With the constant barrage of headlines about natural disasters caused by changing climate, the world’s attention on sustainability has intensified in recent years. Our industry is no exception: for example, over a quarter of the planned sessions at the Western Coating Show this year specifically mention sustainability or have key themes commonly associated with sustainable product performance attributes. But how exactly is sustainability defined and how is success in this arena measured? More importantly, what are the current problems that need solving and where are the opportunities for profitable growth and scientific progress? In his presentation, Christopher M. Miller, Ph.D., Senior Global Research Director, Coatings Resins at Arkema, will address these questions by taking a step back and examining what sustainability means to our industry, the tools being developed to track progress, and the innovation challenges we face as we look to the future.
PROTEX INTERNATIONAL recently announced that it has completed construction of a new production site at an industrial park in Sihui, China, which is located about 50 kilometers from Guangzhou.
This morning, the 2020 Samson-Adler Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Dr. Ray Fernando, who has been a professor and Arthur C. Edwards Endowed Chair, and the Director of the Kenneth N. Edwards Western Coatings Technology Center at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, since 2002. Named for Mr. Maurice Samson (Los Angeles) and Mr. Barry Adler (San Francisco) in recognition of their pioneering efforts during the earliest days of the WCS, the award distinguishes an individual for lifetime service to their society, the WCS and the coatings industry in general.
This morning, Dr. Erik Sapper, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, will open the Western Coatings Show with a keynote address titled Formulating the Future: How Technology, Innovation and Education Will Advance and Shape Our Field. This presentation will provide an overview of the most important tools for advancing the state of the art in our field, including accelerated materials discovery using DOE and computational strategies, rapid and iterative R&D, and design thinking approaches that artfully combine scientific product development processes with marketing strategies and customer needs.
Biomedical engineers and surgeons at Duke University and UCLA have demonstrated an antibiotic coating that can be applied to orthopedic implants minutes before surgery that eliminates the chances of an infection around the implant.
Scott Bader recently announced that it has acquired a new facility in North Carolina as it works to meet growing domestic and global demand for its structural adhesives and gelcoats.
X-Rite Incorporated and its subsidiary Pantone LLC recently announced that the popular Fundamentals Seminar Series focusing on color science and quality control is now available in an online learning format.
Specialty chemicals distributor Biesterfeld Spezialchemie has appointed Sergej Lazovic as Managing Director of Biesterfeld Spezialchemie GmbH alongside Peter Wilkes.