Revolutionary software co-developed by AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business and coatingAI is using artificial intelligence to help customers improve the application process and reduce their carbon footprint.

The industry-first technology, called Flightpath, optimises equipment settings to reduce defects and overspray and improve powder consumption – helping to reduce costs, avoid rework and save time and energy.

The AI-based software has been in development for two years and an exclusivity agreement has just been signed by both parties – who joined forces after first crossing paths during AkzoNobel’s Paint the Future start-up challenge in 2021.  

“We’re delighted to team up with coatingAI and strengthen our technical service capabilities,” says Remco Maassen van den Brink, Marketing Director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business. “We proactively look for ways to support customers in becoming more sustainable in their operations and this will significantly improve our ability to help them get better results – while contributing to our own ambition of halving carbon emissions across the value chain by 2030.”

Adds Marlon Boldrini, CEO of coatingAI: “The collaboration with AkzoNobel has helped to accelerate our vision since day one. Our solution, built on the power of artificial intelligence and AkzoNobel’s technical expertise, will not only increase efficiency for their customers, but also drive greater sustainability within the powder coatings industry.”

The software enables customers to optimise equipment settings such as gun motion and achieve more uniform, consistent coverage with fewer flaws – all thanks to the AI-powered recommendations. The software doesn’t require complex integration and, as conditions change, it continually adapts its recommended parameters.

“Collaborating with a startup like coatingAI – who are pushing boundaries to transform the coatings industry – means we can accelerate our own powder revolution and provide services like no other,” adds Maassen van den Brink. “It’s the latest example of how we constantly innovate and look for new ways to offer customers the most progressive and sustainable solutions.”

Earlier this year, the company’s Powder Coatings business was the first in the industry to launch an openly accessible online energy savings calculator for all users of powder coatings. It helps customers better understand how even making small changes in the coatings process can have a big impact in terms of becoming more energy efficient.