About
The American Coatings Conference brings industry professionals together to expand their knowledge of the latest technology trends for the coatings industry.
The Conference program features hand-picked presentations by international experts across 16 topical sessions. With the ability to customize session schedule across learning tracks, attendees can concentrate and grow their coatings knowledge!
Sharpen your skills by attending the pre-conference tutorials, gain valuable insight during in-depth conference sessions, and network with peers at this vital industry event.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • 8:00 am – 11:30 am
Pre-Conference Tutorials
Prior to the American Coatings Conference kickoff, nine pre-conference tutorials were offered to those seeking introductions and refreshers to topical coatings science.
- Coatings 101: An Introduction to Coatings Technology (extended class)
- Fundamentals of High-Performance Waterborne Coatings
- Al & Digital Tools: What They Mean for Coatings
- Weathering & Durability: A Primer for Newcomers
- The Essential Guide to Smart Coatings & Surfaces
- Polyurethanes: The Building Blocks Explained
- Sustainable & Circular Coatings: Materials, Design, & Reality
- The Science of Durable Protective Coatings
- Radiation-Cured Coatings: Chemistry, Formulations, Technology, & Applications
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Keynote Address
Dr. Bedri Erdem, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Rust-Oleum Corporation and RPM Consumer Group, opened the conference with a keynote address titled, “Reimagining Chemistry as the Catalyst: Driving Innovation, Sustainability, Performance to Fuel Growth in the Coatings Industry.”
During his keynote, he challenged attendees to rethink possibilities, innovate differently, and embrace partnerships that unlock the next era of performance, discovery, and sustainability in the materials and coatings sector
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
American Coatings Award
The prestigious American Coatings Award recognizing the most outstanding technical paper at the American Coatings Conference was presented to Dr. Ioanna Tzortzi, associate specialist in the Coating Solutions business unit at Perstorp, along with her coauthors. Tzortzi received the 2026 American Coatings Award on May 5 during the conference Plenary Session for her paper titled, “Accelerated Alkyd Emulsification through AI-Driven Experimentation.”
Student poster winners
1st place
Elham Shirvanihosseini of North Dakota State University, for her poster, “Towards Rapid Screening of Polymeric Coatings: Predicting Thermodegradability from Molecular Structure”
2nd place
Nicole Littlefield of University of Akron, for her poster, “Visible Light Cured Powder Coating Systems Utilizing Semi-crystalline Resin Blends for Low Temperature Cure”
3rd place
Ayda Dedras of North Dakota State University, for her poster, “Water Transport Mechanisms in Poly (lactic acid) Films Modified by Natural Fatty Alcohols”
Wednesday May 6, 2026 • 7:15 am – 8:15 am
ACS Fun Run
Take the opportunity to energize first thing in the morning by participating in the ACS Fun Run! More than 300 attendees gathered for this exhilarating event in 2022 and 2024.
Don’t miss out in 2026!
Proceeds fund student participation at future AC Conferences.
Schedule At a Glance
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday, May 7, 2026 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
8:00 am – 9:30 am
Pre-Conference Tutorials 1-5
- Coatings 101: An Introduction to Coatings Technology (extended class)
- Fundamentals of High-Performance Waterborne Coatings
- Al & Digital Tools: What They Mean for Coatings
- Weathering & Durability: A Primer for Newcomers
- The Essential Guide to Smart Coatings & Surfaces
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Pre-Conference Tutorials 6-9
- Polyurethanes: The Building Blocks Explained
- Sustainable & Circular Coatings: Materials, Design, & Reality
- The Science of Durable Protective Coatings
- Radiation-Cured Coatings: Chemistry, Formulations, Technology, & Applications
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
- Networking Luncheon
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Plenary Session
- Welcome Address, Keynote Presentation and Awards
1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
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Session 1: Functional Coatings
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Session 2: PFAS Alternatives
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Session 3: Architectural Coatings
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Session 4: Protective Coatings
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
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Poster Session and Networking Reception
Wednesday May 6, 2026
7:15 am – 8:15 am
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Fun Run to support student participation
8:30 am – 12:15 pm
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Session 5: Architectural Coatings II
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Session 6: Grinding and Dispersing
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Session 7: Water-based Coatings
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Session 8: Testing and Measurement I
12:15 pm – 2:15 pm
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Networking Luncheon on the Show Floor
2:15 pm – 6:00 pm
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Session 9: Digitalization
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Session 10: Testing and Measurement II
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Session 11: Polyurethanes
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Session 12: Industrial Coatings
Thursday, May 7, 2026
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
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Session 13: Automotive and Wood Coatings
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Session 14: Biobased Coatings
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Session 15: Epoxy Coatings
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Session 16: Coatings Production
Conference Contacts
Jan Johannes
Senior Event Manager Trade Shows
Vincentz Network
T: +49 511 9910 286
M: +49 151 40 26 07 84