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Press Releases
Global Chemical Consulting Leader ChemQuest Joins Hands with PCI&KM to Reshape a New Model of Industrial Services
PCI&KM, a leading industrial ecosystem platform for China’s coatings, inks and adhesives (CIA) sector, today announced an exclusive strategic cooperation with ChemQuest Group, Inc., a global consulting leader in specialty chemicals and materials. The partnership bridges a global think tank and local industrial ecosystem, aiming to reshape high-value industrial services for enterprises across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and unlock a new chapter of strategic empowerment.
UK-Based Johnson Joins ChemQuest as a Director
The ChemQuest Group is pleased to announce the appointment of its latest new director, Edward Johnson. Johnson is a pragmatic strategist with decades of experience leading strategy and acquisition projects for global corporations. Over the course of his career, he built expertise in the development and implementation of corporate and business unit strategies, leadership of acquisition activities (including target identification, evaluation, approach, and execution), support of multinational clients on market entry and growth strategy, and assessment of market attractiveness and competitive positioning.
ChemQuest Celebrates 50 Years of Actionable Insights
The ChemQuest Group is pleased and grateful to announce its 50th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1976, ChemQuest has assisted hundreds of clients in thousands of projects and special assignments to identify and implement strategies that enable long-term profitable growth. At its beginning, the company served principally as a provider of market research studies. Today, ChemQuest holds the unique position of trusted partner to clients all along the specialty chemicals and formulated products value chain.
Market Reports
U.S. Market Analysis for the Paint & Coatings Industry (2023 – 2028)
Global Market Analysis for the Paint & Coatings Industry (2024 – 2029)
Articles
From Hormuz to the Factory Floor: Coatings Supply Chains Under Strain
Tightness in Middle Eastern and Asian supply is cascading globally due to the conflict in Iran, constraining acrylic, polyester, alkyd, and epoxy intermediates. With 40-60% of coatings formulations petroleum derived, the sector is disproportionately exposed, facing longer lead times, reduced supply certainty, and higher working capital requirements as manufacturers secure critical inputs.
Creating Special Effects in Powder Coatings: From Formulation to Sublimation
Powder coatings are not limited to smooth, monotone surfaces. A wide variety of appearances can be achieved either by raw material selection, post-manufacturing additions, embossing patterns, or embedding inks post-cure. With the right chemistry and processes, these functional and eco-friendly coatings can produce exciting and expressive surfaces without sacrificing the high performance that powder is known for.
Chitosan: A Next-Generation Functional Material for Paint and Coatings Innovation
Chitosan represents a next-generation opportunity material for coatings innovators, delivering sustainability claims alongside functional coatings benefits such as antimicrobial performance, barrier ability, chelation-driven corrosion mitigation, and environmental compatibility. Supplier availability and patent activity continue to expand. Multiple granted patents and industry investment demonstrate movement toward chitosan-enabled coatings addressing antimicrobial, anticorrosion, and structural innovation.
A “Solids” Advantage: Versatile Coatings are Suitable for Various Applications
Coatings companies have devoted extensive resources to developing a portfolio of epoxies, polyureas, urethanes, and other hybrid formulations to satisfy the need for environmentally friendly solutions. These coatings are formulated without any solvents or water, thus containing no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As a result, 100% solids coatings continue to provide superior protection while addressing the performance and regulatory requirements of the more traditional coating formulations. As might be expected, this coating technology change is also accompanied by a change in the equipment required to process these materials.
Industry Q&A: Sustainability
Sustainability in coatings is no longer defined by a single metric—it is shaped by formulation choices, performance expectations, and lifecycle responsibility. In this Q&A for CoatingsTech, Wayne Daniell, Ph.D., shares his perspective on how formulation innovation is driving meaningful progress across the value chain. He also explores the evolving balance between sustainability and performance, and the challenges of translating innovation from the lab to commercial reality.
Managing Complexity: Strategies for Achieving Clarity in Complex Operations
It is a complex undertaking to produce raw materials, specialty chemicals, and formulated products. Even with a strong team working together with the best intentions, this complexity often results in avoidable challenges and even setbacks. Over the course of my career, I’ve seen many companies struggle with complexity-related issues involving a lack of clear direction or inefficient operations — all of which steal from your company’s bottom line and stifle long-term growth.
Newsletters
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – March/April 2026
It is a complex undertaking to produce raw materials, specialty chemicals, and formulated products. Even with a strong team working together with the best intentions, this complexity often results in avoidable challenges and even setbacks. Over the course of my...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – January/February 2026
This year marks a remarkable milestone for ChemQuest – our 50th anniversary. It’s also special to me as I enter my 30th year with the company. Looking back today, I am filled with gratitude and pride in our history of growth and success. What started as a small...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – November/December 2025
What a year! As 2025 begins to draw to a close, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank our clients around the globe who have trusted ChemQuest to help them navigate these uncertain and (at times) turbulent economic, geopolitical, and industrial dynamics. Your...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – September/October 2025
As we all know, personnel roles within specialty chemicals and advanced materials require specialized know-how and skills. This can make it incredibly difficult to find knowledgeable and experienced people to fill key positions. Compounding the problem is the fact...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – July/August 2025
High inflation and negative economic growth are certainly problematic on a macro level. However, the level of impact that those forces has on your company depends to a large degree on not only your organization’s overall fiscal health but its flexibility. Can you...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – May/June 2025
When faced with uncertainty, 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...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – March/April 2025
As widespread U.S. import tariffs become a reality and various international tensions escalate (e.g., Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan), understanding global dynamics is more important than ever when developing effective business strategy. After all, it is...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – January/February 2025
“I didn’t know ChemQuest could do that.” This is a comment I’ve heard from new contacts and existing industry partners alike. They may know us for one or two areas of expertise but are unaware that we routinely support a range of initiatives, often within the same...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – November/December 2024
The higher costs associated with anticipated higher import tariffs are certainly challenging. The question is: What is the best course of action for your business? Numerous supply chain strategies should be at the top of your list for consideration. Could your company...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – September/October 2024
Foreign investment in the U.S. is being increasingly discussed throughout our network. These are complicated undertakings for our clients, requiring deep expertise not only in manufacturing processes but in the specific needs of specialty chemicals and advanced...
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