European Coatings Conference
"Novel Biocide Technology III"
February 15th - 16th, 2007 / Berlin, Germany

Probably no other substance class that is used in coatings applications is so much under pressure as biocide systems are - with the EU Biocidal Products Directive and similar regulations worldwide in force, the number of industrially and economically usable biocides is notably restricted and unlikely to grow. At the same time there is a prevailing urgent need to develop more effective preservation systems that can cope with the challenges of protecting modern waterbased coatings formulations against microbial attack, both in-can and in the dried film. To solve this dilemma, however, much research has recently been devoted to finding innovative blends of established, usable biocides.

Severe legal restrictions also affect the further development of active antimicrobial coatings and surfaces - which also are highly sought after. One of the oldest biocides known to mankind, silver, is currently experiencing a renaissance in modern coatings systems that focus on the controlled release of silver ions. Other solutions that are proposed involve the innovative use of novel polymeric biocides which are fixed within the coatings binder matrix, avoiding biocide release - thus approaching the goal of being lethal to unwanted microbes but gentle to the environment. And meanwhile, solutions are also proposed to one highly important problem concerning such coatngs: The lack of practical and industrially viable tests of their antimirobial activity.

Thus, it is high time to be updated with these developments - and this is what the European Coatings Conference "Novel Biocide Technology III" is aiming at. For the third time after its very successful previous instalments in 2003 and 2005, the event will again gather an international assembly of coatings formulators, coatings users and biocide producers in Berlin to hear about and discuss most recent developments in biocide sytems and antimicrobial coatings. 14 invited top-level presentations by international speakers, representing globally leading companies and institutes provide the opportunity to learn about new ideas and about how the industry can cope with the severe regulative restraints governign the field - as well as to meet and discuss with an international audience of biocide and coatings experts. As always during the ECCs, interactive group discussions under the Motto "Challenge the Meeting" and intense questioning of the speakers, in public or one-on-one, will guarantee a fruitful exchange of views and information.

The main conference is divided into the following three sessions:

Extra
As a premiere, the event will additionally host the introductory pre-conference tutorial "Biocide Basics", enabling conference delegates to acquire a profound base knowledge on active substances, coatings formulation requirements as well as test methods used for modern biocide systems.