Hey Siri! Who were the first men on the Moon?
How many times have we heard people around us speaking to Siri (or to Alexa, Cortana, or the more impersonal Google Now) as if it were an assistant in flesh and bones but able to answer any question?
Now, the coating industry has its own virtual assistant, too, thanks to the R&D efforts and investments of a leading company in the field of raw materials for paints. We previewed it in action at the European Coatings Show in Nuremberg in March and we deepened its technology through an exclusive interview with its developers. In this issue, you will find an in-depth description of COATINO, the first digital voice control laboratory assistant for the coating industry, an advanced tool that will enable formulators to optimise their time.
And that is not all. This summer issue of ipcm® lifts the veil on the future of the car industry and its paintshops. Thanks to our media partnership with the Surcar exhibition, also this year we were able to attend numerous high-technical level presentations on innovations in this industry, and interview six VIP speakers from as many manufacturing companies, who told us their opinion on the subject of coatings, materials, and the impact of the future of mobility on them.
Finally, we have decided to add a feature story about the coating of materials such as plastics, glass, and MDF, with which we deal only occasionally, but which entail very high technology, quality, and innovation degrees. It contains a series of reports about companies that have specialised in plastic and glass coating processes, conquering very promising niche markets thanks to their excellent skills.