Coating machine with operator at the Pilot Plant

Paper and Paperboard Coating Course

2024 Course was a huge success. Dates for 2025 are TBA

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The WMU Paper Pilot Plant partners with TAPPI to offer the Paper and Paperboarding Coating Course and Fiber Recycling Course.

CEU credits:

Earn 14 professional development hours or 1.4 CEUs with course completion.

2023 Course Testimonial

"Thank you for an outstanding training opportunity at WMU. The 2023 Paper & Paperboard Coating Course in Kalamazoo, MI over July 25-27 was a top-notch experience.  I have been to many conferences and training sessions over my 30+ year career. Lon Pschigoda and the team at Western Michigan went above and beyond with the educational setting, hospitality, the networking environment, and the outstanding list of speakers. The presentations were great, kept to a fast-paced schedule, and the course binder will be a reference tool for years to come.  Finally, the tour of the WMU Pilot Plant facilities is worth the trip alone. I will highly recommend others in my organization attend this training in the future."
-unanimous

Course Info

3 day course | Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

The 2024 course will be held on Western Michigan University's Engineering Campus in beautiful Kalamazoo, MI. We have a fantastic lineup with more than a dozen guest speakers, all experts in their fields! The networking alone is worth the price of admission.

The 2024 course will include tours of the WMU Paper Pilot Plant (high-speed coater, paper machine, recycling plants) and paper-related laboratories. Shuttle service from the host hotel, Radisson Plaza Hotel, will be available for the course each day. There will also be a networking dinner. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Topics covered:

  • Pigments
  • Binders
  • Additives
  • Formulations development and characterization
  • Coating equipment and process overview
  • Rheology
  • Coated products overview and applications
  • Packaging development
  • Barrier materials and curtain coating
  • Barrier coating technology will be included in most of these topics due to the popularity and relevance to the industry

Course Schedule


2024 Course Schedule

Who will benefit

This course will benefit Process and Production Engineers, Product Development and Research Scientists, Technical Managers, Machine Supervisors, Suppliers, or other technical people who are new to the coatings field. This course will also be helpful for marketing, business planning personnel, and others involved in developing alternative grades.

Participants will gain an excellent understanding of coating raw materials, how those are processed and prepared for the coating applications, rheology, application methods, and finishing with an overview of end-use applications for coated paper and paperboard. They will also get an excellent background on the leading professionals' new developments in packaging, barrier materials, and curtain coating.

Course prerequisites:

There are no education prerequisites, but a general familiarity with coating materials and processes is recommended.

Speakers

Susan E Bailey

PhD  Sr Manager, Business Development and Applications,
Michelman

Gordon Bugg

Senior Paper Making Expert (Coatings),
Kemira

Brian Einsla

Senior Research Scientist in Paper Coatings,
Dow

Jim Fogg

NA Business Development Manager, Barriers and Coatings,
Solenis

Meggan Hostetler-Schrock

Director, Applications and Technical Service, Industrial Ingredients,
Primient

Brad Fadden

Manager, Manufacturing Excellence,
Graphic Packaging

Dr. Kecheng Li

Chair of the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering,
Western Michigan University

Scott McNutt

Founder and Sr. Consultant,
Nextep Partners

Prakash B. Malla

Director of Research & Development,
Thiele Kaolin Company (Retired)

Gregg Reed

Technical Support Leader,
Imerys

 

Steve Ottone

Tech Service Representative,
Mallard Creek Polymers

Michael Paczkowski

Technical Director,
Duroblade®, BTG Americas Inc.

Scott Peplinski

Business Development Manager,
Barrier Coatings

Lon Pschigoda

General Manager,
WMU Paper Pilot Plant

Alan M. Piwowar, Ph.D

Paper and Board Technical Service and Development Specialist,
Trinseo

Course speakers are subject to change.

Western Michigan University

WMU is a leader in the field of paper coating research and applications as well as a leading provider of undergraduate and graduate engineers and scientists, and is offering its famed paper coating course. Hundreds of papermakers and suppliers have taken WMU’s coating course since its inception. The course features three days of classroom instruction, tours of WMU’s pilot facility, and networking opportunities.