Coatings World - March 2014

CEO Forum

coating, repels the sludge and slime that sticks to ships’ hulls thereby reducing drag and fuel consumption.

Shaver: Our R&D is always looking for ways to create new formulations: products that dry faster, have reduced environmental impact, such as low VOC and waterborne coatings, and that improve the productivity of our customer. We do this by focusing in two directions. New product development is, of course, vital and we’re stepping that up. Last year we finished installation of a new pilot reactor at our global R&D center that will reduce development time and help us get new formulations to the market more quickly. In our powder business, for example, we’re excited about the new Nap-Gard 7-2555 product rolled out last year that meets new high temperature tolerances for oil and gas well pipes that allow for deeper - instead of more - wells. Assessment is the other big R&D function. We’re continually evaluating existing brands, always learning from customer feedback that comes into our seven R&D locations around the globe.

CW: What are your company’s long-term
plans?

Büchner: In February 2013 we unfolded a clear longer term vision: to deliver leading performance from our many leading market positions. And we are talking performance in all aspects, for example in terms of customer delivery, factory efficiency, logistics excellence, supplier cooperation, innovation and financial performance. We have put the strategy in place to achieve this and our employees have put their shoulders underneath it. We have integrated our business strategy and our sustainability strategy in one, with clear targets set here as well. With our belief that “business is sustainability, sustainability is business” we drive the conviction that we all need to create more value from fewer resources throughout the organization.

Shaver: We’ll continue to stay focused on industrial coatings. What’s interesting is that in some sense our business has long been ahead of the sustainability curve. We’re all about providing products that preserve and protect – and do that beautifully – our customers’ products. Whether it’s a new car or one in the body shop, a new building, a piece of rebar, an electric motor or a deep oil and gas well pipe, our coatings make those products last longer and work more productively. Plus, our products themselves, the more low-VOC and water-based liquid coatings as well as all of our powder products, offer a reduced environmental footprint. With this kind of customer benefit, as we say in our advertising, we truly believe we are Built for Performance. CW