The State of R&D in Our Industry, 2018 Advanced Coating Symposium

Our industry’s R&D strength has been significantly reduced over the last 30 years. There are several factors that lead to what I might estimate to be about a 90% slash in the level of technical resources available to the industry as compared to where we were at in the late 1980s. Cost cutting, consolidations, false expectations and a change in how R&D is valued by the industry all contributed. The consequences are a reduction in what might be called tribal knowledge, reduction in bench strength (since many of us cut our teeth in R&D), depletion in basic science and engineering capabilities, and lack of ability to quickly develop new technology and new products. Where can we go to on the basic science, physics, chemistry and engineering of paper and paperboard making, coating and finishing, and converting? These issues will be discussed during this presentation. 

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