Intensive Course: “Industrial Coating from A to Z”

The first intensive course, “Industrial Coating from A to Z,” in Buchs, Switzerland, was nearly fully booked. The second session will begin in October 2026. The goal is to train existing paint shop employees and qualify them as coaters.

From March 9 to 13, 2026, the intensive course “Industrial Coating from A to Z” took place for the first time at the MPA Vocational and Commercial School in Buchs, St. Gallen, Switzerland. The course was nearly full, and the feedback from the evaluations was consistently positive. The course was designed and led by Markus Vüllers, a chemical engineer specializing in coating technology with over 35 years of practical experience in industrial surface technology. The event was organized by Anina and Dr. Gernot Boiger through their vocational school.

The starting point is a problem that nearly every coating company now faces: qualified personnel are scarce on the market. In contrast, providing targeted training for existing employees is something that can be planned and generally yields results faster than waiting for the right candidate to apply.

The composition of the first group in the intensive course “Industrial Coating from A to Z” was particularly noteworthy. It ranged from career changers in management to businesspeople entering the industrial coating industry, to sales representatives from coating equipment manufacturers who come from entirely different fields of technology. None of them are interested in learning how to apply coatings themselves. They want to understand how coating technology works: why pretreatment determines adhesion strength, what factors influence application efficiency, and what can go wrong in the curing oven. This understanding makes all the difference when evaluating investments, selling equipment, or assessing customer complaints.

In addition, experienced professionals with many years in the field use the course to solidify their theoretical foundations. For them, the week helps organize their existing practical knowledge and provides a technical foundation for it. Often, the result is less about acquiring new knowledge and more about understanding why their own techniques have worked for years—and where they reach their limits.

A significant portion of the week consists of workshop sessions in which the group works together on specific issues from the companies. Topics addressed include the selection of a new painting process, a project to increase efficiency and productivity in the painting department, and how to handle rework and defect patterns. Participants bring their own real-world cases to the table—the resulting solutions vary accordingly, and the value of the mutual exchange is correspondingly great.

The course covers five days and 40 lessons, ranging from the structure and composition of coating materials, substrates, and pretreatment processes to the application of liquid coatings, powder coating, film formation, and drying, as well as quality assurance and typical defects. The instructional approach deliberately focuses not on detailed knowledge of individual processes, but on how they interrelate. Those who understand how pretreatment, application, and drying interact can identify the causes of defects earlier and make more cost-effective decisions in their day-to-day operations. Topics such as coverage, application efficiency, and the cost-effectiveness of coating processes are therefore an integral part of the program.

The program also includes a hands-on workshop on non-contact coating thickness measurement led by Prof. Dr. Nils Reinke of Coatmaster AG. Two additional thematic modules are also planned for the October session: one focuses on research and development in the field of powder coating, while the second will remain a surprise until the course begins.

Gernot and Anina Boiger are responsible for the organization and the supporting program. From the rotating selection of regional lunches to shared dinners, the week is structured to allow time for interaction between classes. Participants in the first session specifically highlighted this as a unique benefit, especially since the group came from Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

Buchs is located in the Rhine Valley between the Alps and Lake Constance and is directly accessible by train from Zurich, St. Gallen, and Feldkirch; it is about 90 minutes from Zurich Airport. Accommodations are within walking distance of the course venue.

The second session is scheduled for October 26–30, 2026. It consists of five course days, Monday through Friday. Enrollment is limited to 16 participants, and some spots have already been filled. The MPA Vocational and Commercial School is EduQua-certified and recognized as a continuing education institution in both Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. Participants from both federal states can apply for educational leave or educational time.

Detailed course information, terms and conditions, testimonials from participants in the first session, and the registration form can be found on the MPA Vocational and Commercial School website: www.mpa-engineering.ch(OM-9/26)