By SEMA News Editors
Apollo Sprayers Launches Certification Course for HVLP Electric Sprayers, Celebrating 60th Anniversary
Apollo Sprayers, a provider of HVLP electric paint sprayers, is launching an automotive certification course for HVLP electric paint sprayers and is celebrating a major anniversary in 2026.
The hands-on certification program is designed to educate and certify automotive painters on the proper setup, operation and application techniques of HVLP electric painting systems for professional automotive refinishing.
The inaugural course will debut in Florida, with additional courses scheduled to roll out across Texas and California, marking the beginning of a nationwide and eventually global certification initiative, the company said.
Apollo’s new certification course provides painters, body shops and custom finishers with the technical knowledge and real-world experience with HVLP electric paint sprayers. The one-day, in-person course covers HVLP fundamentals, turbine technology, spray-gun setup, material viscosity, pressure control, transfer efficiency optimization and best practices for spraying primers, basecoats, clearcoats and custom finishes using HVLP electric systems. Participants will receive hands-on training using Apollo’s Maxi-Miser HVLP Electric Painting Systems.
Click here for additional course details, including schedules, registration information and more.
Additionally, Apollo Sprayers is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026.
What began in a 500-sq.-ft. warehouse has grown into a globally respected brand known for manufacturing advanced HVLP electric painting systems. Founded by John B. Darroch, Apollo’s journey is a testament to persistence, adaptability and a commitment to quality that spans three generations of family leadership, according to company representatives.
In its earliest days, Apollo faced a significant challenge: imported spray systems built overseas were incompatible with North America’s 110V electrical standard. Rather than accept costly limitations, the company shifted to importing component kits and sourcing electric motors domestically. Systems were assembled in the United States, reducing costs and improving efficiency while strengthening quality control, the company said.
Apollo expanded from its original warehouse into larger facilities in Fountain Valley, California, steadily growing its footprint while maintaining hands-on oversight and family-driven leadership. Today, Apollo Sprayers manufactures its HVLP systems in Vista, California.
“Our 60-year milestone represents more than longevity,” said John Darroch, president and CEO of Apollo Sprayers. “It represents relationships with our customers, employees and industry partners. We have always focused on building systems that deliver real performance benefits, and that commitment has never changed.”
For more information, visit hvlp.com.
I-CAR Announces New Member Council Representatives
The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) has selected nine new representatives to its member council.
The new council members span the full collision repair value chain--independent shops, MSOs, dealership collision centers, community colleges, technical institutes, insurance carriers, OEMs and technology providers.
The newly selected member council representatives are:
Collision Repair Segment:
- Roy Schnepper - Butler's Collision and Glass
- Jeff Burton - Quality Collision Group
- Mike McLeod - George Matick Chevrolet
Education Segment:
- Doug Irish - Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Raven Luna - Collin College
Insurance Segment:
- Troy Price - General Motors Insurance
- Preston Pavlu - Allstate
OEM Segment:
- Andrew McInnes - Ford
Service Provider Segment:
- Paul Bostel - Accelerated Vehicle Technology
Kristen Tscholl, State Farm, will assume the role of chair for the current member council.
These representatives will work alongside existing council members to review I-CAR programs, provide feedback on future offerings, and serve as a two-way channel between the industry and the organization's technical training initiatives.
For more information about I-CAR's member council and governance structure, visit I-CAR.com.
SPE Thermoset TopCon 2026 Announces Call for Abstracts for Student Poster Competition
The organizing committee for the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoset Div. TopCon invites graduate and undergraduate students to submit abstracts on innovative thermoset composite technologies for its fifth annual student poster competition.
The competition will be held during the SPE Thermoset TopCon Conference at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin, May 12-13, 2026.
A judging panel--consisting of industry experts, SPE board members and members of the media--will review all posters with student authors on the first day of the conference. Awards will be presented to winners during a special ceremony on the event’s second day.
Poster topics may include subjects such as artificial intelligence and emerging industry innovations; automotive, transportation, medical, appliances, oil and gas, and more; lightweighting; bio-composites; nanocomposites; and more.
For more information on the event, visit spethermosets.org/topcon.
