Vereniging I ON is the leading and original technical trade association for surface treatment companies in the processing industry in the Netherlands.

The members of Vereniging ION are primarily SMEs that protect and/or colour metal products such as stainless steel, aluminium and steel and, to a lesser extent, wood and plastic products. With over 300 members, Vereniging ION occupies an important position within the Dutch processing industry.

As a trade association in a time of rapid change, ION considers it important to develop perspectives together with and for its members, but also with neighbouring organisations. In this way, innovative entrepreneurship can create a sustainable future for an industry that includes companies, some of which have been in existence for more than 100 years.

To make this possible, Vereniging ION has been focussing on the following topics since 2024 Education and training of (qualified) professionals, safeguarding and developing quality, increasing sustainability and promoting innovation. In October 2024, the association organised its first "Dag van de Oppervlaktetechnologie" (Surface Technology Day). At the same time, the winner of the "ION Borghardt Award" was announced: a Dutch prize to promote innovation that is awarded every two years.(Vereniging ION - ION Borghardt Award)

Last November, ION organised a two-day event called "Future Surfaces"(http://www.futuresurfaces.vom.be) together with our Belgian colleagues from VOM. The second "Dag van de Oppervlaktetechnologie" will take place on 7 October 2026. The winner of the "ION Borghardt Award" will also be announced on the same day. This event will take place in the Evenementenhal Gorinchem.

For this day, ION is also reaching out to its German neighbours and is looking forward to presentations, preferably in English (30 to 45 minutes), for the lecture programme. As this is a knowledge event, no commercial presentations are permitted. It is possible to rent a stand in the industrial exhibition METAVAK | 6, 7 and 8 October 2026.

You will find the Van der Valk Hotel directly opposite the Evenementenhal

Presentation proposals for the Surface Technology Day can be submitted until 31 August 2026. In addition to the title of the presentation, a short abstract and the name of the speaker(s), the company name, contact person, e-mail address and mobile phone number are required. 
Please send this information to: info(at)vereniging-ion.nl