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NAPCO Leaders Participated In the Coatings Trends & Technologies Conference
Refinishing Industry Innovator Plans Multiple New Product Releases in 2018
On Thursday and Friday, September 14 and 15, leadership from NAPCO, Ltd. attended the Coatings Trends & Technologies conference in Lombard, IL to learn about the latest innovations in the kitchen and bath refinishing industry. Dani Nichols, vice president of NAPCO and Steve Zamborsky, creative director of NAPCO, learned from industry leaders about new coating technology research and products, as well as business strategies for senior leadership. There was also an extensive table-top display where companies could reveal and demonstrate new products.
The headlining panel discussion on Friday was called “Technology Transfer: Using the Want, Find, Get, Manage Model to Commercialize Technology.” Four industry experts discussed this business model, developed by Dr. Gene Slowinski of Rutgers University, and how to successfully discover and implement innovation within a business. This is especially important to NAPCO at this time, as the company anticipates launching more than five new products in both its bath and new kitchen refinishing product line in 2018.
“As the technology for customer-driven discovery grows, many businesses are finding themselves overloaded and overworked with too many projects in the pipeline,” explained Nichols. “The last thing we want is to have too many great ideas and not enough resources to implement them, especially with the roll-out of our new products next year. This conference was very helpful in outlining best practices for active project management to meet customer needs.”
In addition to the keynote presentations and panel discussions, attendees could choose smaller presentation tracks that offered more customized topics. These topics included architectural coatings, industrial/OEM coatings, additive innovations, resin developments, equipment, green/bio-based technology, low-VOC/waterborne technology, pigment technology, and smart/multi-functional coatings.
“Hearing about data-driven case studies and new coating products is really great, but the networking sessions are also important,” reflected Zamborsky. “I always enjoy the opportunity to meet and discuss successes with like-minded industry leaders!”
NAPCO remains dedicated to learning and exploring business growth strategies and new coating innovations at the highest level to provide the best products, service and advice to refinishers. This is especially important now as NAPCO prepares to launch more than five new kitchen and bath refinishing products after the first of the year. Be sure to keep a look-out for more information regarding these new products in the near future!