Digitalization in the Paints and Coatings Industry

The paint and coatings industry is undergoing a profound technological transformation. To remain competitive, modern manufacturing plants must go beyond traditional methods and adopt fully interconnected, data-driven ecosystems.

Recently, industry leaders gathered at the highly anticipated webinar “Digitalization in the Paint and Coatings Industry”, organized by Oliver + Batlle. We had a top-tier panel of experts to guide the presentation: Carles Bigas (Process Engineering Manager), Josep Maria Martínez (Automation Software Department Manager), Arturo Laguna (Automation Project Manager at Tectrol), and Carlos Pacha (Sales and Managing Director). The session offered a roadmap for production modernization, featuring expert presentations on industrial automation, real-time line management, and Artificial Intelligence integration.

If you couldn’t attend live or want to review the key concepts discussed, below are the main technical takeaways and technological trends covered during the event:

Batch Control Systems: The power of TTBATCH

The event kicked off by delving into the smart management of industrial recipes using the TTBATCH software. It was explained in detail how this system allows for the complete optimization and automation of the creation, execution, and tracking of formulas in paint manufacturing.

It was highlighted to the attendees that the TTBATCH interface greatly facilitates three crucial aspects: direct connection with ERP systems for precise inventory control, multi-platform real-time data visualization (PC, tablet, or smartphone), and the detailed recording of each batch produced (Audit Trail) to ensure maximum quality.

As presented, by integrating this type of software with our machines equipped with PLC and HMI touch screens, manufacturers achieve a drastic increase in efficiency and a notable reduction in operating costs.

Line Management Systems (LMS): Total line visibility

Moving forward in the session, the talk focused on Line Management Systems (LMS). At this point, it was illustrated how this technology acts as a digital bridge between the physical equipment on the plant floor and commercial decision-making.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of real-time data acquisition through connection to PLCs and industrial sensors. Thanks to this, the LMS system allows instant visualization of whether the line is operating correctly (running), on standby (idle), or has suffered a stoppage (fault). Furthermore, it was detailed how this tool calculates Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) live, allowing for a much more agile response to any deviation and minimizing unplanned downtime.

New trend for Operational Excellence

In the final stretch of the webinar, the immediate future of digitalization in factories was explored, presenting six cutting-edge data-driven solutions:

Production validation portal: Background analysis of recipes, process data, and alarms to issue a clear verdict (Validated/Rejected) at the end of the batch.
Manual scanning validation (Barcode): As explained in the session, scanning raw materials locks or unlocks valves via the PLC, ensuring total traceability and eliminating paper-based risks.
Artificial Intelligence-based Soft-Sensors: Use of predictive virtual sensors to estimate critical values in real-time, such as pH or viscosity.
Unified orchestration portal: Seamless connection of workflows between Production, Laboratory, and Packaging to eliminate departmental information silos.
Energy cost per batch analytics: Integration of electrical monitoring with TTBATCH so that the manufacturer knows the real profitability and exact energy cost of each batch.
Paperless verification templates: Digital forms executable on tablets that generate immediate automatic alerts if any parameter falls out of specification.

Looking to the future

The webinar made it clear that digitalization in the paints and coatings sector is no longer an abstract concept, but a practical and implementable reality. By leveraging batch control systems, line management systems, and AI-based analytics, manufacturers can drastically reduce unproductive times, eliminate manual variability, and ensure a highly profitable and sustainable future.

Did you miss it? Watch the Webinar Replay!

The transformation towards Industry 4.0 is no longer an option; it is the standard to remain competitive. If you want to delve deeper into how these technologies can be applied to your factory, watch on-screen demonstrations of the software, or hear firsthand explanations from our management and technical team, we invite you to watch the full recording of the session.

And if you are thinking of modernizing your facilities or implementing a more efficient and interconnected process engineering, contact our technical team today. At Oliver + Batlle, we are ready to accompany you on the path to the smart factory.