OMNOVA Solutions Recognizes Employee Innovations with 2010 Technology Awards
FAIRLAWN, Ohio, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: OMN) – OMNOVA Solutions today announced its 2010 Technology Award recipients. This annual award program recognizes exemplary technological contributions by associates in OMNOVA's research and development, sales and marketing, technical service, operations, product management, LEAN SixSigma and strategic sourcing organizations.
These technological innovations in new product development and process improvements are positively impacting customers in virtually all of OMNOVA's served markets including performance chemicals for paper, carpet and coatings applications, as well as recycled films used for commercial and industrial end uses, laminates for the healthcare market and specialty commercial wallcoverings.
Recipients hail from across OMNOVA's global operations, including its Performance Chemicals business segment facilities in Akron, Ohio; Mogadore, Ohio; Calhoun, Georgia; and Green Bay, Wisconsin, as well as the Company's newly acquired chemical facilities in Villejust and Le Havre, France. OMNOVA's Decorative Products business segment is also well represented with Technology Award winners from its plants in Jeannette and Auburn, Pennsylvania; and Columbus, Mississippi.
"As a more global company, these innovations enable us to distinguish ourselves in the markets in which we serve," said Kevin McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are better positioned to realize opportunities in new and adjacent markets through the enhancement of our existing competencies, as well as developing new, sustainable offerings for the future. These innovation teams have clearly focused on delivering value to our customers and enhancing our operations."
Innovation titles, summaries and recipients are as follows:
GenCryl Pt® 7845 Paper Coating Latex
Mike Flickinger – Akron, Ohio
Scott Sabourin – Technical Sales/Field
John Westerman – Akron, Ohio
Dave Williams – Akron, Ohio
This innovation team developed an enhanced precoat binding system for the paper market that meets stringent mill operation requirements. The new emulsion polymer draws from OMNOVA's robust cross-market portfolio of paper and specialty chemicals. The new product provides improved binding strength while retaining key performance attributes of earlier technologies.
Hydro Pliolite® 010 Emulsified Binding System
Maurille Secher – Villejust, France
Emmanuel Bousseau – Villejust, France
Cedric Airaud – Villejust, France
Jean-Marie Schmuck – Villejust, France
Sylvain Bourguinon – Le Havre, France
Stanislas Amyot D'Inville – Le Havre, France
This team developed OMNOVA's Hydro Pliolite 010 resin for water-based masonry paint sold into the European market. This novel chemistry achieves the adhesion qualities specified by paint producers, while also meeting stringent European environmental guidelines. In addition to formulation work, the team successfully opened a new production unit in Le Havre, France which provides advanced processing capabilities for Hydro Pliolite products. This innovation extends the Company's strong reputation in the architectural coatings market.
Non-PVC Films for Healthcare Applications
Mike Easterling – Auburn, Pennsylvania
Jim Chapman – Field Sales
This team successfully converted a customer's portfolio of vinyl laminates to a non-PVC construction to support the needs of the healthcare market. Working with OMNOVA's Auburn, Pennsylvania team, the pair simultaneously co-developed the non-PVC construction while also implementing a PVC-free ink system for the laminate printing process. This is exemplary of OMNOVA's expanding portfolio and capabilities to serve the needs of the growing global healthcare market.
High Solids/High Strength Low-Ammonia Carpet Latex
Mitch Shipman – Mogadore, Ohio
Chris Wilkey – Calhoun, Georgia
Michael Chastain – Calhoun, Georgia
Danny Parker – Calhoun, Georgia
Brian Gnagey – Calhoun, Georgia
This cross-functional team developed OMNOVA's environmentally preferred NovaGreen™ 7510 latex for carpet backing, which can be used in customer binding systems to reduce energy usage during production. The product's high wet strength enables the finished carpet to withstand significant regular cleanings in commercial and residential environments.
PVC Recycling Process (Jeannette, Pennsylvania)
Dave Pippert – Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Dave Gabriel – Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Doug Phillips – Jeannette, Pennsylvania
This team designed processes and installed equipment that enables OMNOVA's Jeannette, Pennsylvania Decorative Products facility to recycle unused PVC back into production. These actions decrease the amount of scrap sent to landfills, reduce the need for virgin raw materials and eliminate the need for outsourcing the granulation and blending processes.
Saturated Cardboard Barriers
Mark Siebers – Field Sales
Carla McBain – Akron, Ohio
Ron Waite – Akron, Ohio
Ellis Bloodworth – Akron, Ohio
Tim Urbach – Akron, Ohio
Working closely with a customer, this team developed an emulsion polymer for cold storage produce boxes. The full capabilities of OMNOVA's Pilot Paper Coater were utilized to trial a variety of formulations and to mimic the customer's coating processes. The final product meets all customer specifications and does not inhibit recycling at the end of the box's useful life.
Reduced Odor/High Strength Latex for Specialty Papers
John Westerman – Akron, Ohio
Brian Scott – Akron, Ohio
Rick Ellenberg – Technical Sales/Field
Joy Untch – Mogadore, Ohio
Pam Arndorfer – Green Bay, Wisconsin
Mark Pomush – Green Bay, Wisconsin
Vlad Hrosinkov – Fairlawn, Ohio
This team developed a latex paper coating that required reduced odor and high strength properties for use in a non-traditional printing process. This cross-functional team worked quickly to deliver a solution that not only meets specifications, but provides additional benefits to the customer's manufacturing processes.
Specialty Wallcovering Base Technology and Processes
Ronnie Bell – Columbus, Mississippi
Rob Moore – Columbus, Mississippi
Steve Bergeron – Strategic Accounts/Field
Kenneth Sisson – Columbus, Mississippi
Tony Warrington – Columbus, Mississippi
Doug Brown – Columbus, Mississippi
Scott Adams – Columbus, Mississippi
David Cox – Columbus, Mississippi
Jimmy Parker – Columbus, Mississippi
This team further enhanced OMNOVA's leadership position and core competencies by developing a unique specialty construction for the commercial wallcovering market. The product meets strict color, surface tension, defect and packaging requirements. Work on this innovation included rigorous product development and testing, as well as the implementation of new systems.
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. is a technology-based company with pro forma sales for the twelve months ending May 31, 2011 of $1.2 billion and a global workforce of approximately 2,800. OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and decorative and functional surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses. Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at www.omnova.com.
GENCRYL PT is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions.
NOVAGREEN is a trademark of OMNOVA Solutions.
SOURCE OMNOVA Solutions Inc.
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