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The AMPPlify Update is AMPP’s monthly roundup of corrosion industry news, coatings and materials protection insights, technical resources, workforce development initiatives, standards updates, and global events shaping the future of asset integrity. This month’s edition highlights AMPP Advocacy Days in Washington, new federal pipeline safety regulations incorporating AMPP standards, advancements in corrosion innovation and workforce development, upcoming international conferences, and emerging technologies transforming inspection, coatings, and infrastructure protection worldwide.
In this AMPPlify Update:
AMPP Advocacy Days brought industry professionals to Washington, D.C., May 11–13, 2026, for direct conversations with policymakers on the future of U.S. infrastructure.
With 40 attendees participating in 54 meetings across congressional offices and federal agencies, discussions focused on a key issue: what happens after infrastructure is built. Long-term performance, such as how assets are maintained, how standards are applied, and whether a trained workforce is in place, remains a critical part of the conversation.
Participants discussed legislation, including the PIPES Act, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and the SHIPS for America Act, connecting real-world experience across energy, water, and maritime sectors to policy decisions.
Read the full recap.
AMPP has introduced a new global fulfillment model that significantly reduces international shipping costs for printed publications by up to 90% in some regions.
The enhanced shipping approach supports AMPP’s ongoing commitment to expanding global access to technical knowledge and strengthening the reach of materials protection expertise.
Read the full announcement.
AMPP has finalized a strategic partnership with BSB Edge to expand international access to AMPP standards through a leading global distribution platform.
BSB Edge, an India-based standards aggregator and exclusive distributor of Bureau of Indian Standards publications, provides access to more than 20 leading standards developing organizations (SDOs) and serves over 20,000 customers across India, the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia. Through this agreement, AMPP standards will be incorporated into multi-SDO subscription offerings, increasing accessibility in key industrial markets.
Read the full announcement and learn more on the BSB Edge AMPP web page.
Recent PHMSA rulemakings incorporate key AMPP standards into federal pipeline safety regulations.
Updated editions of NACE SP0206 and NACE SP0502 are now referenced in 49 C.F.R. Parts 192 and 195, aligning regulatory requirements with current practices for managing internal and external corrosion.
The rules take effect January 1, 2027, unless adverse comments are received.
Read the full press release.
The AMPP Italy Chapter will host its Conference & Expo 4th edition on June 9–12, 2026, in Genoa, Italy, bringing together the global corrosion and materials protection community for one of Europe’s leading events.
The Conference & Expo will be at the Magazzini del Cotone in the historic Porto Antico, the conference entitled “Driving Innovation into Corrosion Management” which will focus on advancing corrosion management and asset integrity as infrastructure evolves.
AMPP leadership will be in attendance, including CEO Alan Thomas and international board members, underscoring the event’s global significance.
The event will feature:
With strong industry participation, the conference serves as a platform for sharing practical solutions that improve durability, safety, and long-term performance.
Registration options include full access, discounted rates for speakers and students, and one-day passes for targeted participation.
Raebareli, India | March-April 2026 - The Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) launched its AMPP Student Chapter and announced CORROTHON, an innovation competition focused on real-world corrosion challenges. Led by Director Harish Hirani and V.S. Sistla, the initiative connects students with industry through technical learning, leadership, and applied problem-solving. Urvesh Vala of L&T Hydrocarbon served as a mentor and CORROTHON judge.
CORROTHON, hosted by RGIPT on April 11-12, challenged students to develop innovative solutions for real-world corrosion issues impacting infrastructure, industry, and sustainability.
The competition focused on areas including AI-driven corrosion prediction, sensor monitoring, marine protection, eco-friendly coatings, and biogas pipeline corrosion. Supported by faculty and industry leaders like Urvesh Vala of L&T Hydrocarbon, the event combined mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on problem solving to prepare the next generation of engineers.
At RGIPT in Raebareli, India, Urvesh Vala, Head of Innovation at L&T Hydrocarbon, helps students see how AMPP membership connects technical learning to real-world industry challenges. Through mentorship, industry insight, and his involvement in CORROTHON, Vala is guiding students beyond the classroom and helping shape future engineers equipped to solve corrosion and materials performance challenges through practical, industry-driven innovation.
5th Generation Story: Mark Byerley
Mark Byerley likes to say his story did not start with him. It started years earlier, in booths on show floors and in conversations that helped shape an entire industry.
His family’s connection to corrosion, coatings, and materials protection goes back to when Leo Tinker and John “Jack” Rasor joined the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, what we now know as AMPP. That decision did not just help build a company. It built a legacy. Mark grew up surrounded by that legacy.
At just three years old, he told his parents he wanted to serve the company one day. At the time, it may have sounded like childhood imagination, but it turned out to be much more than that. His father, who started as a salesman before eventually purchasing Tinker & Rasor, built more than a business. He built a life centered around purpose, relationships, and pride in the work.
That stayed with Mark as he got older. It shaped how he viewed responsibility, leadership, and the importance of carrying something meaningful forward.
Years later, standing beside his father in a NACE Expo booth, the moment felt bigger than business. Tinker & Rasor had supported the Expo since the very first show, and now two generations of the same family had both served as President of the organization. His father served in 1974 and 1975. Mark served in 2009 and 2010. Not many families can say two generations served as President of the same organization, and not many industries create those kinds of lifelong connections, but this one does.
At the heart of it all, the work matters. Corrosion prevention goes far beyond metal and coatings. It plays a role in protecting infrastructure, preserving resources, and helping keep people safe in ways most people never stop to think about. Still, when Mark talks about why he stayed in the industry, he does not start with the technical side. He starts with the people.
“You will never find a field with more fantastic people,” he says.
That sense of connection is what kept him here. It is what kept his family involved for generations, and what continues to draw new people into the industry today. He also carries a lesson passed down over the years. Change simply for the sake of change is not always the right answer. In an industry built on standards, trust, and experience, progress matters, but so does respecting what already works.
Today, as President and CEO of Tinker & Rasor, Mark continues to carry forward a legacy built on stewardship, relationships, and pride in the work. And when he reflects on what organizations like AMPP have meant to his family over the years, his answer is simple.
In the end, what stands out most to him is not just the work or the industry, it is the friendships made along the way and the legacy of connection carried across generations.
Read more about Mark Byerley and connect with him through LinkedIn
Have a generational story like Mark’s? Share it with us here.
The materials protection and performance community recently lost one of its most respected industry leaders with the passing of Kenneth B. Tator, P.E. His decades of contributions to protective coatings, corrosion control, standards development, inspection, and education helped shape the industry and influence generations of professionals worldwide.
AMPP extends its condolences to Ken’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those impacted by his leadership, expertise, and commitment to advancing the profession.
Read the full memorial here.
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September 28-30, 2026 | Saint Paul, MN | Call for Abstracts |
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October 19-21, 2026 | Myrtle Beach, SC | Call for Abstracts |
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November 16-18, 2026 | Renton, WA | Call for Abstracts |
Call for Abstracts: AMPP 2026 Area Conferences
Share your expertise and help shape the conversation at the 2026 AMPP Area Conferences. Industry professionals are invited to submit abstracts focused on corrosion prevention, pipeline integrity, industrial coatings, and infrastructure protection across a variety of challenging environments. Click here for more conference details.
September 28–30, 2026 | Saint Paul, MN
Where Corrosion Prevention and Industrial Coatings Converge
Explore strategies and solutions for assets with access challenges, large footprints, and unique needs.
Abstract Deadline: June 1, 2026
October 19–21, 2026 | Myrtle Beach, SC
Protecting What Moves Energy Forward. Pipeline Integrity. Corrosion Control. Performance.
Join industry leaders focused on pipeline integrity, corrosion control, and the technologies driving energy infrastructure forward.
Abstract Deadline: May 25, 2026
November 16–18, 2026 | Renton, WA
Extreme Environments: Managing challenges for land, maritime, and offshore infrastructure.
Share insights and innovations addressing the toughest environmental and infrastructure challenges.
Abstract Deadline: June 1, 2026
From maritime and energy to civil infrastructure and emerging industries, the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2027 technical program will spotlight the challenges and innovations shaping our world. Starting May 24, submit your paper or presentation-only abstract and join the global conversation in Columbus, Ohio.
Submit your abstract today. Be part of the conversations shaping the future of materials protection and performance.
NEW Standard:
AMPP QP 10-2026 Standard Procedure for Evaluating the Qualifications of Contractors Who Install Passive Fire Protection (PFP)
AMPP SP21455-2026 Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Design, Construction, and Management
AMPP VIS-GUIDE-11 Guide and Reference Photographs for Steel Surfaces Prepared by Pulsed Laser Ablation
Revised Standards:
NACE SP0204-2026 Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) Direct Assessment Methodology
SSPC-PA 7-2026 Applying Thin-Film Coatings to Concrete
AMPP CAREER CENTER
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KTA-Tator, Inc. | Connecticut, United States (On-Site) |
Elzly Technology Corporation | Everett, Washington, United States |
DTE Gas | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States |
Looking For Assistance With Employee Recruitment?
Look no further than AMPP's Career Center, where you can post your job openings and reach thousands of professionals in the Corrosion and Coatings industry. Don't wait, post your job openings today and enhance your recruitment efforts.
Common Questions About Corrosion, Coatings, and Asset Protection
Corrosion prevention is critical across industries that rely on metal infrastructure and long-term asset performance, including:
Without proper corrosion control, these industries face increased maintenance costs, downtime, safety risks, and infrastructure failure.
Governments and organizations worldwide are investing heavily in infrastructure modernization due to aging assets, extreme weather, increasing energy demand, and growing safety concerns.
Corrosion prevention and protective coatings play a major role in helping infrastructure last longer, operate safely, and remain reliable under demanding conditions.
Corrosion occurs when metal reacts with environmental elements like moisture, oxygen, salt, chemicals, or pollutants. Over time, this natural electrochemical process weakens materials and can lead to deterioration or failure if left untreated.
Different environments create different corrosion challenges, which is why inspection, coatings, and monitoring are so important.
Corrosion professionals use a combination of inspection methods and monitoring technologies to identify problems early, including:
Early detection helps organizations reduce repair costs and avoid unplanned shutdowns or safety incidents.
Protective coatings act as a shield between metal surfaces and harsh environments. They help prevent moisture, chemicals, UV exposure, and salt from reaching the substrate beneath.
Modern coating systems are designed to improve durability, reduce maintenance frequency, and extend the operational lifespan of infrastructure and equipment.
Asset integrity management refers to the systems, processes, inspections, and maintenance strategies used to keep infrastructure safe, reliable, and operational throughout its lifecycle.
It combines engineering, inspection data, corrosion control, maintenance planning, and risk management to help organizations prevent failures and improve long-term performance.
The corrosion industry is rapidly evolving through technologies such as:
These innovations are helping organizations make faster decisions, improve reliability, and optimize maintenance planning.
Industry certifications help professionals demonstrate technical knowledge and practical skills in areas like:
Certifications can support career advancement, improve job opportunities, and help organizations maintain quality standards.
The future of corrosion prevention is increasingly focused on smarter infrastructure, sustainability, digital technologies, and lifecycle optimization.
As industries continue modernizing infrastructure worldwide, corrosion professionals will play a growing role in protecting assets, improving reliability, and supporting safer, more resilient systems.
Explore More Corrosion Insights
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