AMPP strengthens corrosion management in Latin America
During the SLOM 2025 event in Panama, an interview was conducted with Juan Caballero, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMPP, who shared the organization's strategic vision on the challenges of corrosion and asset integrity in Latin America. The region faces critical environmental conditions that accelerate the deterioration of infrastructures, which makes the adoption of state-of-the-art practices, standards and technologies increasingly urgent.
AMPP and its role in Latin America
AMPP, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance, is a global community with nearly 40,000 members. Its goal is to strengthen materials protection through standards, certifications and innovative solutions in corrosion control and protective coatings.
The relationship with SLOM is a long-standing one, as both organizations operate as sister companies, which has allowed for ongoing collaboration on integrity and corrosion issues. According to Caballero, this alliance has been consolidated through joint initiatives, such as the SLOM-AMPP Day, which brings together asset owners, suppliers and experts from across the region.
Environmental challenges and opportunities
The Latin American reality poses unique challenges, given that countries such as Panama are exposed to high-salinity tropical environments, recognized by ISO 12944 as some of the most corrosive on the planet, which significantly accelerates the wear and tear of marine terminals, oil pipelines and essential infrastructure structures.
AMPP acts as a bridge to transfer experiences from other regions that have faced similar challenges; through its global network, the organization shares lessons learned to shorten the implementation curve in developing countries. This dynamic is crucial for the Latin American industry to adapt best practices in asset integrity and extend the useful life of its infrastructure.
Innovation and emerging technologies
One of AMPP's main focuses is technological adoption, and Caballero highlighted several advances that are already being applied in different sectors:
- Smart coatings: systems capable of responding to specific conditions by means of microcapsules that release corrosion inhibitors in a targeted manner.
- Drone inspection: increasingly used to evaluate structures in critical areas that are difficult to access.
- Artificial intelligence: its application in integrity and corrosion allows real-time data processing, anticipating failures and optimizing maintenance plans.
These developments, Caballero explains, are discussed at global conferences and channeled to Latin America so that engineers and inspectors in the region can learn about them, adapt them and apply them effectively.
Empowerment and professional training
Juan Caballero emphasized that AMPP has served as a beacon of reference in his career, helping him to strengthen his knowledge beyond his engineering training. For this reason, he invited Latin American professionals to approach the organization to take advantage of the accumulated experience of thousands of specialists around the world.
Strategic projection and future
In recent years, AMPP has changed its strategy from focusing solely on products to focusing on vertical markets, currently organizing its work into four main areas:
- Energy.
- Civil infrastructure.
- New technologies and emerging geographies.
- Defense and maritime sector.
This change seeks to ensure more specialized attention to each sector, understanding their specific needs and offering tailored solutions. In Caballero's words, this orientation prepares AMPP to guide the industry in the coming years, especially in Latin America, where asset integrity demands must be reconciled with environmental requirements.
Upcoming events and overview
Looking ahead, AMPP is already organizing its global conference in Houston in 2026, where it expects to exceed the participation of previous editions. The last one in Nashville gathered more than 6,000 attendees, consolidating its position as the main meeting point for industry professionals.
According to Caballero, the objective is to continue building an enriching experience for participants, where they can be updated on new regulations, technologies and industry practices. Likewise, this type of event strengthens the connection between international experts and local actors in the region.
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Source: Inspenet.
