their versatile performance in coating systems. She highlighted the newly launched DOWSIL™ 213S additive from the DOWSIL™ silicone slip/scratch-resistant additive series, emphasizing its key features: high compatibility & stability in water-based inks and overprint varnishes (OPV), excellent compatibility & wear resistance for water-based industrial coatings/automotive interiors, and eco-friendly formulation, which free of benzene compounds and organotin.

Imerys (Shanghai) Investment Management Co., Ltd.

Xu Zouhuan, China Coatings Sales Manager

Xu Zouhuan presented "Application of Imerys Minerals in Coatings", detailing Imerys' product lines and their various applications in coatings, including characteristics and structural relationships. Through comprehensive experimental images and comparative data, he vividly demonstrated the optimal selection of functional fillers for coating solutions. Key highlights included: testing data on talc/silicate Steashield 10, showcasing its resistance to acids, alkalis, water, and salt spray, weathering performance tests of talc powders JetFine 2N and Carbital S.

Shanghai Kastar Chemical Materials Co., Ltd.

Li Baichuan, Technical Director

Li Baichuan initiated an in-depth discussion on adhesion promoters, beginning with fundamental adhesion mechanisms before focusing primarily on silane coupling agents as a key type of adhesion promoter. Finally, from the perspectives of acid/alkali/salt spray resistance in paint films, a lanthanum-based adhesion promoter solution was proposed for enhancing adhesion in water-based air-dry systems, amino baking paints, ,melamine substrates, UV free-radical curing systems.

Tea break

Relaxed Exchanges, shared vision for the industry's future

The tea break area became a "fermentation field" for technical inspiration. During the intervals of the intensive technical salon sessions, Kastar thoughtfully arranged customized refreshments, creating a relaxed networking atmosphere for attendees.

Taihu Lake Banquet

A Toast to new beginnings, together we embark on a new journey

Mr. Gao Xiang, Asia-Pacific Business Director of Milliken's Coatings Additives Division, delivered the speech

Amid the vibrant banquet atmosphere, the meticulously planned raffle session by Kastar ignited the crowd! With high-value prizes prepared by Kastar and three major suppliers, attendees were treated to non-stop surprises – including four consecutive top-prize additions that escalated the evening’s excitement to a whole new level!

Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to all friends who have followed and supported this event! Kastar remains committed to embracing innovation with an open mindset, and we look forward to co-building an industry ecosystem driven by 'Technology + Service' dual engines. Let’s meet again at the next salon, where we’ll continue dialoguing on a sustainable future and decoding the DNA of industrial coatings—until then, we won’t say goodbye but ‘see you soon!’

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