Library: Resources & Media
Press Releases
ChemQuest Growth Trajectory Continues with Three New Directors
The ChemQuest Group is pleased to announce that three new directors have joined the firm to support ongoing growth: Geoffrey Webster, Ph.D.; Philip Williams; and Paul Bryant. Webster is an accomplished R&D leader who has driven technological innovation, product development, and commercialization initiatives. Located in West Yorkshire, UK, Williams has honed deep expertise in general management and operational excellence. Bryant has been actively involved in the coatings industry for nearly 60 years, working in sales and leadership roles with leading global companies.
ChemQuest Expands Business Development Team with New VP
The ChemQuest Group is pleased to announce that Ramki Subramanian, Ph.D., has joined its business development team as a vice president. Subramanian is a dynamic global leader who has spent 30 years developing expertise in technology development/commercialization and business development in the specialty chemicals, advanced materials, and energy sectors. He has considerable experience in championing “concept to commercialization” for new technologies and building new businesses by developing novel technologies, particularly in emerging markets.
Two New Directors Add Expertise to ChemQuest Team
The ChemQuest Group is pleased to announce the appointment of two new directors: John Giudici and William (Bill) Worms. An operations transformation leader, John has built considerable expertise in strategic planning and execution, manufacturing operations, performance and process improvements, product and quality management, and productivity optimization. Bill is a seasoned business executive with expertise leading public and private companies, associations, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) organizations.
Market Reports
U.S. Market Analysis for the Paint & Coatings Industry (2023 – 2028)
Global Market Analysis for the Paint & Coatings Industry (2024 – 2029)
Articles
Salt Spray Testing: Dinosaur or Foundational Benchmark?
First published in 1939, one of the oldest specifications in the Committee D01 arsenal is ASTM B117 Standard Practice for Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus. It is still in active use today in a variety of markets to evaluate the comparative durability and performance of substrates in corrosive environments. This is despite some experts suggesting that the test is outdated and convenient rather than scientifically rigorous.
Powder Coating Nonconductive Substrates
Powder coating is traditionally applied electrostatically to a conductive (typically metal) substrate. The charged particles are attracted to the grounded object and uniformly deposited on the surface. However, as low-temperature-cure powder coatings become more available, the possibility of using them for coating a wide variety of heat-sensitive and nonconductive substrates is more of a reality than ever before.
Navigating the Maze, Part 4: The Final Filter – Using Quantitative Scoring to Prioritize Market Opportunities
You’ve assembled your interdisciplinary team, assessed market attractiveness and commercial feasibility, and validated technical and manufacturing readiness. Now comes the final step: prioritizing opportunities. When your list of promising projects exceeds your capacity to pursue them all, a structured scoring system ensures objective, data-driven decision making.
When the Rubber Hits the Road – A Systems Approach to Coating Diamond-Cut Automotive Wheels
Diamond-cut wheels are a staple of high-end automobiles due to their aesthetic appeal and performance. The standout aesthetic feature of these wheels is the sharp contrast between the brightly machined aluminum surface and the colored background provided by the basecoat. The coating systems applied to these wheels are critical to their durability, as they must protect the substrate against harsh environments and corrosive materials.
2025 Raw Materials & Chemicals Overview
Global raw material input costs are by far the most expensive components in the cost of goods sold for adhesive and sealant formulators, equaling about 50% of revenue as an industry average (a higher percentage than coatings formulators face). Globally, raw material prices are facing greater uncertainty after seeing a period of relative stability following supply chain constraints, shortages, and inflation pressures in 2021 and 2022.
ChemQuest Q&A: Julie Vaughn Biege
Julie Vaughn Biege joined ChemQuest in 2022, quickly contributing her expertise in support of a number of clients. Today, she continues to play a key role in many projects while also working as part of our business development team. I had the opportunity to chat with Julie recently to learn more about her background, what types of projects she finds most engaging, and some key trends she’s keeping her eye on.
Newsletters
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – January/February 2024
New Year’s resolutions are notoriously difficult to achieve. As 2024 gets fully underway, be assured that we at ChemQuest are always resolved – 24/7/365 – to support you and your business. Our team is uniquely equipped to not only help you identify achievable goals...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – November/December 2023
As the holiday season approaches and we begin to consider year-end results, the specialty chemicals sector can look back on 2023 as a stabilizing time. The major disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and various supply chain crises are finally in the past, and...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – September/October 2023
We have heard from many companies in the specialty chemicals sector over the past several months that they are experiencing challenges with their technology development efforts. These issues often arise from an urgent material substitution need, difficulty...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – Summer 2023
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...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – Spring 2023
A common question we hear when meeting new industry partners is, “What exactly does ChemQuest do?” The answer is actually quite simple: We help our clients make decisions that enable profitable growth. The ChemQuest commitment to the global specialty chemical...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – Q4 2022
Collectively, our world faced myriad uncertainties in 2022: historic inflation, continued ramifications from COVID-19, supply chain challenges, lack of access to raw materials, labor shortages, energy concerns, and the war in Ukraine. Consumer demands for sustainable...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – Q3 2022
While the industry has seen significant hurdles in the first three quarters of 2022, there have also been significant developments this year for increasing innovation and resilience, acquisitions and divestments, and operational excellence. ChemQuest has seen...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – Q2 2022
This year has presented the chemicals and materials industry with many challenges: supply chain volatility, surging fuel and feedstock costs, shifting regulations, and the unpredictability of global health, conflict, and economic impacts. At ChemQuest, we are focused...
The ChemQuest Group Newsletter – Q1 2022
With reflection back to the beginning of 2022, we can comment that the year is off to a busy start. Attending conferences and trade shows, visiting with clients, international and domestic business travel ... in some ways it feels like we never skipped a beat. Read...
Videos
Podcast
Webinars