As part of our effort to give back to our industry, we are proud to announce that Steffen Wolkerstorfer has been elected to the National Board of the NASF (National Association of Surface Finishers). As a member of the Board she will have an influence on how our industry will continue to grow in the future.
2017 was a great year for the Wolkerstorfer Company. We were recognized as a Top Shop for Metal Finishing and Paint by our trade magazine “Products Finishing”. Chis Wolkerstorfer was also recognized as a “40 under 40” nationally.
We have experienced an increased demand to provide surface finishing for large components requiring Nadcap or defense coatings. In order to meet this demand we have added a 10′ x 30′ x 10′ wet paint booth. To see the full listing of all our equipment click here
Chris Wolkerstorfer was recognized by Products Finishing as an industry leader in the 40-Under-40 Class of 2017. “Products Finishing surveyed job shops and suppliers to find … individuals who are making a difference in the finishing industry, both in their businesses and in the finishing community. The recipients were chosen based on leadership and potential leadership – whether it is in the company they work for, or in their industry involvement.”
This year’s National Association of Surface Finishing event was hosted in Atlanta, GA. In addition to researching new equipment and discussing new processes, we also attended some committee meetings expanding our network and representing our local chapter.
The Washington Forum provided insights on the latest news and challenges that impact the surface finishing industry. We heard from knowledgeable industry experts in more than 16 hours of sessions, and the topics ranged from scientific talks to commentary on how businesses might be influenced by politics over the next four years. Our keynote speaker was Jim VandeHei, a media entrepreneur and expert on American politics who was a reporter in D.C for over 20 years. He has been called “one of the 100 most powerful thinkers of the information age” and is the co-founder of Axios. We also heard from Corey Lewandowski, the Former Presidential Campaign Manager for Donald Trump, who offered a unique insight of the man who is currently our President. Two other highlights were Peter Morici, one of the nation’s top trade and manufacturing policy experts, and Andy Friedman who is considered “one of the nation’s most sought-after speakers on all things political.”
The Maintenance, Repair and Overall for Aircraft convention was held the third week of April in Orlando Florida. This year’s event not only had applications for commercial aircraft, but military opportunities were represented, as well. This is one of the largest air shows in the world with well over 500 exhibitors. Applications for interior, cabin, landing gear, engine and ground support were just some of the exhibits on display.
The AeroDef Manufacturing 2017 Conference offered a number of diverse technical sessions to choose from, as well as informative exhibits. The exhibits offered a practical look at the applications encountered in the military aerospace environment. This event was held in March in Fort Worth, Texas.
Our national tradeshow, celebrating its 98th year, will be in Las Vegas, NV, June 6-8th. We believe it is important to support our industry and stay current with the latest technology. If you have a current program or you are looking at a new finishing application please contact us directly to see if we can be of assistance.
Policies continue to change and impact our industry, and attending the Washington Forum in DC is one of the ways we stay informed on current and future issues. During two days of presentations many topics were addressed including the regulatory, legislative and legal challenges ahead for surface finishers. Once again being present at this event proved to be time well spent.
