Automotive Surfaces 2026

ITB’s Automotive Surfaces 2026 Conference brings together the global community advancing the next generation of surface technologies for vehicles. The conference explores how surface materials and systems—from smart and illuminated technologies to advanced decorative and functional surfaces—are being developed, engineered, validated, and integrated to enhance the user experience, meet performance and quality targets, and address the realities of high-volume vehicle manufacturing.

Join us for a full day of technical presentations, industry insight, and high-value networking with OEMs, Tier suppliers, material developers, technology providers, and other technical decision-makers. Click HERE to view the program agenda and secure your seat today.

Key Topics Include:

♦ Surface materials for perceived quality and durability

♦ UX-driven surface behavior

♦ Smart and illuminated surfaces

♦ Decorative skins, films, laminates, and wraps

♦ Exterior surface systems and integration

♦ Cockpit touchpoints and perceived quality

♦ Manufacturing and validation

Promote Your Company. Connect with the Right Audience.

Looking to increase your company’s visibility and maximize your presence at Automotive Surfaces 2026? Participate as a sponsor, and/or exhibitor and put your company in front of a highly targeted audience and leverage our platform to showcase your latest technologies, build relationships, schedule customer meetings, generate business opportunities, and strengthen your brand through increased visibility before, during and after the conference.

For inquiries about the conference, or to secure your participation, please contact Mr. Bryan Eldredge, Program Director – Conferences, at beldredge@itbgroup.com or call +1 (248) 380-6310.

CONFERENCE AGENDA - October 8, 2026

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*

The Occupant

8:40 a.m.	KEYNOTE ADDRESS: When Nothing is Certain, Everything is Possible: How FORVIA Utilizes Purposeful Innovation to Create People-Focused Designs in A Complex Environment Jillian Cooper, Senior Director Marketing, Design and Supplier Diversity North America, and Benjamin Louis, Design Studio Manager North America - FORVIA
9:15 a.m.	From Surface to Experience: Transforming Vehicle Interiors Through Intelligent Comfort Technologies Nicola Gerrett, Senior Director Research and Medical - Gentherm
9:40 a.m.	Integrating Lighting, HMI and Surfaces: Where UX Meets Industrial Reality Daniel Pardo, Director of Tech Solutions - North America & Global Strategy - Antolin
10:00 a.m.	Coffee and Conversations Break
10:40 a.m.	How do we Create Premium Customer Experiences in Interiors that are Desirable and Economically Viable in a Rapidly Changing Industry? Stella Brochado, Global Executive, Product Engineering - *General Motors*

Light and Glass

11:10 a.m.	Functional Safety and Signal Integrity Integration for Smart Glazing Abdul Salam Abdul Karim , ADAS Platform Systems Hardware Engineer - Ford Motor Company
11:40 a.m.	Intelligent Automotive Glass Surfaces: Engineering Large-Format Electrochromic Glass for Next-Generation Vehicles Speaker TBD, Senior Technical Leadership - *Miru Smart Technologies*
12:00 p.m.	Advancing Automotive Exteriors and Interiors through Efficient Integration Emily Archer, Application Development Engineer - Covestro
12:20 p.m.	Lunch

Out of the Mold

1:20 p.m.	Reimaging Exterior Finishes with In-Mold Films Jim Pillars, Engineering Technical Leader, BGFT - *General Motors*
1:35 p.m.	Artistic Active Aero Rear Spoiler Cadillac Celestiq Seona Lee, Technical Specialist – Rear Trim (Exterior) - *General Motors*
1:50 p.m.	Next-Generation Automotive Surfaces: An Integrated Alternative to Conventional Paint Lines Lexington Peterson, Business Development Manager, Automotive & Mobility - Engel Machinery Stefano Andreolli, Sales & Marketing Manager - CANNON Group
2:10 p.m.	Advantages of Injection Molding Behind Thin Film TPO Tom Sybrandy, Interiors Team Lead, Advanced Development - Inteva Products
2:30 p.m.	Coffee and Conversations Break

Smart Surfaces

2:55 p.m.	Novel HMI Design: Square Control with Closed Surface Octavio Perez, Design Release Engineer - *Preh*
3:15 p.m.	Textile-Computing as a Multifunctional Automotive Surface Platform Amin Jamshidi, Innovation and Product Development Lead and Milad A. Meghrazi, Vice President of Research, Development & Partner Integration - Myant

Craft and Decoration

3:35 p.m.	New Potential of Surface Decoration by Using Digital Print Methods on Car Interior Door and Dashboard Trims Thomas Wagner, Global Director, Business Unit Automotive - TIGER Coatings
3:55 p.m.	Where Craftsmanship Meets Innovation Session Chair: Robert Taylor, Global Material Performance & Grain Technical Specialist - Ford Motor Company Where Surface Design Comes to Life Terry Comte, Manager of Sales - *CST Studio* Engineering the Foundation of Premium Interiors (GS Engineering) Val Grinberg, Vice President - *Standex* Precision Tooling, Proven Performance Michael Brouillette, Globla Sales - Integrity Tool & Mold
4:55 p.m.	Concluding Remarks Darren Nowak, Director, Research and Analysis - *The ITB Group*

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.

Conference Chairperson

Darren Nowak

Director, Research and Analysis - The ITB Group

ITB Automotive Surfaces 2026

CONFERENCE AGENDA - October 8, 2026

7:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m.

The Occupant

8:40 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

9:40 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:40 a.m.

Light and Glass

11:10 a.m.

11:40 a.m.

12:00 p.m.

12:20 p.m.

Out of the Mold

1:20 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

1:50 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

Smart Surfaces

2:55 p.m.

3:15 p.m.

Craft and Decoration

3:35 p.m.

3:55 p.m.

4:55 p.m.

Conference Chairperson

Darren Nowak

Director, Research and Analysis - The ITB Group