2026 Dates & Location
Coming Soon
Building on more than 25 years of experience in the industrial pigments, colourants, and titanium dioxide value chain, Smithers brings together two leading events in one powerful, co-located conference. The Pigment & Colour Science Forum, combined with the TiO₂ World Summit, unites key stakeholders from across the entire value chain to explore the future of pigments and TiO₂.
Over two days, attendees will benefit from the latest market insights, expert presentations, collaborative discussions, and high-value networking opportunities. The event leverages the strong synergies between the pigments and titanium dioxide industries to deliver practical, forward-looking content.
This is the only event dedicated exclusively to pigments, addressing critical topics such as:
Previous editions have welcomed delegates from leading organisations including Akzo Nobel, IKEA, Renault, Sensient, Jaguar Land Rover, Sun Chemical, Schlenk, Ecolean, TU Delft, and many more.
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Lisa Clapp is the Vice President of Colors Technology at Sun Chemical Corporation with responsibility for research and development of pigments and pigment preparations.
Lisa did her undergraduate work in chemistry at Ball State University and received her Master’s of Science degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill.
Lisa has worked for Sun Chemical for 23 years, where she has held numerous positions, including physical chemist, group leader, Six Sigma Black Belt, Design for Six Sigma Leader, and project manager covering a wide range of Sun Chemical pigment and preparation products.
Trevor obtained his Bachelor of Science and PhD degrees in Chemistry from the University of East Anglia & Cambridge in the U.K. He then carried out a 2 year Post Doctoral Fellowship in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at Georgia Tech. in Atlanta in the School of Chemistry.
He joined I.C.I. as a synthetic organic chemist, developing novel dyes and pigments; then became New Business Development Manager, spearheading the development of a range of new speciality chemicals. Trevor then joined I.C.I. Paints to head up the Colour & Pigment Technology Group.
As a Senior Research Chemist, Trevor had a strategic role developing new pigment dispersant technology relevant to the Decorative and Automotive Business Sectors. When I.C.I. Autocolor was purchased by PPG Industries in 1999, the team’s various achievements were recognised by becoming the Centre of Excellence for Dispersion Science for the global Refinish Coatings Business.
In 2008, Trevor started his own business called Expertas Ltd, which expanded to Expertas Global in 2016. He now consults on colour and pigment dispersion technology with global corporate companies.
Dr. Seubert received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and his M.S./Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, all in Materials Science and Engineering. He is a Research Engineer working in the Paint Research Group at Ford’s Research and Innovation Center. He has worked at Ford for the last 17 years and has explored a range of topics including UV/EB cure, scratch and mar, weathering and durability, and most recently, the measurement and modeling of paint colors.
Eldon has been with PPG since 1999 and currently is a Senior Research Associate in the Optical Physics Group at the Coatings Innovation Center in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, USA. Some of the areas in which he has worked at PPG include: Andaro® nano-pigment dispersions, leading to commercialization of highly chromatic and transparent solventborne, waterborne, powder, and electro-deposition coatings; more efficient use of TiO2 through computational and experimental studies; solar heat management coatings; structural color pigments; and coatings to enable proper function of advanced driver-assistance systems, including lidar and radar compatible color technologies.
Eldon received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Physics from Brigham Young University, where he did research in characterizing fullerene materials at high pressures. He also received a Master of Science degree in Colloids, Polymers, and Surfaces, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, where he researched the wetting characteristics of heterogeneous surfaces. Previous to starting at PPG, Eldon conducted post-doctoral research at the University of Pittsburgh, where he analyzed pattern formation in anisotropic fluid flow.
Dr. Frank J. Maile studied chemistry at the university of Stuttgart followed by a PhD at the Research Center of Pigments & Paints (FPL e.V.) Stuttgart, Germany. In 1999 he joined the pigments division of Merck KGaA in Darmstadt. Since 2011 he has been responsible for the Business Unit Coatings & Plastics of Schlenk Metallic Pigments GmbH in Roth, Germany. Since 2019 he helds the position of a Global Technical Director BU Effect Pigments. He is visiting professor for product development & design and an active member oft he section „Paint Chemistry“ within the German Society of Chemists, GDCh, Since 2015 he is a member of the advisory board of the Color Science Symposium.
Tom Mestdag holds a Master’s Degree of Chemical Engineer and started his career in 1990 at Campine NV, Beerse (Belgium) as a Regional Sales Manager for Antimony Trioxide and Fire Retardant Masterbatches in Europe & Asia.
In 1997, he became Business Unit Manager for the FR Masterbatch division.
In January 2000, Tom joined The Shepherd Color Company as Regional Sales Manager.
The Shepherd Color Company is a leading producer of Complex Inorganic Color Pigments (CICP’s), headquartered in Cincinnati (USA) & offices in Belgium, Japan, China & Australia. Since 2002, he held the position of European Sales Manager, with responsibility over the EMEA region.
In 2020, Tom joined Cathay Industries to become the Managing Director for Europe. Cathay Industries, now known as Oxerra, is globally the second largest producer of iron oxides with headquarters in Singapore. Manufacturing sites & sales offices located in China, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, USA, UK & Belgium.
Since October 2023, Tom is back at Shepherd Color as Sales & Business Development Manager for the EMEA region
