METALCON was held Oct. 16-18 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. METALCON is the largest event in North America dedicated to metal in design and construction. Now in its 29th year, METALCON is the only annual international event offering comprehensive education and product exhibits focused on the use of metal in construction. Designers, builders, developers, contractors, fabricators and suppliers from more than 50 countries exhibited the latest offerings while sharing expert knowledge with attendees.

Several major paint manufacturers were on hand exhibiting their latest products and technologies for metal and coil coatings.

PPG unveiled a new series of colors for its PPG DURANAR MXL and PPG DURABRITE metal coatings at METALCON 2019, and also served as one of the event’s two premier sponsors. The new Mineral Series color line offers architects new design options that blend seamlessly into urban landscapes with semi-transparent earth tones that subtly shimmer when exposed to sunlight.

“We are honored to have METALCON in our backyard this year and really wanted to use the platform to showcase our company’s heritage as an innovator in a city that thrives on innovation,” said Kevin Braun, PPG VP, industrial coatings. “By developing the Mineral Series, we are giving architects and designers a new palette to change what is possible in building design. The new colors provide on-trend visual appeal without sacrificing durability or corrosion performance. It’s a win-win.”

PPG also highlighted  its PPG DURASTAR and PPG DURAFORM coatings at the show. Designed to meet American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 2604 specifications for light metal construction, PPG Durastar coatings are formulated with an advanced silicon-polyester blend to cost-effectively enhance the beauty of architectural metal. PPG Duraform coatings are based on next-generation polyester resins developed by PPG and are engineered to meet AAMA 2603 performance specifications for light residential construction and building products.

PPG also sponsored the "Finding Strength in Teamwork & Diversity" keynote address by former Pittsburgh Penguin Bryan Trottier on Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. in the PPG Theater.

Dura Coat Products, Inc. (an Axalta Coating Systems Company) displayed many coil coating systems. XT-10 Architectural Polyester coil coating provides cost-effective protection in exterior exposures. The XT-10 Series is formulated with proprietary composite polyester resin for resistance to UV degradation to prevent chalking and fading in severe environments.
 
Experts from AkzoNobel showcased leading-edge products and services such as Expressions, a  metal print system that adds depth and dimension to exterior finishes by using texture over a print pattern.
 
The Expressions system enables manufacturers to combine the durability of metal with many appealing visuals, including the aesthetic of wood. AkzoNobel also produces industry-leading metal coatings products, such as CERAM-A-STAR, a silicone-modified polyester coating renowned for its durability, consistency, and color stability; TRINAR, a versatile high-performance PVDF coil coating system; and Polydure, a high-quality polyester paint system.
 
Visitors to the AkzoNobel booth were also able to experience the company’s innovative Canopy app, which is available in the Apple App Store. Providing on-the-spot access to the company’s entire product database, the app enables users to quickly find the ideal product for pre-painted metal applications, based on brand, color group, finish and other attributes. It also includes a color tab function that allows users to visualize coil and extrusion products on real surfaces.

“We want visitors to our booth to truly experience what we can do for them. We’re especially excited to show off the Expressions print system, which is one of the coolest technologies in the coil coatings industry right now,” said Chris Bradford, AkzoNobel segment marketing director, Coil & Packaging, Industrial Coatings. “It is an amazing piece of technology that can add real value for consumers, and at METALCON, you can see and feel in person how it works.”

Sherwin-Williams’ coil coating division recently introduced its new architect-inspired color palette, Fluropon Architect Series, a wide range of Fluropon 70% PVDF coil and extrusion coatings for all facade needs. The palette is comprised of ten newly developed colors of Fluropon 70% PVDF architectural metal coatings. Two of the colors highlighted in the Fluropon Architect Series include Emerald and Moonlight. 

Emerald, by Rebecca Blake of SmithGroup Los Angeles, has a slight color shift from blue to green and was inspired by California’s coastal colors. Moonlight, by Richard Cabrera of Marnell Architecture Las Vegas, includes blue and red influences that create a vibrancy that pops in muted desert landscapes.

METALCON 2020 will be held Oct. 21-23 in Las Vegas, NV.