ITB's Automotive Surfaces 2025 brings together the global community advancing the next generation of interior and exterior surface technologies for vehicles. This year’s conference explores how material systems—both smart and traditional—are being developed, engineered, and integrated to enhance user experiences, meet functional targets, and align with vehicle manufacturing requirements.
Join us for a full day of presentations and valuable face-to-face networking as we convene stakeholders from across the value chain—including global OEMs, Tier One suppliers, surface system suppliers, and material innovators.
13 leading presentations are highlighted in the following conference sessions:
- Vision | Beauty | Identity - Insights into CMF trends, Consumer Expectations, and Advanced technology
- New Surface Strategies for the Road Ahead
- Process Disruption and Material Rethink
- Activated Surfaces and Light Integration
Scroll further to see the agenda and full list of industry leaders making their mark, delivering an industry leading discussion at this year's event.
Who Should Attend
Engineering leaders, CMF teams, innovation managers, business developers, surface and UX designers, component designers, suppliers, and systems integrators.
How to Participate - Opportunities are open to engage in-person, face-to-face:
- Sponsor this globally relevant event
- Exhibit your company’s innovations
- Become an Attendee - Secure your seat, learn from experts, develop actionable plans and future collaborations
For inquiries about conference participation opportunities, please contact Mr. Bryan Eldredge, Program Director – Conferences, at beldredge@itbgroup.com or call +1 (248) 380-6310.
CONFERENCE AGENDA - October 2, 2025*
Location: MSU Management Education Center. 811 W Square Lake Rd., Troy, Michigan, USA
7:30 a.m. |
Registration, Networking, and Continental Breakfast
|
8:30 a.m. |
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Darren Nowak, Director Research and Analysis - The ITB Group
|
Session 1 - Vision | Beauty | Identity
8:40 a.m. |
KEYNOTE: Ethereal to Material – The CMF of Precious Things
Daniel Cloke, CMF Designer for Google Pixel - Google
|
9:10 a.m. |
Decoding the Cabin: What Today’s Consumers Expect from Tomorrow’s Cars
Nate Sladek, Vice President, Strategy and Product Management - Marelli North America |
9:35 a.m. |
Shaping Tomorrow’s Interiors: The Power of Illuminated Surfaces
David Gomez, Smart Lit Surfaces Responsible – Applied Innovation - Antolin
|
10:00 a.m. |
Networking Break
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Session 2 - New Surface Strategies for the Road Ahead
10:40 a.m. |
LiDAR Meets Design: Surface, Size, and Style Across ADAS and Robotaxi
Peipei Zhao, President of North America - RoboSense
|
11:10 a.m. |
Beyond Paint: Transforming Vehicles with Film Technologies
Destiny Rotuno, Automotive Segment Strategy Lead - Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions
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11:35 a.m. |
Innovative Materials to Support the Future of Automotive Interiors
Ryan Smith, Global Strategy & Marketing Director - Dow Mobility Science
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12:00 p.m. |
Lunch
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Session 3 - Process Disruption and Material Rethink
1:10 p.m. |
Expanding Design Possibilities with PU In-Mold Coating
Volker Plehn, Global Automotive Director - Sabic
|
1:30 p.m. |
Ditch The Paint Shop: Class A Overmolded Thermoplastic Parts for Interior and Exterior Applications
Dan Rozelman, Technical Sales Manager - Krauss Maffei and
Oliver Stahl, Managing Director - Chemigon
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1:50 p.m. |
Advantages of Using High Gloss Black Plastic for Interior and Exterior Automotive Applications
Chris Korson, Market Segment Manager - BASF Corporation
|
2:15 p.m. |
Decorative and Functional Additions to TPO
Jeremy Husic, Staff Engineer, and Roman Quintal, Process Development Engineer - Inteva
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2:40 p.m. |
Networking Break
|
3:10 p.m. |
Transforming Smart Automotive Surfaces with Processing Techniques and Material Science
Mark Torgerson, Technical Manager, Automotive - Covestro
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Session 4 - Activated Surfaces and Light Integration
3:30 p.m. |
Lighting Integration for Ultra-Thin Emblems and Smart Surfaces with IMSE
Derrick Defever, the Business Development Manager for Americas - Tactotek
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4:00 p.m. |
Smart Surfaces with Integrated Lighting
Shammi Wickramasinghe, Head of Innovation for Exterior & Lighting - OPmobility
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4:30 p.m. |
The Reflective Blade, a Breakthrough HUD Integration from FeelInGlass® by AGC
Eric Rogers, IP Counsel & Business Development Leader - AGC North America
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5:00 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
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Note: ITB will photograph the conference for promotional purposes. By participating in the conference you grant ITB permission to use your likeness in any/all conference related promotions.
*Agenda is subject to change
CONFERENCE CHAIRPERSON
Darren Nowak
Director, Research and Analysis - The ITB Group
Mr. Nowak joined the ITB Group in 2007 and currently operates as Director - Research and Analysis. He is primarily responsible for direct interface with industry participants and building complex business models to facilitate ITB’s mission to assess automotive business and technology change. He has supported and been the lead investigator in many projects involved in interiors, exterior, under the hood, and most recently has concentrated on plastic/electronic integration. Mr. Nowak has over 25 years of experience in automotive, off road and heavy truck applications, including application and standards engineering roles at Eaton Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Detroit with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.
