PSE 2026

Announcement

PSE2026 took place from August 31 – September 3, 2026 at Trade Fair Erfurt in Germany. PSE Conferences offered a vibrant platform for exchanging the latest advances in research, development, and industrial applications for surface, plasma and vacuum technologies. Contributions from both academia and industry were presented and were the starting point for open future discussions. The event fostered collaboration, discussion and innovation, connecting experts to explore how fundamental insights translate into practical solutions. The conference was framed by inspiring plenary lectures and motivating role models, highlighting key trends and achievements. Detailed conference topics were highlighted in the adjacent panel.

The international event was accompanyed by an industrial exhibition. It was more than just a showcase, the exhibition was the beating heart of the conference. From coating machines and plasma technologies to advanced materials, analytics, and automation – here you found the innovations shaping the future of surface, plasma and vacuum engineering. Here you met leading providers, exchange ideas with international experts, and seize opportunities for new collaborations. Networking, discussions, customer care, and social events all took place right here.

Thank you to all 630 participants and 73 exhibitiors from 37 countries. Special Thanks to our sponsors and the engaged committee members, who made this event happen. A heartful thanks to all supporting people preparing the program, preparing talks and posters, offering nicely prepared booths and insights to interesting products and services as exhibitors and all who added their personal points in discussions and enriched the community with their insights.

A very special Thanks to our Partner Country IBERIA. It was wonderful to have you all here and saw the enthusiasm and the fun you had together with our community. We enjoyed it very much! Thank you!

SAVE THE DATE! | PSE2028 – September 4 – September 7, 2028 in Erfurt, Germany
We are looking forward to seeing you all again for celebrating our 40th Aniversary of PSE Conferences!

Review: PSE2026 Impressions

PSE 2026 Overview

Conference Topics

Plasma and ion sources
Process Technologies
Properties and applications
Characterization and simulation

MAIN TOPIC
“Surface engineering for clean energy solutions”

TREND TOPIC
„Thin films and micro structuring methods for integrated smart systems“

Specials

Partner Country 2026
IBERIA – Spain & Portugal

PSE Awards

Poster Sessions

Expertise Sponsors

Team of PSE 2026

Conference Chairwoman

Prof. Sandra Carvalho (Portugal)

Conference Co-Chairman

Dr. Ulf Seyfert (Germany)
Prof. Masafumi Ito (Japan)

Partner Country Chairman

Prof. Ramón Escobar-Galindo (Spain)

EJC/PISE Chairman

Prof. Michael Thomas (Germany)

Contact

News

The PSE2026 App is online!

August 26, 2026

Finally! The new PSE2026 App is online. All participants received an access link for the app. In this app, you can not only explore the current program, the exhibitors, and lots of other interesting information about PSE2026, but each participant can also mark and customize their own personal schedule.

When you enter your login, you can see the uploaded posters. Also the Download for presentations, that will be published one day after the corresponding session, will be visible there and in the online program. Your personal login you received via E-Mail with the App Link.

Link to PSE2026 App

Please be aware of the construction work in Erfurt as you plan your trip!

August 12, 2026

Numerous construction projects are currently underway in Erfurt, which are affecting travel. Please check your travel connections again before you leave.

Some construction sites will be completed by PSE2026, but according to the latest reports, passenger traffic at Erfurt Central Station will be limited. Here is a brief overview to the general connections to the nearest airports in Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin.

Overview to Connections [PDF]

Publish your PSE2026 research in the Journal of Surface and Coatings Technology

July 31, 2026

Presenting your work at PSE2026 is only the first step – we encourage all speakers to publish their latest research in the PSE2026 Special Issue of the Journal Surface and Coatings Technology by Elsevier. Publishing your results increases their visibility, supports the transfer of knowledge into industrial applications, and strengthens your scientific impact. We invite all presenters to submit a manuscript and become part of this high-quality conference publication.

The Submission Portal is open!

Visit the Journal Website
Register as author
Choose the option [VSI: PSE2026_Research Article]
And submit your publication.

Further information for authors you can find in the author guidelines of the Journal. We thank Elsevier for the possibility to publish the papers one year in open-access. Many thanks also go to Helmut Riedl, Rainer Hahn and Claus Rebholz, who make this PSE2026 Special Issue possible.

ISC Submission Website

Poster Submission ended with over 400 abstracts.

July 1, 2026

Yesterday, the abstract submission deadline ended on June 30, 2026. Due to a temporary technical issue on the website, the portal was reopened until Monday, July 6, 2026. Please complete your submissions. We are now beginning the final program planning.

We are looking forward to your contributions and thank the authors, who submitted now over 400 abstracts for talks, posters and invited sessions at PSE2026 platform. Attendees can look forward to a diverse and innovative program featuring international presentations from a wide range of application and technology fields.

Last poster confirmations will be published next week latest.

Abstract Submission

Coating Technologies for clean Energy Solutions

June 2, 2026

Organized by the joint cooperation of the network ALD4EMO and Energy Saxony, the coating community will present recent advances in surface engineering as enabling technologies for the energy sector. Industrial experts involved in the development and production of energy systems are invited to connect with the thin film community and explore international expertise in surface engineering for electrolyzers, fuel cells, batteries, thermoelectric modules, and photovoltaics.

Join us in the "Energy Delegation" on September 1 - 2, 2026, to discover the latest developments through the Industrial Workshop, Silent Forum Sessions, meet leading experts in a guided exhibition tour, and discuss future challenges and coating solutions for next-generation energy technologies.

Also interesting for the Energy Sector:

Poster Session 3 on
"Coatings for Energy Applications"
on September 2, 2026
Three Sessions on
"Coatings for Energy Applications - Session 18, 22, 25"
on September 2, 2026

Delegation Invitation [PDF]

The Program of PSE2026 will be published soon

April 25, 2026

The international program committee as well as the EJC/PISE came together in March to finalize the program of this year’s conference. More than 200 abstracts could be introduced in the final program. New sessions were created like the invited session for “Thin Film Metallic Glasses” or the Panel Discussion on “Clean Surfaces”. Furthermore, the session on “optic and electronic coating” was increased to 3 sessions. But also traditionally important topics on “PVD Technologies” as well as “Protective and Tribological Coatings” are strong again. The final session schedule is already published.

The authors are informed right now about their presentations. After confirmation of the talks the program schedule will be published for participants on May 6, 2026. Already now you can find first program insights under program for Tutorials, Workshops and Invited Sessions.

Program

New Industrial Board and New Silent Forum @ PSE2026

March 31, 2026

This year a new board of engaged industrial thin film and plasma experts came together to create the “International Industrial Board” of PSE Conferences. This board discusses and further develops the exhibition and the industrial related program to address the needs of business during the conference. First topics were time and places to discuss collaborations, an open exhibition to welcome further visitors at the booths as well as an informative program for exhibitors and possibilities to present products and services to the community.

New at PSE2026 will be longer breaks in the exhibition to increase time slots for discussions and furthermore a silent Forum will be introduced in the Exhibition to address special topics of interest for exhibitors, visitors and interested experts. The Silent Forum in 2026 will deal with the use of artificial intelligence in industrial processes and business everyday life as well as ALD Technologies for clean energy solutions. Stay interested and find more information at this website soon.

Committees

Oral Abstract Submission is finished with an increased number of sumbissions.

February 5, 2026

We thank all authors for abstract submission until the end of January 2026. We received 318 abstracts for 191 oral presentation slots. That are 50 abstracts more than for the last PSE Conference in 2024 at the same time. That is a great message from the community that strenghtens the international conference. The decision of the EJC/PISE to plan with a further session at Tuesday and Wednesday for PSE2026 was the right step forward. We are very pleased about this development.

The reviewers will start their work in February. In March the committees will prepare the conference program. The speakers will get their confirmations in April 2026 as soon as all data is processed.

As in the last years the abstract submission is still open for poster presentations and invited speakers of the workshops, tutorials and plenary lectures.

Abstract Submission Deadline | Invited Submission: March 31, 2026
Abstract Submission Deadline | Poster Presentations: June 30, 2026

Again, thank you to all authors for your oral contributions. The Abstract Submission for oral presentations is closed now. The program will be published in May 2026.

We look forward to an interesting conference. Check the Workshops, Invited Sessions and Tutorials. The program will provide new features and a fourth conference session.

Conference Program

Exhibitor Registration is OPEN!

January 10, 2026

More than just a showcase, the exhibition is the beating heart of the conference. From coating machines and plasma technologies to advanced materials, analytics, and automation – here you will find the innovations shaping the future of surface engineering. Meet leading providers, exchange ideas with international experts, and seize opportunities for new collaborations.
Networking, discussions, customer care, and social events all take place right here.
Don’t miss it: September 1 – 2, 2026

Check also the offers for Joint Booths and Start-up Booths. There are special offers for the Partner Country IBERIA and the local Community of Thuringia. For any questions, please contact the conference and exhibition management under pse-conferences@efds.org.

Your Gateway to thew European Market!

📅 Registration Deadline: May 31, 2026

Places can be choosen during the registration process. To get the best place, register early! Supporting companies get booths at prominent areas.

We look forward to your booking and to an inspiring PSE 2026 Conference!

Exhibitor Overview

Good News! - Special Issue for PSE2026 confirmed!

November 27, 2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗦𝗘2024 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲!
Have a look at read here

Good News! There will also be a 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗦𝗘2026!
Thank you to the Journal of Surface and Coating Technology as well as Helmut Riedl and Rainer Hahn from TU Wien.

Abstract Submission for PSE2026 is open new!
Submit your abstract and confirm your Special Issue Publication for PSE2026.
https://www.pse-conferences.net/program/abstract-submission/

More about PSE2026 Program:
https://www.pse-conferences.net/program/

Abstract Submission