The Association for Surface Finishing of Aluminum e. V. (VOA) and its member companies are always actively committed to the qualified training and further education of employees in order to further develop the quality of the surface finishing industry together in the network and to ensure future-proof work. For this reason, the VOA organized the coating and QUALICOAT seminar as well as the anodizing seminar in Darmstadt from 7 to 9 November 2023 - combined in terms of location and dates so that participants could easily attend both events. Experienced experts from the ranks of VOA members shared their extensive practical knowledge with the 80 participants. In particular, the focus was on quality assurance and cost-conscious work in the process chain. The recent survey of VOA members, according to which the rise in energy prices is having a significant impact on 63% of companies and threatening the existence of 11%, confirms the usefulness of the seminar's focus.
Coating and QUALICOAT seminar
For licensees of the international QUALICOAT quality mark, the coating and QUALICOAT seminar has been a recognized mandatory training course in accordance with the associated specifications since 2017. A challenging program awaited the participants of the seminar on 7 November 2023: In addition to current innovations in the QUALICOAT specifications, there was a lot of input with regard to cost reduction and efficient working, especially against the backdrop of continuing high energy prices and their impact on the surface finishing industry.
The VOA, German general licensee of the worldwide QUALICOAT quality mark, would like to thank the competent speakers: Ralf Heitzelmann (Albea Metall-Oberflächentechnik GmbH), Dr. Nils Bongartz (Henkel AG & Co. KGaA), Oliver Katschmareck (Chemetall GmbH), Andreas Rasche (Gema Europe s.r.l.), Huub van der Leeuw and Frank Kribbel (Industrial Physics) and Rafael Jakschik (Schüco International KG).
Anodizing seminar
The anodizing seminar, planned as a two-day training event, took place on 8 and 9 November 2023. Friedhelm U. Scholten, Chairman of the Management Board, led the event in an extremely knowledgeable and professional manner. The basic idea of the anodizing seminar can be summarized as follows: detect, eliminate and, ideally, avoid errors in order to ensure the optimum quality of surface-finished products. Accordingly, the agenda included all anodizing process steps, particularly with regard to quality management and energy-saving options, as well as taking into account the international QUALANOD quality mark for anodized aluminium, whose general licensee is also the VOA in Germany.
Many thanks to the speakers who enriched the anodizing seminar with their knowledge: Friedhelm U. Scholten (AnodiTec Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG), Thomas Sondermann (Alufinish GmbH & Co. KG), Jörg Steinkemper and Eckart Jacob (Metall- und Oberflächenchemie Sperzel GmbH), Frank Munk (Munk GmbH), Dr. Torsten Koerner (SurTec GmbH), Oliver Katschmareck (Chemetall GmbH), Roman Peter (Omya AG) and Matthias Krämer (VOA).
VOA seminars alternate between digital and physical
The association plans to alternate between digital and physical seminars so that participants can benefit from the advantages of both event formats. In the coming year 2024, the coating and QUALICOAT seminar and the anodizing seminar will therefore take place digitally. The VOA will provide timely information about the dates on its website and social networks. (OM-11/23)
Contact
Verband für die Oberflächenveredelung von Aluminium e. V. (VOA)
Haus der Bayerischen Wirtschaft
Max-Joseph-Str. 5
80333 München (Germany)
Phone: +49 89 / 5517 8670
Email: info@voa.de
www.voa.de
About the VOA
As a trade association, the Verband für die Oberflächenveredelung von Aluminium e. V. (VOA) forms the industry network of companies in the surface finishing of aluminum and other materials and promotes the economic, political and technical interests of its members at national and international level.