The ChemQuest Group Newsletter
March/April 2024
Having just returned from the annual World Coating Council meeting in Shanghai, I can attest that although remote communication has become the norm, nothing can replace in-person interactions. The ability to fully articulate ideas and concepts without time constraints, to have spontaneous discussions, to meet unexpected new colleagues – these are just a few of the many valuable reasons to attend industry functions.

Several upcoming events in April and May will provide opportunities for us to see each other in person while exploring some of the latest industry technologies. These include the Adhesive and Sealant Council Annual Convention & Expo, the American Coatings Show & Conference, the Thermoset Resin Formulators Association Annual Meeting, and the Canadian Paint and Coatings Association annual conference.

Our teams would be happy to meet with you at any of these conferences to explore opportunities for collaboration and strategies to help you achieve profitable growth. Please reach out to us at info@chemquest.com to schedule a meeting.

Sincerely,
Daniel Murad, CEO, The ChemQuest Group, Inc.
Published Expertise
ChemQuest experts continue to author in-depth feature articles and informative columns to help readers understand key industries, technologies, and strategies. 
Focus on M&A:
Pursuing Profitable Growth Strategies
by Julie Vaughn Biege

It seems logical that all companies would place a high priority on fully evaluating and implementing the ideal profitable growth strategies for their business, but this is not always the case. Why?
Focus on Technology:
The Innovative World of Icephobic Coatings
by Cynthia Gosselin, Ph.D.

The desire to triumph over ice and snow accumulation has been the focus of significant technical work that has been going on since the 1940s in an attempt to make all kinds of surfaces ice and snowphobic.
Focus on Markets:
U.S. Coatings Industry: Looking Behind and Ahead
by Edye Fox Abrams

An industry that has not been known for innovation is now facing the need to change, brought on by consumer demands, regulatory pressures, environmental conditions, and materials innovations.
Event Highlights
The ChemQuest team is excited to attend key industry events, sharing our expertise and networking with industry friends and new colleagues.
Louisville, Ky. | April 15-17

ChemQuest is proud to again be a Platinum Sponsor at the annual ASC Convention & Expo. Attending from our team will be Daniel Murad, president and CEO; James Swope, chief commercial officer; Abe Rezai, senior vice president; Julie Vaughn Biege, director; and Michael Rezai, senior consultant. Reach out to info@chemquest.com to schedule a meeting.
Indianapolis, Ind. | April 29-May 2

Please be sure to stop by booth 2657 to meet the team at the American Coatings Show & Conference. In addition, we are pleased to sponsor the ACA Industry Awards dinner on Monday evening, April 29, as well as our Cocktails, Conversation, and Collaboration reception on April 30, at the Westin Indianapolis, 5-8 p.m., which has become a tradition at ACS. Please RSVP to info@chemquest.com if you plan to attend, as space is limited.
Philadelphia, Pa. | May 6-9

Edye Fox Abrams, our vice president of Business Development and Marketing, will discuss "Paint and Coatings Market Update including Future Trends."
Old Montreal, Canada | May 22-24

Daniel Murad, ChemQuest president and CEO, will provide his insights related to an "Economic Update: CASE Industry in Canada."
We also hope to see you at these upcoming events:
Operational and Manufacturing Excellence
We are partnering with the Adhesive and Sealant Council on a series of webinars to share expertise in manufacturing efficiencies and business strategy. These webinars are open to all and free to attend. Please register and join us!
Process Optimization and Overall Effectiveness
May 10 | 12-1 p.m.
The first webinar in the series will detail operational efficiency, yields, margins, and quality that translate to increased EBITDA. Attendees will gain an understanding of the development and implementation of key performance indicators (KPIs) for maximum profitability (ROI), as well as methods to implement and sustain improvements in manufacturing operations, processes, SKUs, and production.
Optimizing Plant Operations Including Design Considerations for Growth
May 17 | 12-1 p.m.
In this webinar, you'll learn about facility start-ups, plant expansions, increases in operations capacities, alternate capabilities, plant relocations, and asset retirements. We'll explore expansion and growth elements for consideration, such as market demand, capacity assessment, financial feasibility, site location(s), facility design and layout, staff planning, supply chain management, and risk management.
Optimizing Supply Chain to Increase the Bottom Line
June 7 | 12-1 p.m.
This webinar will focus primarily on methods and practices to improve overall supply chain efficiencies impacting performance (i.e., the bottom line) by looking at fully integrated supply chain tools. You'll hear strategies for optimizing in-house vendor management, achieving quality improvement, and improving lead times to customers. In addition, the webinar will detail how to address vendor sourcing, logistics, transportation/freight, and buyer groups.
Safety First! Best Practices in Environmental Health and Safety
June 14 | 12-1 p.m.
Beginning with an explanation of current EPA and OSHA compliance and operation procedures, the final webinar in the series will discuss the evolution of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. You'll gain insight on topics such as hazardous waste, air and water emissions, process safety, personal protective equipment, emergency response, and hazard communications.
New Resources for Strategic Decision Making
Essential for your strategic business planning initiatives, the recently published U.S. Market Analysis for the Paint & Coatings Industry (2023–2028) provides quantitative and qualitative data analysis for more than 20 coatings market segments, with five-year market and growth projections, key market opportunities and growth drivers, and a lot more.

Details and purchasing options are available at www.paint.org/usma.
Coming Soon! Market-specific Coatings TraQr® Reports, focusing initially on the Industrial Maintenance & Protective sector. Available through annual subscription or one-time purchase, the TraQr® Reports provide a monthly snapshot of industry trends and drivers, as well as detailed analysis and commentary from our team of experts to help you identify trends, evaluate challenging environments, and make strategic decisions. We look forward to expanding this report series to include the Adhesives industry in the near future.
Adhesive Bonding Education
Looking to expand your adhesives expertise or train your team? Need Fraunhofer EAS or EAB accreditation? ChemQuest is the exclusive partner of Fraunhofer IFAM in North America, and registration is open for two upcoming classes.
Fraunhofer IFAM European Adhesive Specialist (EAS)
Beginning April 22, the EAS course blends three weeks of remote learning and one week of in-person sessions at our ChemQuest Technology Institute facility in South Boston, Va. Course graduates will be able to take on supervisory functions, prepare work instructions, and make contributions to quality assurance aspects of bonding technology.

Course Schedule:
  • Week 1 (online): April 22-26
  • Week 2 (online): May 13-17
  • Week 3 (online): June 3-7
  • Week 4 (in person): June 17-21
Fraunhofer IFAM European Adhesive Bonder (EAB)
The week-long EAB course gives participants a fundamental understanding of adhesive bonding. This knowledge of the technical aspects and importance of their particular work procedures will enable them to carry out bonding work independently and professionally.

ChemQuest Technology Institute, South Boston, Va.
August 12-16, 2024
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