ecodry Drying Summit 2026
Unlock Your Drying Potential. Together.
The exclusive insight into industrial drying in the coating & converting industry. One and a half days connecting physics, design and operation into one shared process understanding.
An exclusive seminar.
Not a conference.
Drying determines quality, energy cost and throughput – yet it is the least understood part of the production line. Once a year, the ecodry Drying Summit brings together the people who influence industrial drying, connecting theory and practice into one shared process understanding.
With a maximum of 15 participants, you spend one and a half days in an exclusive-seminar atmosphere: interactive sessions, real application cases and a discussion panel with experts from industry.
For people who influence industrial drying
You don’t have to become a drying expert to benefit: those who understand what happens inside the dryer build better machines, run more stable processes and eliminate causes instead of symptoms – regardless of their discipline.
What makes this summit different
Maximum of 15 seats
Exclusive-seminar atmosphere instead of conference anonymity. With 15 seats, everyone knows everyone by the end. You join the discussion instead of just listening.
Five experts, one process
From market strategy through physics and dryer design to operation. You understand the whole process, not just your part of it.
Drying Clinic
Submit your real cases in advance: photos, videos, temperature profiles, process data. The most interesting ones are analysed live, anonymised.
The surprise element
One programme item we'll reveal shortly: an additional outside impulse on a highly topical industry theme.
A network that lasts
Get-together the evening before, moderated topic tables at dinner, expert panel: instead of a stack of business cards, you go home with 14 contacts who share the same questions.
Workbook & certificate
A premium workbook with all content, “The Drying Map” poster and a certificate of attendance. Something to reach for when you're back at the dryer.
One and a half days, five chapters
The summit tells a story: from the market through the physics to operation – and on day two from design straight to the real dryer.
Why Drying Matters
Two keynotes on market, experience and the future: why drying decides quality and competitiveness.
The Science of Drying
The physics behind it: heat and mass transfer, evaporation, film physics and the typical defect patterns.
Operating a Dryer
From practice: commissioning, temperature profiles, process optimisation and troubleshooting.
Designing a World-Class Dryer
The design logic: air management, nozzles, fans, recirculation and safety.
Drying Excellence
Apply and connect: Drying Clinic with real cases and an open expert panel.
Eve · Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Hotel Residenz, BocholtInformal meet-up over drinks – no programme, optional.
Day 1 · Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Why Drying Matters · The Science of Drying · Operating a DryerThe promise of the next one and a half days, the journey through five chapters and a short round of introductions: who is in the room, and what questions do they bring?
What do the most successful production sites do differently? Success factors, common mistakes and learnings from four decades in the industry.
Battery production, hydrogen, sustainability, digitalisation – and why drying competence is becoming a competitive factor.
Heat and mass transfer, evaporation, film physics – accessible for every discipline. And: how do blisters, wrinkles, curling and delamination occur?
Commissioning, temperature profiles, process optimisation, troubleshooting. Eliminating causes instead of symptoms – with examples from real lines.
Anonymised live analysis of real participant cases – submitted in advance as photos, videos, temperature profiles or process data.
Moderated topic tables: Energy, Drying, Coating, Commissioning, Safety, Troubleshooting.
Day 2 · Thursday, 24 September 2026
Designing a World-Class Dryer · Drying ExcellenceRecap, open questions, outlook: today, understanding becomes application.
Air management, nozzles, fans, recirculation, safety: which design decisions determine quality, energy consumption and availability?
A guest contribution on a highly topical industry theme, which we'll announce shortly. More soon.
All five experts on one stage, 60 minutes: pre-submitted and spontaneous questions from the audience.
Programme subject to change.
Bring your own case
The Drying Clinic is what makes this summit unique: participants submit real cases from their production in advance. The most interesting ones are analysed together, anonymised – five experts, 15 professionals, one defect pattern. You leave with concrete solutions for your own cases.
- ✓ Photos and videos of defect patterns
- ✓ Temperature profiles and process data
- ✓ Quality issues: blisters, wrinkles, curling, delamination
- ✓ Anonymised analysis – strictly confidential
Five experts. One process.
Operator, engineering and management perspectives on one stage – from market strategy down to the nozzle.
Dirk Hartmann
Around four decades of coating & converting in senior engineering and business development roles at Lohmann, tesa and Agfa: global production investments, plant engineering, factory planning, plant safety.
Bastian Kuhl
Former CEO of the Olbrich group, he shaped its strategic transformation including Polytype Converting. Today, with Kuhl & Company, he supports companies through change. His focus is the big picture: transformation, competitiveness and the decisions that make production sites future-proof.
Bernd Theling
Managing Director of ecodry Converting Solutions GmbH, chemical process engineer. 13 years in coating & converting – from process engineering to project management across Europe, China and the USA.
Markus Lente
Process & project engineer at ecodry, 25 years of experience, Six Sigma Black Belt. Deep expertise in process responsibility for coating lines – from commissioning to troubleshooting.
Sven Schnoklake
Head of Engineering at ecodry, mechanical & process engineer, 14 years in the industry. Specialised in dryer design for water- and solvent-based systems, safety assessments and commissioning.
Hotel Residenz, Bocholt
Get-together and summit take place at Hotel Residenz Bocholt. The venue for the dinner event will be announced.
- ✓ Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße 28–32, 46395 Bocholt, Germany
- ✓ Central location, easy access & parking
- ✓ Get-together the evening before, right at the hotel
Room allocation for participants
A room allocation is reserved at Hotel Residenz: €104.90 per night incl. breakfast. Book directly with the hotel using the code “ecodry Drying Summit” – available until 12 August 2026. Phone: +49 2871 9975-0.
Secure one of 15 seats
The first edition of the ecodry Drying Summit is deliberately kept small. Seats are allocated in order of registration.
The full summit at a preferential rate – for those who decide early.
Register nowFull summit participation – while seats are available.
Register nowDrying is a team effort. Two people who learned together pull in the same direction back at the plant.
Register your teamIncluded in your ticket
Accommodation not included – room allocation at Hotel Residenz (€104.90/night incl. breakfast, code “ecodry Drying Summit”, until 12 August 2026). After registration you will receive your invoice and confirmation by e-mail.
Let’s talk about your participation
Registering several participants, or questions about the programme or travel? Write to us – you will get a personal answer.