The ChemQuest Group Newsletter - Summer 2023
Summer greetings to all! Our ever-pivoting industry and economy continues to surprise and challenge us. Globally, we have experienced a significant shift due to various factors such as energy price volatility, government policy changes, economic uncertainty, supply chain disruption, and geopolitical issues. To navigate these challenges, chemical industry executives face balancing immediate concerns with long-term success through technological innovation, adapting to changing consumer preferences, and building resilient supply chains. Many chemical companies have prepared for uncertain times by maintaining strong balance sheets.
 
At ChemQuest, we continue to closely monitor several long-term trends, including the development of emerging technologies to reduce emissions, the ongoing reshaping of portfolios, the importance of supply chain performance, and the strategic use of digital technology to enhance the value chain and promote sustainability in the chemical sector. We share our overviews during industry presentations and publications, as well as in this quarterly newsletter.
 
We also provide insight into the changing global economic climate through various features in our TraQr™ forecasting and market database subscription. Among the features in TraQr™ 2.0 is visibility into current and forecasted raw material prices of critical components for formulated coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. By harnessing the intelligence of the Power BI platform, TraQr™ analyzes historical data to generate future estimates with a high degree of accuracy. The tool also provides visibility into global economic reporting, all condensed into one easy-to-navigate dashboard.
 
TraQr™ equips businesses with valuable insights, facilitating well-informed decision making and strategic planning based on anticipated market dynamics. As you begin to plan for 2024, now is the optimal time to consider a TraQr™ subscription to give you the insight to craft your business plan with accurate foresight. Strategic decision making and investments in innovation are crucial for long-term success in a changing landscape.
 
We welcome all inquiries for a demonstration of the power of our enhanced global TraQr™ 2.0.
 
Sincerely,
Daniel Murad, CEO, The ChemQuest Group, Inc.

Plug Profit Leaks and Increase EBITDA
Did you know our work in Operational & Manufacturing Efficiencies helps clients make and sustain enterprise-wide improvements? Our adaptive, comprehensive, and transformational approach results in:​
  • Improved performance
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  • Sustainable competitive advantage and profitable growth
You are invited to learn more with our four-part webinar series focusing on Operational and Manufacturing Excellence:
Process Optimization and Overall Equipment Effectiveness

Optimizing Plant Operations Including Design Considerations for Growth
July 18 | Register >

Optimizing Supply Chain to Increase Bottom Line
September 19 | Register >

Safety First! Best Practices in Environmental, Health, and Safety
October 17 | Register >
Publications by Industry Thought Leaders
ChemQuest experts continue to author in-depth feature articles and informative columns to help readers understand key industries, technologies, and strategies.
Avoid Critical Mistakes and Maximize Value when Selling Your Chemical Company
by Julie Vaughn Biege

Sellers that shortcut preparation steps before putting their business up for sale often leave money on the table. Avoid these common mistakes to achieve the best price.
Developing Resiliency and Targeting Growth Opportunities in the New Normal
by Daniel Murad

Today’s business landscape offers opportunities for differentiation and growth for organizations that can build on the lessons they have learned over the past several years.
The Great Supply Chain Fiasco of 2021-2022: The Immediate Danger is Past, but What Lies Ahead?
by George Pilcher

This special report examines how far the coatings industry supply chain has come in the three years since the onset of the pandemic—and what lies ahead.

Acrylic-Based Powder Coatings: Superstars in the Shadows
by Kevin Biller

Depending on formulation technique, acrylics possess incomparable exterior durability, excellent chemical resistance, and outstanding smoothness and gloss.
New Opportunities in the Restoration & Remediation Market
by Victoria Scarborough, Ph.D.

The coatings industry has a large role to play in the restoration and remediation market, as specialty products are needed to address the problems seen in remediation sites.
The Sticky Business of Adhesive Sourcing and Replacement
by Douglas Corrigan, Ph.D., and James Swope

While finding a second source or replacement for a traditional fastener is fairly straightforward, the process is much more complicated with adhesives.
Event Highlights
Our team is excited to attend key industry events, sharing our expertise and networking with industry friends and new colleagues.
Chicago | September 6-8

Please join us for our sponsored Thursday evening
Networking Reception!

Plus, Nathan Biller, VP of ChemQuest Powder Coating Research, will discuss More than Just Wood – Low-Temp-Cure Technology Opens Up a World of New Substrates for Powder Coatings.
Louisville, KY | September 18-20

George Pilcher, ChemQuest vice president, will give a presentation on PFAS Here, PFAS There – PFAS Everywhere. How are we going to get our arms around "where we are with PFAS," strive to determine "where are we going with PFAS," and finally, "how will we replace all vestiges of PFAS in high-performance products?"
In Case You Missed It!
Victoria Scarborough, Ph.D., our vice president of Collaborative Innovation, gave a dynamic plenary address at the recent 2023 CoatingsTech Conference.

She discussed "A Heat Map of New Technology in a Post-Pandemic World," detailing new drivers of technology and how they determine the direction, momentum, and causal effects in a changing environment.
We also hope to see you at these upcoming events:
Adhesive Bonding Education
Looking to expand your technical expertise or train your team? Attend our upcoming class.
Fraunhofer IFAM European Adhesive Bonder (EAB)
The week-long EAB course gives participants a fundamental understanding of adhesive bonding. This knowledge of the technical aspects and importance of their particular work procedures will enable them to carry out bonding work independently and professionally.

ChemQuest Technology Institute, South Boston, VA
September 18-22, 2023
ChemQuest also organizes custom courses for in-house training needs. Please contact us at info@chemquest.com to learn more about our educational offerings.
Welcome to ChemQuest's Newest Team Members
Eric Casebolt
Director

Sandrine Garnier, Ph.D.
Director

Dipan Haria
Director

Ed Hortelano, Ph.D.
Director

Explore Our New Webpages
We've expanded our website to provide pages dedicated to the dynamic capabilities of the ChemQuest Technology Institute and ChemQuest Powder Coating Research.
ChemQuest Technology Institute
ChemQuest Technology Institute is an unbiased knowledge resource for the coatings, adhesives, sealants, plastics, composites, and other formulated materials industries, offering synthesis, formulation guidance, technology acceleration, raw material validation, and performance testing.

ChemQuest Powder Coating Research
ChemQuest Powder Coating Research is unparalleled in powder coating R&D capabilities, including formulation guidance, technology acceleration, raw material validation, and performance testing.
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