PaintExpo 2026 -convergence of sustainability and automation in coating technologies

PaintExpo is all set to unveil a bouquet of industrial coating innovations at Karlsruhe, Germany from April 14 to 17. The event brings together manufacturers, engineers, researchers, and decision-makers to explore the future of industrial painting and surface finishing. From April 14 to 17, the exhibition floor is not just a destination for product display—instead it is a platform for live demonstration of how sustainability, automation, and digital intelligence are redefining the coatings ecosystem.

Key Trends in PaintExpo 2026

PaintExpo 2026 prepares to showcase the complete range of sustainability, energy efficient and intelligent automation innovations in the paint and coating sector. Innovations range from sustainable coating systems and energy-efficient solutions to AI and automation-driven process optimisations. “PaintExpo is at the heart of industrial painting technology – in Germany, Europe and worldwide. It brings together leading companies, innovative technologies and global decision-makers on one platform and sets standards for the industry’s future,” explains project director Carmen Bender, looking ahead to the event in four weeks’ time.

Sustainable coating and material innovations:

Responsible coating system and sustainability are influencing the latest innovations in painting technology, and exhibitors have come forward to showcase their developments:

Venjakob will display robotics for delicate and complex shapes along with the mobile coating systems for column weighing up to 2,000 metric tonnes.

J.Wagner will display innovations to simplify the daily hazards faced by the coating specialists with new developments in resource -saving use of materials, application of intuitive operation and better automation.

Vulkan Inox will display sustainable innovations on stainless steel blasting media for corrosion protection

Topo Powder Coating will be launching robust anti-graffiti powder coatings.

Automation, robotics and digital process intelligence

The digitalisation of coating processes and the use of artificial intelligence will be more in focus than ever before for many exhibitors.

Exhibition Highlights:

FerRobotics automating the time-consuming masking process prior to painting and repairing paint defects on plastic parts.

Walther Trowal will be unveiling the Rotamat R 60 for the insulation coating of particularly small components for electronics, plus the new R 100 for large flat sealing elements in e-mobility.

REITER’s RoboTwin, which enables intuitive teaching of painting robots, allowing even less experienced personnel to achieve precise results.

Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik will be bringing a trade fair premiere in the form of fully automated surface inspection of raw car bodies.

Process reliability and quality

Consistent quality and stable processes are crucial for cost-effective production processes. At PaintExpo, companies from around the world will be demonstrating how innovative systems increase process reliability.

Dürr will be presenting overspray-free painting and a modular paint supply system including material recovery, fast colour changes and low consumption of flushing agents.

With its new hybrid E-Gripper Wheel, Eisenmann will be presenting a precise and gentle wheel handling solution that is both flexible and energy-efficient, designed to increase and sustainably secure efficiency in its customers’ production processes.

Krautzberger will be presenting two new automatic spray devices, which ensure greater efficiency on abrasive media and offer advantages in terms of performance, ease of maintenance and cost-effectiveness.

Sherwin-Williams will be showcasing an innovative portfolio of coatings specifically designed for the everchanging demands of energy infrastructure worldwide.

Blastman will be presenting a world first for sandblasting small parts in confined spaces.

Energy efficiency, resilience and resource conservation

The optimisation of energy and material use is a core issue for sustainable production. At this leading international trade fair, exhibitors will demonstrate how efficiency gains can be put into practice:

Feige Lackieranlagen has developed the first new ventilation system architecture for industrial paint booths that combines high-level heat recovery with almost total separation of paint-laden particles.

For the first time at a trade fair, NoxorSokem from Italy will be presenting an automatic process that removes paint from wheels without manual intervention and with consistent quality.

Maston Oy has a world premiere: one of the fastest and most efficient portable filling machines, which can fill up to six 400 ml aerosol cans per minute with its 5-litre paint cone.

Alvarez Schaer will be presenting a new compact anodising plant for aluminium processors who want high-quality anodising with reduced space requirements with lower resource requirements and operating costs.

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