Dr. Larry E. Steenhoek Receives the Godlove Award
We are pleased to announce that the 2025 recipient of the Godlove Award is Dr. Larry E. Steenhoek. This online presentation will include a brief history of the Godlove Award, citation by Anthony Calabria, followed by the Godlove Lecture by Dr. Steenhoek.
The Complete History of Color Measurements for the Automotive Industry (Abridged)
Automotive color measurement has evolved dramatically over the past century, moving from visual assessments to sophisticated multi-angle instrumentation. Early 45/0 and sphere-based instruments were adequate for solid colors, but the rise of metallics and pearlescents required new approaches capable of capturing angle-dependent effects.
This lecture traces key milestones: the 1987 ISCC Williamsburg Conference, where multi-angle measurement was first openly discussed; the introduction of experimental and commercial portable devices in the 1990s; and the steady cycle of innovation and standardization that followed. Today, nearly 200,000 multi-angle spectrophotometers are in active use worldwide, most in body shops, where they underpin formula retrieval, refinish quality, and OEM certification.
Drawing on four decades at DuPont and Axalta, the presentation highlights not only the technical advances but also their impact on paint formulation, design, and marketing. What began as a laboratory challenge has become an everyday reality, enabling color to be managed with precision across the global automotive industry.
This meeting will be held via Zoom. Use the following link on Oct 29 at 2pm Eastern Time:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82354045027?pwd=G7UvSz7TRR30agKB4IGCWyjdgM0qb3.1
Meeting ID: 823 5404 5027
Passcode: 341185
