The Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), through its Capítulo en Español (a chapter for spanish-speaking members), continues to promote technical education in the surface finishing industry worldwide. On this occasion, it endorsed the organization and delivery of an in-person specialized training workshop in Spanish in the heart of California, United States.
Members of the CCAI Capítulo en Español, along with members of the CCAI Northern California Chapter, were responsible for organizing and conducting the event. Specialists from various companies participated as instructors in the Advanced Powder Coating and Sandblasting Processes Seminar. This unprecedented training, presented entirely in Spanish, was held at the facilities of Maas Brothers Powder Coating, located in Livermore, California, United States.
This technical training provided attendees with a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts about the best practices, standards, and challenges of the surface finishing industry. Specialist instructors from IFS Coatings, MTX Servicios®, Pacific Powder Coating Inc., Spray Equipment & Service Center, and TTX México shared their knowledge with a specialized audience. The session was considered advanced, representing an unprecedented technical training session delivered entirely in Spanish.
“Although my Spanish is very limited, it was easy to see that the attendees were very motivated and had many questions for the speakers. Having many Spanish-speaking employees will make it very difficult to decide who will attend the next event. I would send them if I could! We hope to offer more Spanish trainings soon!” said Jeff Rochester, President of the CCAI Northern California Chapter.
«During the training, we covered the critical parameters that determine quality in powder coating application processes, from surface treatment to curing. Sharing these best practices allows for standardized technical criteria and raises the level of compliance across the industry,» said Miguel Guía, an instructor from TTX Mexico.
This training was made possible thanks to the communication and synergy between CCAI chapters. According to Pedro D. Castillo, Managing Director of TTX Mexico and subsidiaries, and President of the CCAI Capítulo en Español, it was through a direct invitation from Jeff Rochester, President of the CCAI Northern California Chapter, that the idea was conceived together and this initiative, aimed at the region’s Hispanic community, was subsequently turned into a reality.
“We assembled a team of highly qualified instructors from leading companies in the surface finishing industry. We initially required that they all have Spanish as their native language to facilitate the explanation of concepts, make the narrative more natural, and connect with the event attendees, who actively participated and expressed the perceived value of each module. At the end of the event, the instructors were very positive and energized after interacting with a very knowledge-advanced audience,” Castillo emphasized.
The day included theoretical presentations, practical demonstrations over finishing systems, and a guided tour of the host plant, where participants were able to put some of the topics covered into practice. At the end, attendees received a training manual and an official certificate endorsed by the CCAI, recognizing their participation in this highly technical experience. The feedback from both instructors and attendees was very positive.
“The value of offering these courses to the Spanish-speaking comunity living in the United States is multifaceted. First and foremost, providing training in Spanish increases accessibility for individuals who may have limited English proficiency, ensuring they fully understand and benefit from the content. This inclusion empowers participants to acquire essential skills that improve their job performance and workplace safety, especially in industries where Spanish-speaking workers represent a significant portion of the workforce,” said Dante Constantino, Regional Manager of Spray Equipment & Service Center.
In addition to this historic collaboration in the United States, the CCAI Capítulo en Español actively organizes in-person events and specialized webinars to contribute to the growth and professionalization of the surface finishing industry, in addition to the ongoing offering of user manuals for various specialties.
“It was a very satisfying experience to be part of this historic event, which had a great turnout from the attendees, who asked many questions. I think it’s very valuable for them that we speak the same language, and I don’t just mean Spanish, but also the words of our roots,” commented Luis Humberto Sarmiento, a specialist at IFS Coatings.
MTX Servicios® Service Specialist Iván Félix expressed his excitement at having the opportunity to share his knowledge with such an enthusiastic group.
“I would highlight the highly participative nature of this training, with questions of a very advanced technical level. It was a great experience to be part of this historic event. They (the audience) were very grateful for the opportunity to learn from specialists with extensive experience in the world of surface finishing.”
The Chemical Coaters Association International actively addresses the significant need for formal training in the surface finishing industry. It seeks to boost the industry’s global standing, prepare new generations who continue to enter the industry, and reaffirm its position as the platform upon which surface finishing innovation continues to develop for the benefit of all markets involved in surface finishing, sharing the knowledge of its specialists in all the forums in which it participates.
With information from La Revista del Color México
