President Biden recently issued presidential determinations providing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with the authority to utilize the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate domestic production of five key energy technologies.

AkzoNobel recently announced that it will further strengthen its African footprint after reaching an agreement with Kansai Paint to acquire its paints and coatings activities in the region. 

American Ultraviolet has introduced a new mini UV LED conveyor system that is reportedly ideal for curing inks, coatings, and adhesives, including heat-sensitive films. 

Mactac^®, a LINTEC company, recently announced a new look and company name for Spinnaker Coating, LLC, which was acquired by Mactac in early 2022. 

Univar Solutions Inc. recently announced it has been appointed distributor of Cabot Corp.’s specialty carbon black products for the plastics and batteries markets in Brazil. 

With the host of diverse biomaterials produced by an estimated 6.5 million species on land and 2.2 million species in the oceans, the biomimicry toolkit that man has to play with is, for all practical purposes, limitless. The superior designs discovered in nature have inspired many research programs from around the world, both at the university and commercial levels. The gecko, sandcastle worm, caddisfly, mussel, and sea cucumber are all species that have inspired new chemical approaches to creating adhesives with unique performance features.

Extreme Coatings recently announced the launch of a new internal diameter, high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) coating system for oil and gas and industrial components. 

Ellsworth Corp. recently announced that it has acquired Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based TapeCase Ltd. 

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) recently announced that it has welcomed 16 new members to its ranks since the start of the year. 

As we’ve all seen, the events of the past two years have posed significant potential roadblocks to research and development efforts. How are companies evaluating the multiple issues involved, exploring potential solutions, and pivoting to ensure their companies remain focused on innovation in these challenging times?