Research, Industry and Education at EUROCORR 2026 and Corrosion Summer School

At the European Corrosion Conference, EUROCORR 2026, held from 6 to 10 September in Dublin, Ireland, Dr Tom Marquardt, our Global Head of Research & Development at Muehlhan Holding Services GmbH, presented our research into the optical assessment of blast-cleaned steel surfaces.

“Surface preparation has a major influence on coating adhesion and long-term corrosion protection. However, the cleanliness of blast-cleaned steel surfaces is still assessed mainly by visual inspection, which involves subjective judgement and can lead to differences between inspectors”, explains Marquardt.

Muehlhan’s research therefore investigates whether scattered light measurements can quantitatively distinguish between blast-cleaning grades and support a more objective and reproducible assessment. The potential benefits include more consistent quality control, clearer acceptance decisions, and better documentation before coating application. This addresses a practical challenge in quality assurance, supporting the reliable corrosion protection our clients depend on.

Sharing industrial experience

Tom Marquardt was also invited as a guest speaker at the Corrosion Summer School, held from 3 to 5 September at Technological University Dublin, where he presented our industrial perspective on corrosion protection for large steel structures, using wind turbines as a practical example. The session covered design considerations, surface preparation, and coating application. Discussions and practical exercises connected technical principles and requirements from standards with decisions encountered in industrial practice.

“Both contributions reflect how our R&D department combines applied research, industrial experience and knowledge transfer, while maintaining an active exchange with the research and engineering community”, remarks Marquardt.