Speakers
Walter Bachleither
Arcolor AG
Urnäscherstrasse 50
9104 Waldstatt
Phone: +41 71 353 70 30
Walter Bachleitner is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at ARCOLOR AG in Switzerland, where he is responsible for the company’s strategic and operational R&D activities with a strong focus on innovation management, business development, and cross-functional team leadership.
He holds a PhD in technical natural sciences from Johannes Kepler University Linz, specializing in EB/UV-curing of hard coatings and brings over 20 years of international experience in the chemicals and woodworking industries.
Walter Bachleitner has a proven track record in developing and executing innovation strategies, building and leading competence centers, as well as managing international, cross-functional teams. His expertise spans technology and product development, scaling of industrial processes, and the successful implementation of new applications and business models.
Thorsten Beinke
Tarkett GDL S.A.
An der Feckel 11
9779 Lentzweiler
Luxembourg
Phone: +352 9492 11-8313
Thorsten Beinke received vocational training as a carpenter and media designer. He is holding a bachelor in media economics from Fachhochschule des Mittelstands, Bielefeld.
From his nearly 35 years’ experience in product- and print-design, Thorsten spend half of it in the flooring business. His functional experience includes all fields in design from print, web to packaging or display. He also worked in sales, marketing and training. Before he joined the flooring industry, Thorsten worked for major companies in telecommunication, advertising and printing.
His employment history (flooring companies) is as follows:
Tarkett GDL S.A., Lentzweiler, Luxembourg, 2011 to present.
Senior design manager
Responsible for LVT and laminate products as well as in-house design development for future digital printing.
Witex Flooring, Augustdorf, Germany, 2005-2011
Creative director
Responsible for communication design, advertising and customer focused retail projects including point of sale presentation and training.
Terhürne, Südlohn, Germany, 2003-2005
Head of advertising
Responsible for communication design and advertising.
Robert Bierfreund
MetiQon GmbH
Hamburg
January 2026 – today: Founder and Managig Director of MetiQon.
March 2011 – December 2025: Managing Director Operations Interprint GmbH / COO Interprint Group responsible for manufacturing and engineering at all Interprint locations worldwide.
July 2010 – Feb. 2011: Establishment and management of the service and consulting business unit at Prinovis.
July 2008 – June 2010: CEO / Managing Director of a printing plant with 600 employees in Barcelona, Spain.
Jan. 2007 – June 2008: COO / Director Operations for Mohn Media Apr. 2004 – Dec. 2006: COO / Director Operations at rotogravure printer Broschek in Hamburg.
1992 – 2004: Different management position at Eurohueco/Spain – Bertelsmann Printing Group.
Degree in Electrical Engineering, Rudolf-Diesel-Fachschule für Techniker, Nürnberg.
Clarissa Blüm
RENOLIT SE
Horchheimer Str. 50
67547 Worms
Phone: +49.6241.303.1286
.Clarissa Blüm has been working as a specialist for the “Colour Road” trend service in Corporate Design Management at RENOLIT SE, one of the world’s leading plastic products manufacturers, since 2020.
She is responsible for the conception and implementation of trend materials. Clarissa presents Colour Road at trade fairs and congresses as well as on the RENOLIT website and in social media for both RENOLIT Interior Surfaces and RENOLIT Exterior Solutions.
She is also an adviser to international customers and licensees.
She was born in 1995. After finishing her apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at RENOLIT SE she initially worked as an assistant to the Corporate Design Management. In June 2020, she was certified as a “Colour Road” brand ambassador.
Royce Dodds
Dekor 8
59494 Soest
Germany
Phone: +49 151 521 21 966
Royce Dodds is an established specialist in decorative inkjet printing with both practical and documented technical credentials in the German-based décor industry. Over more than two decades he has worked with major players such as EGGER Holzwerkstoffe Brilon and Wilsonart, focusing on digital print workflows, surface structures, and design development for decorative boards and laminates. In recent years, Dodds has become a key figure in the application of AI generative imaging—over the last two years, he has developed original designs with AI tools, several of which have found commercial use in the décor market.
His skill set is evidenced by named inventorship on patents such as US9782797B2 “Method and device for producing a structured varnish surface,” assigned to Fritz Egger, which describes digitally controlled creation of 3D varnish textures matched to décor images on board substrates. In parallel, symposium and workshop programs list him as a speaker on topics including inline colour control, AI-based décor design, and digital surface treatment at events like the DIPA Symposium, DIPA Academy’s “Surface in Motion” workshop, the Decorative Surfaces Conference, Fogra Colour Management Symposium, and FuturePrint webinars and podcasts.
anastasia Folak
Saueressig
Karstraße 90
41068 Mönchengladbach
Germany
Phone: +49 2161 359388
She is the main point of contact for SAUERESSIG’s MIMIC software solution and supports customers and partners from initial needs assessment through to implementation. With more than six years of experience in Business Development at SAUERESSIG, she maintains ongoing exchange with a wide range of industries and experts. This has enabled her to develop a strong understanding of customer requirements and industry specific challenges.
George Goroyias
Forest Sector Advisors
Santiago de Compostela
Spain
Phone: +34 646278624
Dr. George Goroyias is a globally recognized expert in the forest sector, with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning strategic business development, investment advisory, sustainability, and innovation. He has delivered high-impact assignments across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, guiding multinational clients, investors, and industry leaders through transformational change.
As a Co-founder of Forest Sector Advisors, George brings together a global platform of senior professionals to support clients in navigating growth, ESG, and operational excellence across the forestry and bio-based value chains. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Board of a major European wood products holding company, contributing to strategic growth and sustainability governance.
Prior to FSA, George held a senior operational and strategic role with a leading global integrated forest industry, chemical and surface material company, and led international teams at a leading global consulting and engineering firm, heading the forestry and biomass practice and driving growth in wood products, natural capital, and ESG strategy. Earlier in his career, he held operational, research, and technology transfer roles, securing major R&D funding and driving early innovation in wood science, sustainability, and recycling.
George holds a PhD in Wood Science from the University of Wales and has contributed thought leadership through 40+ global conferences and industry forums. He is fluent in Greek, English, and Spanish, and brings a unique blend of scientific rigor, commercial
acumen, and cross-cultural leadership to his work.
Marc Graindourze
Agfa NV
Septestraat 27
2640 Mortsel
Belgium
Phone: +32 494 560244
Marc Graindourze has studied at K.U.L. (University of Leuven, Belgium), Master in Chemistry and Dr. Sc. (physical chemistry).
Marc started at Agfa in 1988 as a R&D project manager graphic films and proofing systems.
In 1995, Marc changed to the field of inkjet printing, first as R&D project manager inkjet media.
Since 2004, Marc is active in the field of inkjet inks.
Marc is very interested in the power of inkjet and how to make it work form the ink perspective for a large range of applications, whereby decorative printing is one of the key fields. Marc connects to the companies building inkjet printing solutions, as well as to the companies printing decorative designs by inkjet.
Maximilian Hamel
3rd Floor, 4 Millbank
London SW1P 3JA
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7932 8200
Education: M.Sc. Business Administration & Management, ICN Business School & University of Münster
2015–2018: Fritz Kohl Veneer & Sawmill, Germany – Sales, strategy, log purchase
2017: Fritz Kohl Middle East, UAE – Field service & sales representative
2022: Celulosa Arauco, Chile – Panel operations & sustainability reporting
2022-today: AFRY Management Consulting – Wood products Senior Consultant
Ben hartkopp
Köpenicker Straße 325, Halle 42
12555 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 30 555 75 42 00
Ben Hartkopp is a founder of Quantica GmbH based in Berlin. As a seasoned independent researcher, inventor and developer he has been instrumental in co-developing the NovoJet™ Printhead technology since 2016. He is a co-inventor of Quantica’s full patent portfolio of printheads, systems and methodologies and currently serves as the Head of Research and IP at Quantica. Ben focuses on patent writing and strategy, leading to the creation of nine patent families, with three patent families granted. He is also leading confidential R&D projects shaping the future of the technology.
Harald Jordan
IPAC
Europastraße 8
9524 Villach
Austria
Phone: +43 4242 22810
2003 –
Co-partner Ipac GmbH since the company was founded, managing partner since 2005.
1996 – 2003Independent management consultant with international project management experience in the areas of innovation, organization, and SAP.
1981 – 1993
Employed by the global market leader in the refractory industry, Veitsch Radex (now RHI Radex Heraklith International), in various management positions in Austria and abroad, including commercial management of the sales company in Italy and project management for innovation, organization, and SAP projects worldwide in the headquarter Vienna, Austria.
Education:
Commercial Academy Feldkirchen, Carinthia/Austria and Controller Academy, München, Germany
Oliver Luedtke
ColorGate Digital Output Solutions GmbH
Grosse Düwelstraße 1
30171 Hannover
Germany
Phone:+49 511 942 93-0
Oliver Luedtke is Chief Executive Officer of ColorGATE Digital Output Solutions GmbH, a position he has held since July 2023. In this role, he leads a team of industry specialists delivering software, services and tools for successful digital printing worldwide.
With more than 25 years of experience in the printing industry, Oliver previously held senior leadership roles at Kornit Digital and EFI, shaping global and regional go-to-market strategies and representing the industry at major international trade shows such as drupa.
He holds a Dipl.-Ing. in Print Communications Technology and is deeply passionate about technological innovation, digital transformation and customer-centric solutions in digital industrial printing.
Dr. Cormac O Carroll is a globally recognised expert in forestry, forest industry and sustainability, with over 30 years of leadership experience across industry and consulting. He served as President and CEO of a leading forest industry consulting firm from 2005-2011 and as Director of their Global Forestry and Wood Industry Practice from 2012 to 2018. Prior to his consulting career, Cormac held management and strategic planning roles with a leading global paper and packaging group.
As a Co-founder of Forest Sector Advisors, Cormac unites a global platform of senior professionals to support clients in achieving sustainable growth across the forestry and bio-based value chains. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to a major global materials technology company as well as acting as Senior Advisor to Europe’s leading forest investment fund.
Cormac holds a PhD in Environmental Resource Management and a B.Agr.Sc. in Forestry from University College, Dublin.
Matti Rantanen
Rue du Luxembourg 3
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 556 25 89
With deep insight into EU decision-making processes and a proven ability to develop impactful advocacy strategies, Matti brings a forward-looking perspective on how regulation and policy shape industrial competitiveness and sustainable innovation.
At Surfaces Conference 2026, he will present an Update on EPF Political and Regulatory Advocacy, highlighting the latest developments affecting the panel and surfaces industry at the European level.
Nino Speranza
Interprint GmbH
Westring 22
59759 Arnsberg
Germany
Phone: +49 2932 950-0
Nino Speranza, Director of Sales, authorised signatory and member of the management board at Interprint GmbH’s headquarters in Arnsberg.
Nino Speranza worked at Schattdecor from 2003 to 2021. He spent the first part of his time there in overseas sales, focusing on South America. The second part was as Export/Sales Manager for Central Europe.
In 2021, he founded the consulting and sales agency SP-CASA. He was Senior Sales Manager and sales representative for Splendecor and Pyrus Panels. Nino Speranza is a IHK-certified Industrial Clerk, Export Manager, Bachelor Professional (CCI) of Media Engineering and Operations and Master Professional (CCI) of Business Management.
His focus: pushing projects forward, expanding markets and creating innovations.
Udo Steinhauer
Profol GmbH
Profolstraße 1-10
83128 Halfing
Germany
Phone: 49 (0) 8055 181 246
Udo Steinhauer is Director of Business Development, Marketing & Sustainability at Profol, a manufacturer of innovative polymer films.
Udo Steinhauer holds a degree in chemical engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and has over 30 years of experience in various positions in the chemical, coating, and polymer industries. His experience includes polymer films and additives, coatings, and composites, as well as their technical application in various markets such as flooring, furniture, and automotive.
Thomas Walther
AFRY Management Consulting
Borsteler Chaussee 51
22453 Hamburg
Germany
Phone: +49 40 692000
Peter Weidenschlager
Profol GmbH
Profolstraße 1-10
83128 Halfing
Germany
Phone: 49 (0) 8055 181 246
Tobias Wilcke
Arcolor AG
Urnäscherstrasse 50
9104 Waldstatt
Phone: +41 71 353 70 30
Tobias Wilcke is Head of R&D Inkjet at ARCOLOR AG in Switzerland, where he leads the development of advanced inkjet technologies.
His work focuses on combining material science with scalable printing processes, building bridges from analog to digital technologies and enabling high-performance solutions for decorative printing through inkjet.
He holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, specializing in functional organic pigments and is currently pursuing his MBA at WHU Vallendar.
His expertise includes inkjet technologies, dyes and pigments, functional materials, process development, various analytical methods as well as photography.