ABRAFATI SHOW Opens with the International Coatings Congress, Showcasing Innovation,Sustainability and Scientific Recognition

Theopening ceremony also featured the presentation of the 2025 ABRAFATI ScienceAward in Coatings, honoring the best selected research works.

The 19th edition of theInternational Coatings Congress was officially opened this Tuesday (23), aspart of the ABRAFATI SHOW 2025 at São Paulo Expo. Recognized as one of the mostimportant global gatherings for the sector, the Congress will run until Thursday(25), featuring 90 technical papers presented across 15 thematic sessions, withcutting-edge research contributions from both academia and industry.

This is the largest editionin the series and carries special significance, as it coincides with the 40thanniversary of ABRAFATI. With an expected audience of 1,250 delegates overthree days, the event once again reinforces its role as a catalyst for technicaldevelopment and knowledge exchange within the market.

“In this year markingABRAFATI’s four decades, I would like to highlight the vision of the pioneerswho, back in the 80’s, already understood the importance of a Congress designedto update professionals and foster the exchange of ideas. Since 1989, thisinitiative has proven to be one of the driving forces for technologicaldevelopment in the coatings sector,” stated Luiz Cornacchioni, ExecutivePresident of ABRAFATI.

According to him, this year’sprogram reflects the diversity of ongoing research in the sector, introducinginnovations tied to a wide range of technologies. “These advances result insustainability, governance, innovation and quality - fundamental pillars thatestablish ABRAFATI SHOW as a leading model, opening new horizons for developingever-better coatings aligned with society’s demands,” Cornacchioni added.

ABRAFATI Science Award in Coatings

The opening ceremony alsofeatured the ABRAFATI Science Award in Coatings, recognizing researchers andinitiatives that significantly contribute to the sector’s scientific andtechnological progress.

This year’s edition includeda new category: an Honorable Mention, awarded to researcher José JosafáRebouças de Lima for the work “ColorsBeyond Vision: Coatings with Assistive and Functional Technologies to ProvideSensory Access to the World of Colors for People with Visual Impairments andNeurodivergent Individuals.”

Second place went toAlexandre Gonçalves and his project “Next-GenerationSmart Epoxy Coating with Triple Functionality: Self-Healing, Hydrophilicity andAnti-Mite Properties.”

First place was awarded toPedro Henrique Barbosa de Oliveira Nogueira, Vanya Márcia Duarte Pasa, andRenata Costa Silva Araújo, from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG),for their study “Self-HealingBiomass-Based Coatings: The Potential of Eucalyptus sp. Bio-Oil in SustainableAnticorrosive Protection.”

This was the edition thatreceived the largest number of submissions in the award’s history.

Plenary Session

The first plenary session ofthe International Coatings Congress was led by Marizeth Carvalho, Chair ofABRAFATI’s Board of Directors, who shared reflections on the challenges andambitions of the Brazilian coatings market in 2025, while presenting aforward-looking outlook for the sector through 2030.

“Brazil today holds theposition of the world’s fourth-largest coatings producer by volume,underscoring the leadership of our national industry. The year 2024 washistoric, as we sold 112 million liters more than in 2023, reaching a record ofnearly 1.983 billion liters. This growth placed us ahead of Germany in theglobal ranking. We are exactly where we deserve to be, and that is a source ofpride and celebration,” said Marizeth.

For 2025, market growth isprojected between 2.0% and 2.5% compared to 2024. Despite the strong results,she stressed that forecasting for the years ahead is becoming increasinglycomplex due to global instability and uncertainty. “This is the new normal:continuous and unpredictable changes and disruptions that do not follow alinear logic—from geopolitical risks to deglobalization, which impact supplychains,” she added.

Carvalho emphasized the roleof Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool to bring greater certainty to themarket. “Today, it is possible to evaluate all impacts across the productionchain, transforming industrial processes and improving operational performance.This brings greater speed to our sector. Sometimes the winner is not only thebest, but the one who gets there first,” she noted.

She also underlined theimportance of developing increasingly higher-quality products supported bythese tools, which, with continuous advancement and investment, will drivefurther innovation to meet society’s needs. A key example is climate change,which demands more weather-resistant coatings that delay water penetration. “Wedo not just bring color to society through coatings, we also protect it throughthem,” Carvalho concluded.