EDITOR’S LETTER
Richiedi la versione in italiano a info@ipcm.it
F
or many of us, the return from the summer break coincides with the real start of the year. Forget about January 2: it is on September 1 that we reorganise production and work flows and we devise new projects based on the ideas that have blossomed just before the holidays and soaked in during the summer break, when we have given ourselves a chance to relax and be creative again. This September feels even more particular: we have left a few hard months, unexpected situations, and suffering behind us. However, we still do not know for sure what to expect from this new reality. With faith in the future, many of us have taken their courage in both hands and made bold decisions for their companies, without knowing exactly what will happen in the next few months. Ipcm® did the same, choosing to focus even more on the options offered by digital technologies and media hybridisation. We have gone beyond the simple digital distribution model, on our website and on our social channels. We have decided to further enrich our content offer. How? Starting from this issue, you will find a big novelty in some of our articles: the presence of QR Codes (on the paper magazine) or hyperlinks (on the digital version) that refer to information aimed at enriching your reading experience and expanding the articles’ content, such as, for example, videos showing an application in action, social media posts, in-depth video interviews, product demos, and much more. These are contents created by us or provided directly by the protagonists of our reports, who have figured out how to make the most of our magazine and its global visibility. What about the future? We intend do take advantage of augmented reality for an even more impactful communication, especially in anticipation of the resumption of events in 2021. As for the topics treated, our September issue is normally very rich, because it covers two of the busiest months of the year for trade fairs, October and November. Although all the fairs scheduled in 2020 for our sector and its related markets (automotive, furniture, and architecture, just to name a few) have been cancelled, this ipcm® issue does not fail to present the latest innovations made available as regards surface treatments, especially for the aluminium (for architecture and industry) and design sector. Inside its pages, you will find many technical articles on new systems, new products, and innovative start-ups ready to launch exclusive finishes that are unprecedented in the aluminium sector. We will also present the point of view of two aluminium associations, a European and an Italian one, on the post-pandemic market situation. This is the continuation of our series of meetings with the presidents of trade associations related to the surface treatment sector, conceived to provide you with a complete overview of what is happening in the world. There is also no shortage of success stories, even from overseas, many of which were completed during the lockdown period. This goes to show that nothing is impossible. Finally, although we usually do not like talking about our own successes, we would like to make an exception to celebrate the shout out received by ipcm from the United States: give it a listen! www.askjoepowder.com, the “powdcast” produced by The Powder Coating Research Group (Columbus, Ohio, USA), scan and listen to Episode #12.
Alessia Venturi Editor-in-chief Direttore Responsabile
Thank you, Joe Powder and thank you, Kevin Biller!
international PAINT&COATING magazine - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 - N. 65
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