Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
      • Finishing Today
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Ask Joe Powder
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Focus on Canada
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • Target the Market
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!

Developing a Knowledge-Based Economy

By Kristin Johansson, Chief Editor, PCI
Viewpoint.jpg
November 1, 2015

In late September I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony and a guided tour of BASF’s new Plastics and Coatings Excellence (PACE) Laboratory in Southfield, MI. The newly refurbished, 32,000-square-foot building represents an investment of approximately $20 million dollars and can accommodate up to 50 people engaged in research, development and technical service to serve customers and encourage collaboration.

The ceremony included a number of guest speakers, including Greg Pflum, Vice President & General Manager, Midwest Hub at BASF, as well as senators, representatives, the mayor of the city of Southfield and county representatives. One speaker, Oakland County, MI, Executive L. Brooks Patterson, spoke about his ongoing plan to develop a knowledge-based economy in Oakland County and southeast Michigan. In 2004, Patterson created Oakland County’s Emerging Sectors Initiative to identify the top 10 sectors that will attract and retain sustainable, high-paying jobs to Oakland County in the 21st Century. The primary driver for this program was to develop an economy outside of the automotive industry (which ended up suffering a terrible crisis back in 2008-2010) in an effort to make Oakland County and southeast Michigan more recession resistant. Emerging Sectors identifies the t​op industry growth clusters and fosters business development in such high-tech fields as advanced electronics and controls, advanced materials and chemicals, aerospace, automotive, alternative energy and power generation, communications and information technology, film and digital media, robotics and automation, defense and homeland security, and healthcare.

As a result of the initiative, job creation ​​and diversification are transforming the economy from one that is manufacturing-based to one that is knowledge-based. So far, 355 companies have invested $3.2 billion, creating more than 36,000 jobs and retaining nearly 21,000 jobs since its inception. The opening of the BASF PACE technical laboratory continues this growth.

Steve Arwood, Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO, applauded BASF for the huge investment in their business, and noted that the company’s flagship statement, “We create chemistry for a sustainable future,” could be rephrased to say, “We create jobs for a sustainable economy in southeast Michigan.”

As a resident of southeast Michigan for the past 30 years, I am encouraged to see growth and job creation taking place in this great area that has taken quite a hit. You can read more about the new PACE laboratory in PCI’s December issue.

KEYWORDS: Coating Research & Development Labs

Share This Story

Kristin200 new

Kristin has been with BNP Media since 1992. She was named Editor of PCI in 2010 after being Managing Editor for 12 years.

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Editor's Viewpoint

Journey to Sustainability

Industry Insights

Recent Comments

clearly and in detail

Broken Planet Stargazing Hoodie

Can we apply form the out of USA...

Education for Kids

The team at window film brooklyn is...

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
    Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

  • paint sprayer in a workshop
    Sponsored byallnex

    Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

Popular Stories

No. 7 BASF Coatings

BASF Comments on Potential Sale of Coatings Business

No. 3 AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel’s $1.4B Divestment Signals Strategy Shift

PCI voices from the top

eBook | PCI Voices from the Top



PCI Buyers Guide

Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

Start your RFP

Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

Find Suppliers

Events

September 3, 2025

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Longest-running laboratory experiment

What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

See More Products
pci voices from the top ebook

PCI CASE EBOOK
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing