FAIRLAWN, Ohio, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- - OMNOVA Solutions today announced its 2008 Technology Award recipients. This annual award program recognizes exemplary technology-based contributions by associates in OMNOVA's research and development, sales and marketing, technical service, operations and product management organizations.
Technological innovations in new product development and process improvements are positively impacting customers in virtually all of OMNOVA's served markets, including commercial wallcoverings, carpet, residential furniture, infrastructure and construction, oil and gas drilling and vinyl performance films, as well as paper and specialty chemicals.
Recipients hail from across OMNOVA's global operations, including its Performance Chemicals business segment facilities in Akron, Ohio; Mogadore, Ohio; Chester, South Carolina; Green Bay, Wisconsin and Calhoun, Georgia; and Decorative Products business segment facilities in Akron, Ohio; Columbus, Mississippi; and Shanghai, China.
"In today's operating environment, it is especially important for OMNOVA to enhance the value we deliver to our customers through innovation, which further differentiates our Company as a value-added supplier," said Kevin McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This year's recipients have successfully built on OMNOVA's core competencies in our existing served markets and opened doors to new, adjacent markets. Several of these award winning technologies provide additional value as environmentally sustainable products or processes. These breakthroughs represent another example of OMNOVA's unyielding commitment to our customers and markets, and to making investments that further expand our capabilities to meet our customers' needs."
Innovation titles, summaries and recipients are as follows: Second Generation PET (Polyester) Roofing Binder James Robbins - Akron, OH John Westerman - Akron, OH Paul Volchko - Chester, SC Debbie Arant - Chester, SC
This team customized a latex roofing binder to meet the needs of PET roofing mat customers. GenCryl 2500 latex provides superior dimensional stability in commercial roofing applications. Commercialization of this new product highlights OMNOVA's commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.
Bimodal Styrene Butadiene (SB) Latex for Commercial Carpet Applications John Westerman - Akron, OH Pam Kendall - Akron, OH Joy Untch - Mogadore, OH Chris Wilkey - Calhoun, GA Mike Chastain - Calhoun, GA
In manufacturing, carpet chemical customers often need a higher solids latex emulsion to bring extra value to their compounds, including performance features like quick drying properties, which reduce the amount of energy needed in their production processes. Utilizing patented OMNOVA technology, this team developed GenFlo 7165 to address these critical market demands. Additionally, this product offers lower viscosity - another feature valued by carpet producers.
Improved Wet Strength Carpet Binding System Chris Wilkey - Calhoun, GA Mike Chastain - Calhoun, GA Jim Mealor - Calhoun, GA Mark Messerly - Akron, OH
In carpet backings, the styrene butadiene latex emulsion is the binder that holds everything together. This team successfully developed GenCal 7555 latex, which features significantly improved wet strength for the residential and commercial markets. This new latex emulsion also exhibits a unique ability to disperse calcium carbonate filler quicker and with less effort, which increases the dry and wet tensile strengths of the carpet, including tuft binds - a critical end use feature valued by carpet chemical customers.
Styrene Butadiene (SB) Latexes for Oil and Gas Drilling Tim Saddow - Chester, SC John Westerman - Akron, OH Norm Porter - Akron, OH
This cross-functional team transitioned OMNOVA's core strength in styrene butadiene (SB) latex technology to improve the performance of oilfield and gas drilling cements and muds. The GenCeal 8100 series of SB latexes was developed by incorporating patented innovations into the Company's emulsion polymer process, which enable these products to meet the needs of this demanding application.
Water Purification and Usage Reductions (Green Bay, WI) Mark Pomush - Green Bay, WI Greg Cady - Green Bay, WI Laurie Lemerond - Green Bay, WI Leslie Van Dreel - Green Bay, WI Victor Menting - Green Bay, WI
Because high-purity water is critical for obtaining the desired physical properties and consistent, high quality of OMNOVA's products, this team at the Company's Green Bay, Wisconsin Performance Chemicals facility led an effort to enhance the plant's water processing capability with a new reverse osmosis water purification system. This new system reduced the plant's total water usage by approximately 34% and allows process water to be recycled back into production.
PVC/Textile Separation and Recycling (Columbus, MS) Tony Warrington - Columbus, MS David Johnson - Columbus, MS Larry Lagrone - Columbus, MS Anthony Nix - Columbus, MS
This multifunctional team at OMNOVA's Columbus, Mississippi Decorative Products facility identified a method for expanding its ability to reuse process scrap in its manufacturing process. This breakthrough has not only allowed OMNOVA to reduce its production costs, but from a sustainability perspective, has significantly reduced its landfill requirements.
ECORE(TM) Advanced Wall Technology Ronnie Bell - Columbus, MS Rob Moore - Columbus, MS Otis Allen - Columbus, MS Reba Ingram - Columbus, MS Barry Goldslager - Akron, OH
This cross-functional team developed OMNOVA's revolutionary ECORE(TM) Advanced Wall Technology, which features a unique textile construction and printing technology. ECORE products deliver all the performance characteristics of traditional Type II vinyl wallcoverings, as well as the exceptional style and design OMNOVA customers have come to know, in a non-PVC platform. These wallcoverings are 100% recyclable through OMNOVA's reclamation program established for building managers and contractors following redesign projects.
Polyurethane Bonded Leather Process and Products John Zhao - Shanghai, China Sunny Ho - Shanghai, China Rocky Song - Shanghai, China Lisa Li - Shanghai, China Zilu Gu - Shanghai, China
The OMNOVA Decorative Products China team developed a new residential upholstery, which features an enhanced genuine leather look and feel. The cost-effective construction meets the stringent performance requirements established by the customer. This new polyurethane upholstery is currently being utilized in a number of residential and commercial furniture applications.
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. is a technology-based company with 2008 sales of $869 million and a current workforce of 2,415 employees worldwide. 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 http://www.omnova.com/.
OMNOVA Solutions
CONTACT: Sandi Noah, Communications of OMNOVA Solutions,
+1-330-869-4292
Web Site: http://www.omnova.com/
