CEU credits:
Earn 14 professional development hours or 1.4 CEUs with course completion.
Course Testimonial
"Thank you for an outstanding training opportunity at WMU. The Paper & Paperboard Coating Course in Kalamazoo, MI 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: July 29–31 | Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
The 2025 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 2025 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
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.