Rheology Modifiers: Roundtable Q&A
CoatingsTech asked several industry experts about various aspects of rheology modifiers, including market needs and trends, remaining challenges, and new products.
Special Report: The State of the U.S. Coatings Industry 2021
Much has happened since last year, when I last addressed the State of the U.S. Paint and Coatings Industry in the August 2020 issue of CoatingsTech. At that time, I indicated that no one other than the most committed optimist would predict anything better for 2020 than a global economy suffering from a minimum of a 4-7% decrease in the...
From Windup to Pitch: Examining the Startup Ecosystem
Editors' note: In the October 2020 issue of CoatingsTech, Dr. Scarborough's Inside Innovation column, “Scoring the Pitch,” focused on how to score a startup pitch competition. The article generated significant reader interest. Here, she provides a fuller picture of the startup ecosystem that can be leveraged to drive corporate innovation. It begins with defining the needs of the business and...
Virtual Voice of the Customer: How to Understand B2B Customer Needs Without the Plane Ride
Top-performing suppliers of coatings and their ingredients understand the value of B2B-optimized customer interviews. Nothing improves new-product innovation more than working on the right customer problems. But what do you do when a pandemic limits travel? You innovate, using virtual voice-of-customer (VOC) meetings so effective they’ll become a fixture in front-end innovation long after the pandemic.
Look Inside the November-December Issue of CoatingsTech
The November-December issue of CoatingsTech is out, featuring the 2021 Buyers Guide with up-to-date listings for suppliers, products, and distributors. In addition to this invaluable resource, the current issue offers insight from industry experts who share their thoughts on what's next for the paint and coatings industry in the new year.
Analytical Series: Particle Size Distribution, Measurement, and Assessment: Principles, Features, Limitations, and Benefits
The field of particle size distribution (PSD) characterization and measurement has experienced a renaissance over the past 40 years. These changes have been driven by advances in electronics, computer technology, and sensor technology in conjunction with the market pull for PSD methods embodied in cost-effective, user-friendly instrumentation. These changes can be characterized by at least four activities: (1) End user...
Specialty Chemicals Fundamental to Coatings Innovation
Specialty chemicals impact the performance of products they are used to manufacture, either during processing or when in use. Whether single compounds or mixtures of chemicals, specialty chemicals exhibit unique functionality that can benefit many different types of end uses, such as biocides, or are designed for use in a particular market segment, such as paints and coatings. In 2018,...
Advances in Paint and Coating Manufacturing Equipment
Core paint and coatings manufacturing processes have remained largely unchanged since the dawn of the industry. Ingredients are mixed into a liquid (organic solvent or water), a process that is often followed by milling to achieve the correct particle size for products comprising dispersions. Despite this, the paint and coatings industry is very dynamic. Business trends, market demands, governmental regulations,...
The Confluence of a Stable U.S. Economy with a Deadly Pandemic: The Potential for a 90% Economy
The 124-month recovery from the Great Recession officially peaked late in Q4 2019. Two short months later, in February of this year, the United States was plunged into a new recession as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant mitigation tactics. Suddenly, everything changed—and not just with respect to the health of the populace. Economic, social, and...
J.D. Power Study Reveals High Net Promoter Scores for Paint and Stain Products
The Net Promoter Score (NPS®), introduced in 2003 by Bain & Company Partner Fred Reichheld, is widely used today as an important benchmark in evaluating company performance with respect to achieving a positive customer experience and as a measure of customer loyalty. It measures consumer satisfaction based on willingness to recommend a company or its products/services.
