|
by Daniel Murad, CEO
Uncertainty continues to cause concern throughout the international business landscape, and the specialty chemicals and advanced materials sectors are no exception. When faced with shifting tariffs, escalating trade wars, and a volatile geopolitical climate, many companies choose a “wait and see” approach instead of taking proactive steps to ensure their long-term success.
This risk-averse mindset is counterproductive, as inertia not only inhibits your company’s progress but hands your competitors the opportunity to pass you by.
Read the Full Column >
| | | |
|
by Susan Sutton, Director of Marketing & Communications
Rich Gibson joined ChemQuest as a director in 2021 after a more than 30-year career at Milliken & Co., with roles ranging from operations and corporate development to corporate strategy and more. Last year, Rich was named a ChemQuest vice president.
In addition to assisting clients with projects in the Business Strategy & Transformation, Operational Excellence, and M&A Advisory pillars, he is also now part of our global business development team. I had the chance recently to catch up with Rich, learn more about his background, and hear his thoughts on trends that are influencing today’s business leaders.
Learn More about Rich >
| | | | Our holistic and collaborative approach to Operational Excellence identifies gaps, builds capabilities, delivers on efficiencies, and sustains value for long-term success. We have a playbook to address all your operational areas, including: | | |
Process Optimization
- Lean methodologies
- Change management
- Quality management
| | |
Expansion Planning
- Growth options
- Risk mitigation
- Capex investment strategy
- Factory design
| | |
Supply Chain
- Relocation or reshoring
- Inventory management
- Mitigate supplier dependency
- Mitigate tariffs
- Sales and operations (S&OP) planning
| | |
Capacity & Production
- Increased yields
- SKU management
- Sales and operations (S&OP) planning
- Asset management
| | |
Environmental Health & Safety
- Best practices and compliance
- Reporting frameworks
- Training support
| |
A successful engagement leads to cascading benefits throughout your organization and translates to increased yields, margins, quality, and EBITDA. | | With deep expertise across numerous aspects of specialty chemicals and advanced materials, our team enjoys contributing articles that explore market trends and drivers, detail technologies and best practices, highlight business strategy, and much more. | | |
Tailoring Test Methods to Mimic Real-World Conditions
by Eric Casebolt
While standardized test methods are invaluable tools, they have limitations when it comes to solving specific, real-world problems. Custom tests, tailored to replicate the actual conditions a material will experience, can provide more accurate insights and drive meaningful product improvements.
Read Now >
| | |
When the Oxide is the Color Coat
by Cynthia Gosselin, Ph.D.
There is another way to look at materials sustainability. What if the pretreatment chemicals and coatings could be eliminated altogether? What if the oxide was also the color coat? What if the longevity of stainless steel could be exploited together with its oxidation potential? What if these innovative ideas were actually more cost effective?
Read Now >
| | |
Powder Coatings Are in Full Swing at the Playground
by Kevin Biller
Trends such as a focus on incorporating sensory elements into playground equipment using sustainable materials and integrating technology for interactive play have pushed powder coating developers to do some reformulations. However, powder coatings complement many of today’s playground trends.
Read Now >
| | |
Material Science Startup Technology: The Long and Winding Road Less Travelled
by Victoria Scarborough, Ph.D.
Much technology can be found at the university level, in various technology incubators, federal agencies, or small private laboratories. With the explosion of AI and other cloud-based technologies, material science labs face a difficult path forward when competing with more glamorous industries for resources.
Read Now >
| | |
Matching Powder Coatings to End-Use Applications
by Eric Casebolt
Selecting the correct powder coating for a specific end-use application is critical but can be a mystery to applicators, product developers, and end users due to the variety of chemistries and industry terminology. Gaining a fundamental understanding of why certain powder coatings are used for specific applications can help you make more informed decisions.
Read Now >
| | |
Navigating the Maze: How to Assess and Prioritize Opportunities
by Crystal Morrison, Ph.D.
The specialty materials sector is constantly evolving with new ideas, products, and markets. As a result, professionals often face the ongoing challenge of determining where to allocate their limited time, resources, and efforts. A structured evaluation process that leverages interdisciplinary teams can provide a strategic advantage in making informed decisions.
Read Now >
| | The ChemQuest team continues to enjoy spring event season, sharing expertise at numerous upcoming conferences. Please consider attending their presentations, and don't hesitate to reach out to schedule an onsite meeting. | | |
2025 RadTech UV&EB Technology & Conference
May 18-21 | Detroit, Mich.
On May 21, James Swope will give a presentation entitled "Outlook on the Global Coatings Industry" at the 2025 RadTech UV&EB Technology & Conference.
| | |
paintistanbul & TURKCOAT Congress
May 27-28 | Istanbul, Türkiye
George Pilcher will participate in a panel discussion on "Opportunities, Threats & Solutions in the Global Paint Industry" on May 28 at the paintistanbul & TURKCOAT Congress.
| | |
HCPA 2025 Mid-Year Meeting
June 22-25 | Washington, D.C.
On June 24, Julie Vaughn Biege will discuss "An Overview of New Approaches Addressing the PFAS Issue" at the Household & Commercial Products Association's Mid-Year Meeting.
| |
|
| |
June 10-12 | Ann Arbor, Mich.
We are excited to "Coalesce in the Midwest" with key players at this new industry event!
Kevin Biller will help kick things off with a short course on June 10. During "The Fundamentals of Powder Coating Technology," he will introduce the audience to the advantages of powder coatings as an industrial coating technology.
Crystal Morrison, Ph.D., will give the plenary address on June 12. She'll discuss "Navigating the Maze: How to Assess and Prioritize Opportunities in the Chemicals and Specialty Materials Market," sharing valuable tools for working in interdisciplinary teams, making data-driven decisions, and identifying high-impact opportunities in a competitive landscape.
| | | | |
We also hope to see you at these upcoming events:
-
CHEMUK 2025 – Birmingham, UK, May 21-22
-
Powder Coating Institute Annual Meeting – Sun Valley, Idaho, May 28-30
-
NYSCC Suppliers' Day – New York, N.Y., June 3-4
-
2025 Smart Business Dealmakers Conference – Cleveland, Ohio, June 12
-
Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit – Lombard, Ill., September 3-5
-
FEICA 2025 – San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain, September 10-12
-
Dealmakers Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pa., September 11
-
ACG Atlanta DealSource 2025 – Atlanta, Ga., September 23
-
ABRAFATI Show – Sao Paulo, Brazil, September 23-25
-
Pittsburgh Chemical Day – Pittsburgh, Pa., September 30
| | Tune in as our experts discuss their insights during podcast episodes with key industry publications and other organizations. | | |
In this Paint & Coatings Industry Magazine CoatIt! podcast, Nathan Biller discusses the many benefits powder coatings can offer EVs, including good electric insulative properties, corrosion resistance, and an attractive environmental profile. During the episode, he explains some of the unique challenges EVs bring, as well as future development work for powder coatings in this dyamic space.
Listen Now >
| | | Joe Powder offers solutions, best practices, and general knowledge regarding all things powder coating. You are invited to browse through the articles or search for solutions to specific issues, such as those highlighted here. | |
Privacy Policy: As a strict policy, The ChemQuest Group, Inc. does not sell, trade, rent or otherwise share your email address with any other company or third party.
| | | | |
