San Sebastián hosted the III Forum on Challenges and Trends in Surface Treatments, a benchmark event that brought together more than 120 professionals at the facilities of CIDETEC Surface Engineering.
The forum featured an extensive technical program with more than 30 presentations addressing the main regulatory and technological challenges facing the surface treatment industry. A central theme was the strong focus on sustainability, with particular attention to the future of hexavalent chromium, its progressive restriction under REACH, and substitution strategies, including the development and validation of trivalent chromium-based alternatives.
Other key trends discussed included the application of Artificial Intelligence in industry for process optimization and quality control, as well as innovative approaches to advancing towards safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly production models.
The event brought together leading companies and organizations such as Petronor, ScottishPower and Antolin, fostering technical exchange and collaboration between industry, technology centers, and other key stakeholders. This diversity of participants encouraged discussion of innovative solutions and the identification of joint development opportunities.
As part of the program, attendees had the opportunity to explore the capabilities of CIDETEC Surface Engineering through a guided visit to its laboratories, pilot plants, and Printed Electronics HUB, reinforcing the event’s applied and technological focus.
The III Forum was jointly organized by CIDETEC Surface Engineering, AIAS – Asociación de Industrias de Acabados de Superficies and CTME – Fundación Centro Tecnológico de Miranda de Ebro, within the framework of the RESINSURF project, funded by the Interreg Sudoe Programme. The event also included active participation from project partners such as Titania Ensayos y Proyectos Industriales and Adera-UT2A, as well as associated members Ramboll, CHEMPLATE and CIFP Don Bosco LHII.
This forum reinforces its role as a key platform for trend analysis, knowledge exchange, and innovation in surface treatments in southwestern Europe, particularly in the transition towards more sustainable solutions.