by Kerry Pianoforte, Editor

The 2024 American Coatings Show (ACS) saw a record-breaking 588 exhibitors, almost doubling the previous record of 360, so understandably expectations for this year’s show are high.

Exhibitors Coatings World spoke to expressed optimism that ACS will be a success.

“Brilliant Group has been exhibiting at the American Coatings Show for decades, and it continues to be a valuable and rewarding experience for our team,” said Darren Bianchi, Brilliant Group CEO. “ACS provides a unique opportunity to reconnect with long-standing partners, build new relationships, and showcase our latest innovations in fluorescent pigment technology. As a company committed to helping customers achieve the brightest, most effective color solutions, we see ACS as an essential platform to engage with the industry and support continued growth and innovation.”

“Micro Powders considers the American Coatings Show to be the premier opportunity to present our technologies to customers, old and new,” said Rich Czarnecki, vice president, Micro Powders. “Year after year, ACS delivers value in terms of strategic customer discussions, new business opportunities, and unique end applications for our powders, dispersions and emulsions.”

Makarand Gawade, global marketing director, Engineered Polymer Solutions (EPS) noted, “the American Coatings Show is the leading coatings event in North America, bringing together a highly qualified audience of coatings professionals and decision‑makers from across the value chain. This makes it a natural platform for EPS.”

Exhibiting at ACS allows EPS to showcase its latest innovations and reinforce the company’s  commitment to supporting coatings manufacturers with polymer and colorant technologies that meet today’s evolving formulation needs.

“It is also a great opportunity to engage directly with customers and prospective customers, helping them identify the right products for their specific coating applications while leveraging our technical team’s formulation expertise,” added Gawade. “Beyond product visibility, ACS gives us the opportunity to listen closely to the market, gaining insight into current challenges, regulatory pressures, and emerging performance expectations, so we can continue bringing differentiated polymer and colorant solutions to market that help our customers successfully develop and launch high‑performing coatings.”

Rue Richey, marketing leader, Shamrock Technologies echoed the sentiment: “American Coatings Show is the premier North American venue for engaging directly with formulators, manufacturers, and industry leaders who are shaping the future of coatings. We exhibit at ACS because it offers an unmatched opportunity to have meaningful, technical conversations about performance, compliance, and sustainability — topics that are central to our customers’ day‑to‑day challenges. The show also allows us to demonstrate how Shamrock Technologies partners with customers in a hands‑on, collaborative way, helping them solve formulation issues and advance their product development with confidence. Plus, we wanted to have some fun with our racecar theme: ‘Better Formulas Start Here’.”

Key Benefits for Exhibitors

The paint and coatings industry has pivoted to an increased use of digitalization and AI. The ACS is a great opportunity for suppliers to the paint and coatings industry for showcasing their latest products and technologies.

“The American Coatings Show brings together the entire coatings value chain, offering attendees access to cutting-edge technologies, formulation expertise, and real-world application insights,” said Bianchi. “It’s an opportunity to collaborate directly with suppliers and technical experts, discover new solutions, and stay ahead of regulatory and performance trends that are shaping the future of the industry.”

“The key benefit of attending the American Coatings Show is the concentration of expertise and innovation in one place,” Gawade said. “Attendees gain direct access to the latest technologies, cutting‑edge solutions, and expert insights that are shaping the future of the coatings industry. ACS also provides unparalleled networking opportunities, connecting formulators, R&D leaders, suppliers, and business decision‑makers in meaningful, technical conversations.”

“ACS is an opportunity for MPI to launch innovative new coating additive technologies, and 2026 will be no exception,” said Czarnecki. “We meet with many customers during the show to talk about new products, new opportunities, and how we can improve the performance of all types of coatings.  We always walk away from ACS with a strong list of business leads that become part of our opportunity pipeline.”

ACS brings together the full coatings value chain in one place, creating an environment where innovation, education and collaboration meet. “Visiting Shamrock Technologies’ booth at the American Coatings Show gives attendees a hands‑on opportunity to explore practical solutions to real‑world formulation challenges,” said Richey. Our “Technical Service Group will be on site to discuss specific performance requirements, troubleshoot issues, and help identify tailored approaches for your applications. Beyond technical conversations, you can see some of our products in action through an interactive racetrack demonstration and add some excitement by entering our Indy 500 ticket drawing. This makes our booth a destination for both expert insight and memorable engagement.”

Innovative Products and Technologies

Brilliant Group’s booth will highlight the company’s full portfolio of high-performance fluorescent pigments, designed to deliver exceptional brightness, consistency, and versatility across coatings, inks, plastics, and textiles.

“A key focus will be our new LMB Series low migration fluorescent ink base, engineered to meet stringent food contact and regulatory requirements while maintaining high tinctorial strength, formulation flexibility, and a complete palette of vibrant shades for packaging applications,” said Bianchi. “We will also showcase our UVB Series, a high-strength fluorescent ink base for 100% reactive UV curable lithographic and flexographic systems, offering outstanding color strength, blending flexibility, and the ability to achieve a wide range of vivid shades that enhance product visibility and brand impact. In addition, visitors can learn more about our hands-on technical support and formulation expertise, helping customers optimize performance and simplify implementation across a wide range of applications.”  

At booth #2245, EPS will highlight a broad range of polymer and colorant technologies designed to help manufacturers overcome performance challenges and elevate their formulations across multiple market segments.

This includes polymers for architectural coatings made without fluorosurfactants for interior and exterior applications; resins for cool roof coatings engineered to keep white roofs white longer; and solutions for construction applications such as concrete and elastomeric coatings,” said Gawade. “Our industrial portfolio will feature polymers for demanding industrial metal and wood applications, along with our line of colorants that offer broad compatibility and minimal impact on key paint properties, for POS and OEM systems.

“Overall, our focus at ACS is on helping customers move faster from development to commercialization, with confidence they are bringing high‑performing coatings to market supported by our products, expertise, and formulation support,” he concluded.

Micro Powders will be showcasing the following products.

• The technology behind Spherexa new product series engineered to outperform competing products, delivering exceptional stain and moisture resistance across wood, flooring, and architectural coatings.
• A new product that deliversPTFE-like texture – without PTFE.This additive has been field-validated across multiple systems, achieving uniform fine texturing and single-digit gloss at 60°.
• The expanded line of our top-rated MP-28AL Series, featuring exceptional surface durability in a value engineered, PTFE-free package. 

Shamrock Technologies will showcase its broad portfolio of performance additives designed to support both high performance and regulatory alignment.

“This includes PFAS‑free, bio‑based, and microplastic‑free solutions that deliver critical functions such as slip, abrasion resistance, surface modification, release, and handling efficiency,” noted Richey. “We will also be highlighting our emulsions and dispersions, which are engineered to enhance compatibility and ease of use in water‑based systems. Beyond specific products, we will emphasize our technical collaboration model—working closely with customers to understand their formulations and tailor additive solutions that perform reliably in real‑world applications.”