Training & Associations

At some point you may need more information, need to ask questions or find out what others think about a situation. Take advantage of your opportunities to get connected. Talking to peers and suppliers to your industry through membership in a trade association can help you solve problems.

Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) is a technical and professional organization that provides information and training on surface coating technologies.
- Twin Cities Chapter

Finishing.com The homepage of the Finishing Industry, providing comprehensive information on various finishing methods. It also lists current events, related organizations, and technical reference.

LaserPaint LaserPaint is an attachment for manual spray paint guns of any make or model. It uses two laser beams that come together into a single dot when the spray gun is at the optimum distance.

National Paint & Coatings Association (NPCA) is the preeminent organization representing the paint and coatings industry in the United States. A voluntary, nonprofit trade association, NPCA represents some 400 paint and coatings manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, and distributors.

North Dakota State University, Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials The Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials is currently the only academic program in the U.S. offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Coatings and Polymeric Materials Science.

Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) develops industry standards, industry-specific publications, videos, educational training. It is involved in legislative and regulatory affairs, from working with EPA and OSHA on lead-based paint regulations, to monitoring environmental restrictions on paint.

Paints and Coatings Resource Center Provides regulatory compliance and pollution prevention information to individual organic coating facilities, industry vendors and suppliers, federal, state and local agencies, academia, and other interested parties.

Powder Coating Institute (PCI) represents the North American powder coating industry. It promotes powder coating technology and communicates the benefits of powder coating to manufacturers, consumers, and government.

RadTech Industrial

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Finishing Processes Technical Group SME serves coatings and pretreatment applications producers, product designers, equipment manufacturers, coatings operations professionals and other professionals involved with finishing and coatings processes.

Spray Technique Analysis and Research for Defense (STAR4D) Training This Iowa Waste Reduction Center training helps the military refinishing industry use less material and improve finish quality.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Coatings Guide, Research Triangle Institute An interactive expert system that helps users select low-emitting environmentally friendly coatings. The highly acclaimed Coatings Guide Web site, developed by the Research Triangle Institute and Environmental Protection Agency, recommends compliant coatings that may serve as drop-in replacements for an existing coating operation.

Virtual Paint