On 1 December 2020, Leipziger Messe took over PaintExpo from FairFair GmbH. Since the fair was first established in 2006, PaintExpo has taken place every two years at Messe Karlsruhe. PaintExpo has become the world's leading trade fair for industrial coating technology with 537 exhibitors from 29 countries and 11,790 trade visitors from 88 countries attending the last event. The next PaintExpo is planned for 26-29 April 2022 in Karlsruhe.

FairFair Managing Director Jürgen Haußmann, who founded PaintExpo in 2006 and expanded it to a world leader, will continue to play an advisory role. Furthermore, Leipziger Messe will take over the PaintExpo trade fair team and the location in Oberboihingen, Baden-Württemberg. Leipziger Messe will continue the event's highly successful cooperation with its existing partners, JOT – Journal für Oberflächentechnik (Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH) and Messe Karlsruhe – the PaintExpo venue.

Gerhard Ohmacht, Head of the Trade and Industrial Fairs Division at Leipziger Messe, is responsible for PaintExpo's future development. Ohmacht, an industrial engineer specialised in technical sales and sales communication, has many years of management experience in industry and B2B environments. Since March 2020, he has been responsible for the industrial and trade fair portfolio at the Leipziger Messe Group.

The next PaintExpo will take place from 26 to 29 April 2022 in Karlsruhe.