EC Academy I Your e-learning platform in coatings

Managers, R&D managers and employees, laboratory managers and employees, production managers, managing directors, purchasers in the industry of organic coating materials and related products (printing inks, adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals)

Elementary Classes, the first of many courses to follow, provides an introduction to coatings technology. As a non-technician, this online course will give you the opportunity to learn the most important technical basics of the paint and coatings industry. You will have learned the key vocabulary of the paint language and will be able to present yourself confidently in the future.

There are a total of 16 modules covering all aspects of coatings technology:

• Raw materials used in paints and coatings
• Their function and role within a coating
• Learning how paints are formulated and manufactured together with an understanding of their properties and suitability of for use in different applications

Speakers

Prof. Thomas Brock

Prof. Thomas Brock holds a doctorate in chemistry and was appointed Professor of Coating Technology at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in 1995. Prior to this, he worked in the printing ink industry and for ten years at Herberts GmbH (now Axalta). From 2006 to 2011 he was chairman and from 2012 to 2014 vice-chairman of the GDCh division “Coating Chemistry”. Since 2010 he has been a member of the FATIPEC Board and Chairman of the European Scientific Committee, co-organiser of the biennial ETCC congresses. Prof Brock has also held teaching posts at the Duale Hochschule in Mosbach/BW and the Cracow University of Technology. Even after his time at university, he continued to be involved in professional development. For many years, he was one of the speakers at the “Coatings for Business Professionals” seminar of Vincentz Network.

On 21 October 2021, Prof. Thomas Brock died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 71.

Prof. Thomas Brock

Prof. Thomas Brock holds a doctorate in chemistry and was appointed Professor of Coating Technology at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences in 1995. Prior to this, he worked in the printing ink industry and for ten years at Herberts GmbH (now Axalta). From 2006 to 2011 he was chairman and from 2012 to 2014 vice-chairman of the GDCh division “Coating Chemistry”. Since 2010 he has been a member of the FATIPEC Board and Chairman of the European Scientific Committee, co-organiser of the biennial ETCC congresses. Prof Brock has also held teaching posts at the Duale Hochschule in Mosbach/BW and the Cracow University of Technology. Even after his time at university, he continued to be involved in professional development. For many years, he was one of the speakers at the “Coatings for Business Professionals” seminar of Vincentz Network.

On 21 October 2021, Prof. Thomas Brock died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 71.

Peter Collins

Peter Collins’ career in the paint industry has spanned over 45 years. He now operates independently as Peter Collins Coatings Consultancy Ltd. Previously he was the Technical Director at the Paint Research Association (PRA) in the UK, with responsibility for coatings research, technical consultancy, business consultancy and laboratory services. He joined PRA from Sonneborn & Rieck Ltd (now Fujichem Sonneborn) where he was the Technical Manager, with responsibility for a wide range of industrial coatings technologies and markets. Prior to this he was at ICI Paints (now AkzoNobel) for over 25 years, working mostly in R&D on architectural paints. His final appointment at ICI was as UK Manufacturing Excellence Manager with responsibility for product quality and process improvement across two sites. He has a BSc in Chemistry from Loughborough University, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and a Fellow of the Technology of Surface Coatings (FTSC) at the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association (OCCA).

Peter Collins

Peter Collins’ career in the paint industry has spanned over 45 years. He now operates independently as Peter Collins Coatings Consultancy Ltd. Previously he was the Technical Director at the Paint Research Association (PRA) in the UK, with responsibility for coatings research, technical consultancy, business consultancy and laboratory services. He joined PRA from Sonneborn & Rieck Ltd (now Fujichem Sonneborn) where he was the Technical Manager, with responsibility for a wide range of industrial coatings technologies and markets. Prior to this he was at ICI Paints (now AkzoNobel) for over 25 years, working mostly in R&D on architectural paints. His final appointment at ICI was as UK Manufacturing Excellence Manager with responsibility for product quality and process improvement across two sites. He has a BSc in Chemistry from Loughborough University, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and a Fellow of the Technology of Surface Coatings (FTSC) at the Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association (OCCA).

Gesa Patzelt-Thiel

Surface and coating specialist at Schmitz Cargobull AG

Gesa Patzelt-Thiel studied chemistry in Bremen and completed her doctorate at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) on the topic of “Investigations into the curing and ageing behaviour of adhesives using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy”. From 2011 to the end of 2022, she worked as a project manager in the Coating Technology department at IFAM and managed industrial projects and European and nationally funded projects for the development of functional coatings. These developments included anti-ice, anti-contamination, drag reduction, erosion protection and improved barrier properties of coatings for aerospace, automotive and electronics applications. In addition, she also gained experience in the field of corrosion protection and damage assessment. Gesa Patzelt-Thiel has been working as a surface and coating specialist at Schmitz Cargobull AG since 2023.

Gesa Patzelt-Thiel

Surface and coating specialist at Schmitz Cargobull AG

Gesa Patzelt-Thiel studied chemistry in Bremen and completed her doctorate at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) on the topic of “Investigations into the curing and ageing behaviour of adhesives using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy”. From 2011 to the end of 2022, she worked as a project manager in the Coating Technology department at IFAM and managed industrial projects and European and nationally funded projects for the development of functional coatings. These developments included anti-ice, anti-contamination, drag reduction, erosion protection and improved barrier properties of coatings for aerospace, automotive and electronics applications. In addition, she also gained experience in the field of corrosion protection and damage assessment. Gesa Patzelt-Thiel has been working as a surface and coating specialist at Schmitz Cargobull AG since 2023.

Detlev Sassenberg

Detlev Sassenberg is an experienced manager with a diverse background in the paint and coatings industry. His professional career spans several decades.

From 2009 to 2011, Sassenberg served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 3 H Lacke, where he demonstrated his skills in managing medium-sized companies. Building on this experience, he took on the role of CEO at Sherwin Williams from 2012 to 2014. Detlev Sassenberg has been the owner of DS Chem e.K. since 2015.

With his extensive background in the paint and coatings industry, Detlev Sassenberg brings extensive industry knowledge to his role as a speaker for European Coatings.

Detlev Sassenberg

Detlev Sassenberg is an experienced manager with a diverse background in the paint and coatings industry. His professional career spans several decades.

From 2009 to 2011, Sassenberg served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 3 H Lacke, where he demonstrated his skills in managing medium-sized companies. Building on this experience, he took on the role of CEO at Sherwin Williams from 2012 to 2014. Detlev Sassenberg has been the owner of DS Chem e.K. since 2015.

With his extensive background in the paint and coatings industry, Detlev Sassenberg brings extensive industry knowledge to his role as a speaker for European Coatings.

The course selection at the EC Academy is growing constantly. You can already look forward to the following courses:

• EC Short Courses
• Colouristics