Co-hosting the VILF District Group Meeting in Essenbach
- News
There has never been such a large association meeting at the district group level before: 58 participants from 32 companies attended.
58 participants from 32 companies accepted the invitation to the joint Bavarian regional group meeting of the Association of Engineers in the Coatings and Paints Industry (VILF), which was organized and hosted jointly by MIPA and roeren. The event, held on July 28, 2026, deliberately focused on topics that went beyond the traditional discussions surrounding formulations and products:
The focus was on the question of how high-performance and adaptable production systems can sustainably strengthen the competitiveness of the paint and coatings industry.
In his opening remarks, Sven Roeren, as usual, managed to combine professional and entertaining elements.
Insights into Modern Production Processes
Following a welcome address by the hosts, Markus Fritsche (CEO of MIPA) and Sven Roeren, the participants were given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production processes of one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of paints and coatings during a factory tour.
The venue for the district meeting, the plant tour, and the keynote presentations all drew a large crowd of interested attendees.
Drivers for High-Performance Production Systems
Three keynote presentations then explored the event’s central theme from different perspectives. Dr. Uwe Rohr, CTO of MIPA SE, used concrete real-world examples to demonstrate how closer integration of development and production can leverage synergies and generate additional value.
Sascha Pfordte, a senior consultant at roeren, built on this and presented the thesis that, in the future, sustainable competitive advantages will stem less from individual products or technologies and more from high-performance and adaptable production systems. His presentation focused on the question of how companies can systematically analyze and further develop their production systems and adapt them more quickly to changing conditions.
Sascha Pfordte during his keynote presentation.
Professional Exchange with an Eye Toward the Future
The ensuing discussions made it clear that competitiveness today extends far beyond the product itself. Equally crucial is a company’s ability to continuously develop its entire production system and adapt it to new market and competitive conditions.
The district group meeting thus not only provided a forum for professional exchange within the industry, but also gave new impetus to the discussion on the future competitiveness of the German paint and coatings industry.
Creating New Perspectives Together
The event was organized in close collaboration between MIPA SE, VILF, NETZSCH/LabV, and roeren. The high turnout and the in-depth technical discussion underscored the great interest in formats that bring together industry, academia, and consulting and open up new perspectives on current challenges.
- Cover image: JKLoma (Adobe Stock), File No.: 388004924
- Other image files: © MIPA SE & roeren.