ZVO Surface Days 2026 Made Its Debut in Karlsruhe
The ZVO Surface Technology Conference took place for the first time from September 16–18, 2026, at the newly renovated Stadthalle in Karlsruhe. A total of 569 participants attended to take part in the extensive program of presentations and the accompanying industry exhibition.
A large number of experts in electroplating and surface technology once again gathered at the ZVO Surface Technology Days, which took place in Karlsruhe for the first time in 2026. The Surface Technology Days were opened by Jörg Püttbach, chairman of the Zentralverband Oberflächentechnik e.V. (ZVO). Püttbach criticized the fact that policymakers had not provided relief to companies. He emphasized the role of the ZVO in championing Germany as a business location and praised the personal commitment of Dr. Malte-Matthias Zimmer, Head of Environmental and Chemicals Policy, and Lukas Hanstein, Head of Policy, who jointly organized visits to ZVO member companies with politicians. Media support is also crucial for political advocacy in order to generate public visibility. The new video clip “Made in Germany Needs a Future” fit right in with this effort. Dr. Martin Metzner, Chairman of the DGO, then addressed the participants.
AI for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises at the ZVO Surface Days
This year’s keynote address at the ZVO Surface Technology Days was delivered by Torsten J. Koerting, AI strategist, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Koerting Institute. He explored the question of how small and medium-sized enterprises can utilize artificial intelligence and what avenues are available to them. To do so, he took the audience on a journey through the history of AI, from its beginnings to the present day. Under the motto “Not a pipe dream, but a competitive advantage,” Koerting demonstrated how CEOs and executives can already be using AI today. For those interested, an AI workshop was held the following day. This was followed by an awards ceremony and the presentation of the 2026 Heinz Leuze Prize (as reported by Oberfläche-Online).
Extensive Presentation Program and Industry Exhibition
On Thursday and Friday, the focus was on the extensive lecture program, featuring a total of 95 presentations. As always, it consisted of five concurrent sessions addressing current topics in electroplating and surface technology. These included circularity, recycling and the circular economy, digitalization, new requirements and future topics, as well as new business areas. A consultation session on regulatory developments was also held again. Several presentations on the first day addressed issues related to fire safety in electroplating and coating companies. The topic of AI, along with digitalization, was once again on the agenda. The trending topic of automation was also examined from various perspectives on the second day of presentations, for example in the form of humanoid robots or robot-assisted electroplating systems. Other topics included corrosion protection and hydrogen, bath and surface analysis, functional coatings, and energy systems. And, last but not least, research findings were once again presented. The industry exhibition, featuring 69 exhibitors, once again attracted considerable interest. The new event location—the newly renovated historic Karlsruhe Stadthalle—was well received by most participants, as it offered not only ample space for lectures and the exhibition but also sufficient seating and meeting areas. The next ZVO Surface Days will take place from September 15 to 17, 2027, once again at MOA Berlin.
Contact details and information on the companies and institutions presented here can be found in our interactive surface technology industry directory.