Greg Mulholland, founder and CEO of Citrine Informatics, shares his perspective on how artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly affecting the coatings industry and others linked to materials protection and performance. Discussion topics include development processes influenced by AI; feedback from industrial users; strategies for using AI to adapt to industry trends and new regulations; what the future evolution of AI may look like; and available resources to learn more.

Russell Raad, president of “one-stop shop” Abrasives Inc., joins a sponsored episode of the CoatingsPro Interview Series with insight on his company’s unique specialties and market position.

Discussion topics include marketplace trends, changes, and regulatory impacts; unique challenges to the surface preparation of industrial coatings jobs; strategies to incorporate feedback from contractors and end users; an outlook for the future; and available resources from Abrasives Inc. to assist in these processes.

Kaveh Meghdadpour, Director of National Accounts and Business Development and the East Region Manager at Crown Polymers, joins this sponsored episode.

Discussion topics include industry trends and pain points within floor coatings; successful case studies using Crown solutions; the importance of manufacturers and contractors working together; and strategies to address potential industry concerns in the years ahead, such as workforce development.

Kyle McDonald, Project Manager at Western Specialty Contractors in Delray Beach, Florida, joins the CoatingsPro Interview Series with insight on his job and beyond. Discussion topics include standout projects from his time at Western; unique coating factors to consider with concrete substrates and his regional market; industry trends related to technologies, materials, equipment, and workforce development; and much more.

U.S. Navy Veteran Matt Flory is 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.

For the military market, Flory also outlines recent technological innovations such as chemical agent resistant coatings (CARC); anti-microbial solutions; enhanced corrosion primers; and more.

Ken Wells, co-owner of Elite Insulation & PolyPro and president of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) Board of Directors, joins the CoatingsPro Interview Series. Discussion topics include goals for his current SPFA term; challenges and opportunities within the evolving marketplace of the SPF industry; and resources from the SPFA that can be of assistance.

Jeff Jirak, managing director of AkzoNobel’s global powder coatings business, explains how new coating technologies are helping to mitigate corrosion in the built environment.

The show also explores the manufacturer’s recent development partnership with CoatingAI, which aims to assist contractors and installers with application processes while reducing their carbon footprint.

Related links: U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partners, Interpon, AkzoNobel on LinkedIn

Winn Darden, North American business manager forLUMIFLON fluoropolymer resins, shares his perspective on key decision-making processes pertaining to paints and coatings. This sponsored show explores how experts can develop strategic planning approaches that best adapt to current structural and future market demands.

Discussion topics include the details of LUMIFLON and how it works in tandem with coatings; industry trends and feedback from the market segments it plays in; the role of new and emerging technologies; and educational resources available to assist in these challenges.

The Master Painters Institute (MPI), a subsidiary of AMPP, has announced the launch of its MPI Decision Tree tools. This digital platform is designed to transform the way industry professionals specify coatings for new construction and restoration projects.

Pam Nicoletti, president of MPI, explains how this innovative platform encompasses all project variables while greatly reducing manual efforts.

While at the 2024 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in New Orleans, our AMPP Publications team interviewed a series of experts regarding new products, services, and technologies related to the coatings industry. Subjects in this series of sponsored Exhibitor Spotlight interviews include Rust-Oleum, BrandSafway, Induron, PPG, Abrasives Inc., and Axxiom.