Dr. Barry Snyder, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Axalta Coating Systems, delivered the keynote address during the Plenary Session of the AC Conference on Monday. Dr. Snyder discussed opportunities for innovation in color, and emphasized that the coatings industry must become the innovation disrupter. He encouraged formulators to look outside the norm, to get uncomfortable and to challenge the status quo. He suggested seeking new opportunities and learning from nature, electronics, inks, optics and textiles.

He noted that today’s trends may last only a few months or even just one month. This “trend among trends” has left gaps and unmet needs in our industry that are being fulfilled by alternative sources and “band-aid” technologies from companies that may be the first movers but, hopefully, are not long-term solutions. That’s the opportunity our industry must seize and become leaders in innovation.