Shawn Conway

Great piece by Amelia Greene and C&EN illustrating the opportunities and challenges facing the specialty materials and chemical manufacturing industries. https://lnkd.in/gbHWv2Wg   As manufacturers, scientists, and business leaders, we are making significant progress in reshaping our industries for the better. We are helping our customers be far more sustainable by developing materials that make their products stronger, longer lasting, more recyclable, and with reduced carbon footprint. This is an ongoing effort, but articles like these are important to start to communicate on these efforts. It's vital in educating the public about an often-misunderstood industry and to attract a highly-skilled and diverse workforce.   #Arkema #ArkemaAmericas #ChemicalIndustry

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Manufacturers... an NIH study says that college students use their phones for about 7 hours per day. Your new hires have ALWAYS had a cell phone and an ipad/ tablet. They have expectations for a digital work experience. Imagine their surprise when coming into your factory, they are asked to put the phone away and write everything down on paper and enter it into a computer or tablet LATER. They are not having our status quo. They will leave or innovate. (more likely the former). Get Ready. #manufacturing #manufacturing4.0 #digitaltransformation

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Register now for a June 20 webinar to learn how Lubrizol products enhance efficiency in water-based pigment dispersions. Learn how innovative technologies optimize and improve overall performance.

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Watch this video to learn more about DuPont Liveo Soft Skin Silicone Adhesives.

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ACC partnered with The Washington Post Post this week to publish a high-level summary of the key lessons that policymakers should know from our “Chemistry Creates, America Competes” initiative. Take a look and feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments. My quick take: No matter what happens in November, demand for chemicals will continue to grow, both at home and abroad. To meet that rising demand and protect America’s future, the White House and Congress must support growing domestic chemical production. From healthcare to clean energy, infrastructure to national defense, chemistry is vital to economic growth in the United States. The bottom line: For nearly four years, the United States has been on the wrong track, handicapping the ability to develop and make chemicals here in America with a massive surge in regulatory restrictions and a lack of coordination among branches of the federal government. And it’s a track that alarmingly mirrors the deindustrialization of Europe. Whoever takes office in January must learn from past missteps and put a regulatory framework in place that is fully aligned with national priorities—job creation, onshoring manufacturing, strong supply chains and economic leadership. Learn more: https://ow.ly/2XpW50TqQHS #ChemistryCreates #AmericaCompetes

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Latticept is excited to announce full scale production of The Boltzmann Reactor slated for Q2' 2025. Featuring the novel Omega Jacket I invented while at Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, I have extended the technology and completely re-envisioned the concept of a modern chemical facility. Yes -- up to TEN TIMES the fatigue life and 30% heat flux improvement compared to half-pipe jacketed reactors. I used #computationafluiddynamics and #finiteelementanalysis to simulate heat transfer and thermal fatigue in silico and then performed laboratory testing to verify. Running on top of Dotmatics M-Star CFD, the Reactor System lets you create multiphysics digital twin of the ACTUAL REACTOR you end up purchasing. Powered by their incredible NVIDIA-native lattice Boltzmann solver, unbelievably fast and accurate predictions of chemical processes are at the fingertips of every chemical engineer with a desktop computer. David Turner asked me once: "But how is this different than Aspen?" It's a fair question. Typically we use empirical equations based on experiment, but M-Star uses individual MECHANISTIC physics built up from first physics principles that are astonishingly accurate. Now you can simulate process phenomenon using the ACTUAL reactor you end up purchasing: baffle size, number, actual impeller size, diameter of impeller, distance from the tank bottom and so forth. 🔥Want to do transient heat transfer studies? Go for it. 🌬️Want to do dispersion analysis? No problem. 💧What about non-Newtonian rheology? Absolutely. 🫘What about particles? Uh huh. 🫧What about bubbles? They're literally in the picture. ⚡And of course reactions!⚡ Innovation by Latticept. GPU's by NVIDIA. Solver by M-Star CFD. Computers by Exxact Corporation. Coffee by Starbucks. If you're in the chemical industry, please contact me for more information!

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Developing impactful new raw materials that target unmet needs in the #CoatingsIndustry can be extremely challenging. As Eric Casebolt explains, specialized knowledge and expertise is needed to fully understand the markets, technologies, and drivers that come into play. How does this translate into new value propositions? Find out in “The Challenges of Product Development in the Coatings Industry” in Paint & Coatings Industry Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gbXiKKii Could your team benefit from a #TechnologyDevelopment collaboration? We can help with that. Let’s start talking: https://lnkd.in/gse7eMGv #ProductDevelopment #Formulation #TechnologyInnovation #MarketInsights #BusinessStrategy #Strategy #Consulting

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Excited about our transition to Benvic. Learn more about it using the video link below. #Plastics #Benvic #Chemres #Medicalplastics #RutgersBusinessSchool https://lnkd.in/dkDqE9M5

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The Chemical Industry is a cornerstone of our economy. I am proud to share the 2024 Economic Elements of Chemistry report highlighting how our industry fuels job creation, strengthens supply chains, and fosters progress for a brighter future. https://ow.ly/wBWT50TWuzG

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I'm excited to share an insightful article co-authored with my talented colleagues Dr. Lichang Zhou, and Brian Vest. Titled "An Easy Additive Approach for Replacing Fluorocarbon Surfactants in Water-Based Paints for Hot Block Resistance," this piece explores our innovative journey in developing sustainable solutions for the coatings industry. The article addresses the challenges of replacing harmful fluorocarbon surfactants (FCS) with eco-friendly alternatives while maintaining high performance standards. It's a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability and innovation.  Read the full article here:  https://lnkd.in/ecaUrneF

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A must watch webinar on PFAS replacement for coatings in which our latest innovation Rhodoline HBR will be introduced.

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👨‍🔬 ⚗ Revolutionizing Rare-Earth #Metal #Purification with a #Chameleon #Chemical ⚗ 👩‍🔬 Exciting advancements from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (#ORNL) and #Vanderbilt #University are set to transform the way we purify #rare-#earth #metals. Researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking "#chameleon" ligand that adapts to its environment, potentially revolutionizing the separation and purification of these #crucial #elements. 🔬 What Makes It Special? The newly discovered ligand behaves like a chameleon, shifting its binding preferences based on the surrounding conditions. This innovative approach could streamline the purification process for rare-earth metals, which are vital for clean energy, medical technologies, and national security. 💡 #Why #It #Matters: Rare-earth metals, including the 15 #lanthanides, are essential for a wide range of applications, from electronics to biomedical imaging. Despite their name, these metals are not actually rare, but their purification is notoriously challenging and costly. This new ligand promises to make the purification process more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. 🔍 #Impact on the #Industry: By improving the separation methods for lanthanides, this research could significantly reduce costs and environmental impact, paving the way for more sustainable use of these critical materials. For more details on this breakthrough, check out the latest study from #ORNL’s Chemical Sciences Division and join the conversation on how this innovation could reshape the future of rare-earth metal processing. Team, 🔴 Rasayano Industries #Innovation #RareEarthMetals #CleanEnergy #Research #Sustainability #OakRidgeNationalLab #VanderbiltUniversity #Rasayano

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At the Product Stewardship Society's annual conference in Denver, CO, a thought-provoking theme is emerging that for many years has been a kind of elephant in the room. Keynote speaker John Warner (father of Green Chemistry) sparked a conversation around ethics. Carmen Reznik, Ph.D. and I further explored this with attendees as we looked at what makes an outstanding product steward. The discussions notably underscored the significance of ethics and integrity in Product Stewardship. Advocating for stakeholders (especially those who might not otherwise have a voice at the corporate table), reflecting company values, and standing up for your own were key points raised. Additionally, traits like curiosity, passion, and humility were highlighted as crucial attributes. How do your ethical values influence your work? Join the conversation and share your thoughts. #PSX2024 #productstewardship #regulatoryaffairs https://www.psx.org/

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They tackled resin costs head-on with a targeted approach. Like many plastics manufacturers, the majority of their materials were customer directed. Only $8M resins spend was addressable. Within the 30+ addressable materials, eight were identified as likely overpriced by a resins expert. These made up $4.5M of the $8M addressable spend. Click to learn the steps they took to achieve 5.6% savings on the $8M spend by focusing on their eight target resins. Are you a manufacturing leader looking to start saving in 2024? DM me, and let's discuss your untapped opportunities. You could implement $200k - $500k in savings in as little as 14 weeks, with fees based on the savings achieved. #CostReduction #Sourcing #Procurement

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In her latest Forbes article, Trinseo’s Natalia Scherbakoff, Vice President, Technology & Innovation, discusses recent regulations surrounding PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” Read more about her industry perspective: https://ow.ly/SMJc50SKvwU ​

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Together with #MeltPrep we just published a new whitepaper outlining how to tackle the not-unheard-of early stage hurdle of working with low available amounts of API in extruded products. Check out the link to the whitepaper: http://spr.ly/6048jJzMp Great work team! #DrugDelivery #VitalDose #MiniatureImplants #OcularDelivery

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📊 ACC's U.S. Economy and Chemical Industry report for Q1 2024 🏭 After a frankly laborious performance yesterday by the England team, it is time to look at another labour market that seems to be faring a bit better after a a very harsh year in 2023. As we move into mid-year, the U.S. economy is continuing to show resilience on the Chemical front, despite some obvious challenges that have been passed on from last year (higher interest costs, regulatory impact, global trade unknowns, volatile economic climate..etc) So what are some the key points from this report? ✋ Demand Recovery New orders for U.S. chemicals rebounded strongly in Q1, with 57% of manufacturers reporting increased order volumes. Expectations for continued gains in domestic and foreign orders over the next six months are high. 💵 Mixed Production Costs Energy costs have eased, but transportation and raw materials costs rose in Q1. Labor costs also continued to climb. 📒 Rising Regulatory Burden A significant 58% of manufacturers reported an increased regulatory burden in Q1, with 67% expecting further rises. This trend poses a challenge to expanding production and supporting national priorities. The main takeaway from this article (which is for disclaimer about a month old but doesn't seem to have aged too badly) is the cautious optimism taking place in the industry, with an anticipated rebound for the chemical industry. This ties with the expectation of both the U.S. and global economy to improve over the next six months, with strengthened demand and accelerated activity levels. 🎤 “For the first time since we started conducting the survey, companies are signaling optimism about economic conditions,” said Emily Sanchez, Director of Economics & Data Analytics at the ACC. “Addressing cost and regulatory challenges will be key to sustaining this positive trend.” Full article below, and take a chance to look at ACC industry outlook for 2024, which I shall link in the comments Happy Friday!

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