ESS joined the Global Conference on Car Body Painting 2026 as a sponsor and exhibitor, and ESS CEO Martin Schifko took the stage with a session on Physical AI-Based Overspray Reduction and Robotic Program Generation via Laser Scan. Paint shop engineers, OEM specialists, and industry experts in the room made it a truly specialist gathering — technically deep, with an audience that knows the subject and each other. That made for exactly the kind of exchange ESS values most.

Follow-up conversations flowed naturally, including detailed interest in FANUC programme integration, an area where ESS already supports import and is actively developing export capability. Beyond the session, the conference floor buzzed with discussions on paint material savings, and the effect of airflow and turbulence on coating quality.

On the technical side, two themes kept coming up on the conference floor: the very real appetite for measurable paint savings, and the effect of airflow and turbulence on coating quality. Another surprising insight that resonated is the relationship between steel rolling quality and surface waves that only become visible after e-coat drying. Paint shop challenges often start much earlier than the paint shop. One to watch.

A big thank you to the entire Automotive Circle team for putting together such a well-crafted event. The programme was strong, the atmosphere was warm, and the people we met made every conversation worth having. We left inspired — and already looking forward to the next edition.