ITB Automotive Surfaces 2026
In-Person Thursday, October 8, 2026
Venue: MSU Management Education Center. 811 W. Square Lake Rd., Troy, Michigan, USA
Sponsored by:
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The ITB Group’s Automotive Surfaces 2026 conference brought OEM and supplier engineers together on October 8 in Troy, Michigan. The 17 presentations, in five sessions, covered how smart and illuminated surfaces, decorative finishes, and functional surfaces are developed, validated, and built into vehicles at production volume.
The audience included senior engineers, managers, and directors, among them 48 engineers from six OEMs. The technical discussion carried on between sessions and through the day.
Highlights
- Jillian Cooper and Benjamin Louis of FORVIA gave the opening keynote. They described how designers can respond to new technology, shifting consumer expectations, and an uncertain market, and how human-centered design can produce affordable, sustainable mobility that people want to use.
- Stella Brochado of General Motors spoke on how to build premium interiors that customers want and that still make economic sense. She weighed customer expectations against engineering and the cost of bringing new interior features to market.
- Jim Pillars of General Motors presented in-mold films as a replacement for chrome plating and paint on exterior parts. The films give a premium look without capital-heavy chrome and paint lines, widen the supplier base, and may lower cost and environmental impact.
- Seona Lee of General Motors showed the engineering behind the active aero rear spoiler on the Cadillac Celestiq. The spoiler moves through five positions in a thin package, keeps a clean appearance, and meets its performance targets through its choice of materials and structure.
- Abdul Salam Abdul Karim of Ford Motor Company covered the integration of smart glazing into software-defined vehicles. Glazing that carries cameras, sensors, and head-up displays must meet requirements for functional safety, signal integrity, electromagnetic compatibility, high-speed communication, diagnostics, and reliability.
- Octavio Perez of Preh introduced a center-console control with no moving parts. It responds with haptic and visual feedback. Its closed surface can be glass, ceramic, metal, plastic, or decorative film, with options for transparency and illumination.
Ford Motor Company special feature: Where Craftsmanship Meets Innovation
Robert Taylor of Ford Motor Company chaired this interactive session on the tooling, texturing, and manufacturing work behind premium interiors. Three companies presented:
- CST Studio, “Where Surface Design Comes to Life.” Terry Comte described texturing techniques and new developments that combine craft, engineering, and technology to give surfaces a distinct look and function.
- Standex (GS Engineering), “Engineering the Foundation of Premium Interiors.” John Coger covered IMGL and IMGS tooling, skin and foam systems, and how design for manufacturing turns design intent into consistent quality and smooth production launches.
- Integrity Tool and Mold, “Precision Tooling, Proven Performance.” Michael Brouillette explained the engineering behind production injection molds and the accuracy, durability, and repeatability that automotive parts require.
Click HERE to view the Full Program Agenda.
For questions about the conference, contact 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
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8:30 a.m. |
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Darren Nowak, Director, Research and Analysis - The ITB Group
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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
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9:15 a.m. |
From Surface to Experience: Transforming Vehicle Interiors Through Intelligent Comfort Technologies
Dr. Nicola Gerrett, Senior Director Research and Medical - Gentherm
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9:40 a.m. |
Integrating Lighting, HMI and Surfaces: Where UX Meets Industrial Reality
Dr. Daniel Pardo, Director of Tech Solutions - North America & Global Strategy - Antolin
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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
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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
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11:40 a.m. |
Reimagining the Digital Cockpit with Advanced Display Solutions
Jaden Ji, Global Product Manager Display - Marelli Electronics
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12:00 p.m. |
Advancing Automotive Exteriors and Interiors through Efficient Integration
Josh Wagner, Application Development Engineer - Covestro
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12:20 p.m. |
Lunch
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Out of the Mold
1:20 p.m. |
Reimaging Exterior Finishes with In-Mold Films
Jim Pillars, Engineering Technical Leader, BGFT - General Motors
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1:35 p.m. |
Artistic Active Aero Rear Spoiler Cadillac Celestiq
Seona Lee, Technical Specialist – Rear Trim (Exterior) - General Motors
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1:50 p.m. |
Next-Generation Automotive Surfaces: An Integrated Alternative to Conventional Paint Lines
Florian Rammer – Business Development Manager, Automotive & Mobility - Engel Machinery
Stefano Andreolli, Sales & Marketing Manager - CANNON Group
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2:10 p.m. |
Advantages of Injection Molding Behind Thin Film TPO
Tom Sybrandy, Interiors Team Lead, Advanced Development - Inteva Products
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2:30 p.m. |
Coffee and Conversations Break
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Smart Surfaces
2:55 p.m. |
Novel HMI Design: Square Control with Closed Surface
Octavio Perez, Design Release Engineer - Preh
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3:15 p.m. |
Textile-Computing as a Multifunctional Automotive Surface Platform
Dr. Patrick Morkus, Business Development Manager - Myant X
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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
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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)
John Coger, Advanced Technology Manager - Standex
Precision Tooling, Proven Performance
Michael Brouillette, Globla Sales - Integrity Tool & Mold
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4:55 p.m. |
Concluding Remarks
Darren Nowak, Director, Research and Analysis - The ITB Group
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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.
Conference Presenters
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.
Jillian Cooper
Senior Director Marketing, Design and Supplier Diversity North America - FORVIA
Ms. Cooper serves as Senior Director of Marketing, Design and Supplier Diversity, North America, at FORVIA. She leads regional strategic marketing, innovation fueling and ecosystem, advanced customer interface and design studio initiatives, drawing on more than a decade of automotive experience across sales, strategy, and business development. Ms. Cooper holds an MBA with a concentration in finance and a BS in journalism, with a concentration in advertising from Oakland University.
Benjamin Louis
Design Studio Manager North America - FORVIA
Mr. Louis is the North American Design Studio Manager at FORVIA, leading automotive and industrial design across six regional business groups. Over a 15-year tenure, he advanced through key roles like Principal Designer for Automotive Interiors and developed iconic "Cockpit of the Future" demonstrators. He holds a master’s degree in Transportation Design and Management from France’s RUBIKA School of Design.
Dr. Nicola Gerrett
Senior Director Research and Medical - Gentherm
Dr. Gerrett is the Senior Director of Research & Medical at Gentherm, leading thermophysiology research to enhance the automotive occupant experience through advanced comfort and wellness technologies. As an expert in human-thermal environment interaction, she has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the International Conference of Environmental Ergonomics (ICEE) board. Dr. Gerrett holds a PhD in Environmental Ergonomics from Loughborough University.
Daniel Pardo
Director of Tech Solutions, North America & Global Strategy - Antolin
Dr. Pardo is the Global Strategy and NA Business Unit Director at Antolin. He drives global product portfolio strategy, leads tech acquisitions, and manages customer relations for the Technology Solutions division. Prior to joining Antolin in 2018, Dr. Pardo co-founded and managed Farsens, a wireless sensor startup. He holds a degree and a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Navarra (Spain).
Stella Brochado
Global Executive, Product Engineering - General Motors
Ms. Brochado is a global executive with over 20 years’ experience at GM, currently serving as Director and Global BOM Leader for Interiors. She leads a 150+ person team and global value streams spanning instrument panels, floor consoles, decorative trim, and ambient lighting. Previously she operated as a Global Manufacturing Chief Engineer for ICE and EV launches. Ms. Brochado holds multiple engineering degrees, an MBA, and executive certificates from Stanford and the University of Michigan.
Abdul Salam Abdul Karim
ADAS Platform Systems Hardware Engineer - Ford Motor Company
Mr. Abdul Karim has over 20 years of experience in automotive electronics and operates as an ADAS Platform and Systems Hardware Engineer at Ford Motor Company. Here he specializes in ADAS platform hardware, functional safety, and sensor systems. He previously held engineering leadership roles at Marelli, Magna, Takata, and L&T, and is an IEEE Senior Member. Mr. Abdul Karim holds a Master of Technology degree in Embedded Systems from the University of Calicut.
Jaden Ji
Global Product Manager, Display - Marelli Electronics
Mr. Ji is a Senior Manager of Global Vehicle Display Products at Marelli and has over 10 years of global working experience in automotive electronic products. He is dedicated to the core position of product management in leading research and development of HMI/UIUX design, PHUD display product definition and research, AI models, multi-modal interaction, and integrated cockpit and driver network connection systems. He also has management experience in vehicle interaction design layout, cabin product definition, cabin networking strategic planning. Mr. Ji holds a master’s degree in electronic engineering from the University of Melbourne.
Josh Wagner
Application Development Engineer - Covestro
Mr. Wagner is an application development engineer within Covestro’s engineering plastics business. Since joining Covestro in 2021, he has supported the Healthcare, Electronics, and Automotive industries through designing, troubleshooting, and engineering simulation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Plastics Engineering Technology from Penn State University and a MEng in Engineering Management from the University of Louisville.
Jim Pillars
Engineering Technical Leader, BGFT - General Motors
Mr. Pillars has more than 26 years of experience designing and releasing exterior components and currently works as Engineering Technical Leader for Bumper, Grille, Fascia, and Exterior Trim at General Motors. Here he provides global technical and strategic leadership, setting long-term direction and ensuring consistent implementation across programs. He also leads technical specialists across a broad range of components and commodities. Mr. Pillars holds a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in engineering management from the University of Detroit Mercy.
Seona Lee
Technical Specialist – Rear Trim (Exterior) - General Motors
Ms. Lee is a Technical Specialist at General Motors working on rear exterior trim components including spoilers, decorative trims, appliques, and gutter moldings. She has 16+ years of experience in the vehicle exterior space working on the design and production of hundreds of plastic parts. Her experience and knowledge of the plastic supply chain, part design, integration and validation have helped to drive innovation and support successful launches. Ms. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering from Konkuk University in Korea, and master’s degree in systems engineering from Purdue University.
Florian Rammer
Business Development Manager, Automotive & Mobility - Engel
Mr. Rammer is the Business Development Manager for ENGEL's Automotive and Mobility Business Unit. Beginning his career in 2008 as a plastics technician, he joined ENGEL in 2017. Mr. Rammer has built deep technical and commercial expertise as an Application Engineer and Sales Coordinator, managing international trials, global support, quotation development, and high-level customer negotiations.
Stefano Andreolli
Sales & Marketing Manager - CANNON Group
Mr. Andreolli is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Cannon Afros. Joining in 1999, he advanced from Sales Engineer to Far East Sales Area Manager, specializing in automotive polyurethane equipment and establishing the South Korean office. From 2015 to 2025, he led global automotive sales and key Tier 1 accounts. He holds an Aerospace Engineering degree from Politecnico di Milano.
Tom Sybrandy
Interiors Team Lead, Advanced Development - Inteva Products
Mr. Sybrandy is the Interiors Team Lead within the Advanced Development Group at Inteva Products. He develops innovative, lightweight, and cost-effective solutions for automotive interior trim, focusing on sustainable one-step manufacturing and recyclability. A graduate of Ferris State University with an injection molding background, My Sybrandy holds multiple patents in additive manufacturing and natural fiber technologies.
Octavio Perez
Design Release Engineer - Preh
Mr. Perez is a Design Release Engineer at Preh, specializing in the development and launch of automotive Human Machine Interface (HMI) solutions. With more than 11 years of experience in automotive electronics, validation, and product engineering, he works with cross functional global teams to bring innovative customer-facing controls and interfaces from concept to series production. Mr. Perez holds a degree in Mechatronics Engineering.
Dr. Patrick Morkus
Business Development Manager - MyantX
Dr. Morkus is a Business Development Manager at Myant X where he translates advanced materials and textile computing into commercial products. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University, where his R&D spanned machine learning-based biosensors and face mask testing equipment. Dr. Morkus also co-founded Emmoni, a biotech company manufacturing smart lab tools globally.
Thomas Wagner
Global Director, Business Unit Automotive - TIGER Coatings
Mr. Wagner has more than 35 years of experience in the automotive industry, spanning both plastics applications and advanced surface solutions. Over the past decade, he has been a key contributor to TIGER Coatings where he leads the Automotive Business Unit worldwide. His deep technical expertise, combined with extensive international leadership experience, drives TIGER’s innovation and strategic growth within the global automotive sector. Mr. Wagner holds an engineering degree in chemistry and a Global Executive MBA from LIMAK Linz in cooperation with Emory University in Atlanta.
Robert Taylor
Global Material Performance & Grain Technical Specialist - Ford Motor Company
Mr. Taylor is the Global Material Performance and Grain Technical Specialist at Ford Motor Company, specializing in the intersection of automotive engineering, manufacturing, and aesthetic surface design. Four decades of automotive experience have shaped how he thinks, leads and creates: Design with purpose. Engineer with precision. Create without limits.
Terry Comte
Manager of Sales - CST Studio
Mr. Comte is the Sales Manager at CST Studio, leveraging over two decades of sales and marketing success in automotive texturing. He builds "best-in-class" teams and uses a consultative approach to drive growth with OEMs and suppliers. Enthusiastic about client success, Mr. Comte seamlessly blends art, engineering, and strategic goal setting to transform creative concepts into functional, high-performance surface solutions. Mr. Comte is a graduate of Georgian College in Canada.
John Coger
Advanced Technology Manager - GS Engineering (Standex Engraving)
Mr. Coger is the Advanced Technology Manager at GS Engineering, a division of Standex Engraving. Here he leads the development and implementation of technologies including laser texturing, IMG, Architexture, and digital surface development, helping bridge design intent with practical tooling and manufacturing solutions. Mr. Coger has a background in CNC machining, tool design, and surface design, which has led to a broader focus on advanced manufacturing and texturing technologies.
Michael Brouillette
Globla Sales Manager - Integrity Tool & Mold
Mr. Brouillette is the Global Sales Manager at Integrity Tool & Mold, bringing 35 years of automotive tooling experience to the role. His 16 years with the company include four years at Elmann, Integrity's Italian research facility, where he integrated operations and developed emerging technologies. Currently, Mr. Brouillette is focused on advancing molding innovations and driving new business acquisition.
