Axalta Coating Systems will serve multiple roles including presenter, exhibitor, and sponsor at the Future of Coatings Under Study (FOCUS) conference at the Michigan State University Education Center in Troy, Michigan on May 4, 2017. Matthew Boland, Axalta Vice President of Global Transportation Coatings Technology, and Jake Welland, Axalta Product Manager serve as Focus 2017 chairs and helped organize the event.

The 42nd annual FOCUS event titled, From the Can to the Car: Extending Boundaries of Technology features presentations from automotive industry experts who will discuss innovative ways to utilize technology to transport the auto industry into the future. Joanne Hardy, Axalta Global Research and Development Director, will lead a panel discussion based on the conference theme with five other industry experts at 1:00 p.m. Dr. Michael Koerner, Axalta Technical Fellow, will present on the rheology (the study of the flow of liquid matter) of automotive paint coatings at 2:45 p.m.

“The FOCUS conference is a valued tradition in the coatings industry and we are seeing a record level of interest from the automotive industry,” said Boland. “The FOCUS planning committee accepted a challenge from key automotive OEM customers to expand the technical agenda and add an increased ‘focus’ on application technology. This year’s program is set to deliver on that challenge and it is fitting to see Axalta experts play a key role in meeting that request.”

To celebrate the fusion of technology and design, Axalta’s exhibit will showcase its Automotive Color of the Year 2017 Gallant Gray, a luxurious color enhanced with blue and silver flakes that exemplifies modernity and sophistication. Gallant Gray debuted at the 2017 North American International Auto Show.