Please share some background on yourself and your company

I have worked in the plastics industry for almost 40 years in manufacturing, technical, and sales roles. Most of my career has been in business development for color and additives, initially in Europe and in the U.S. since 2003.

BYK is a $3 billion specialty chemical company with diverse end uses. Forty percent of our business is in paints and coatings, where BYK has a global reputation as a quality supplier of functional additives, such as wetting and dispersion agents and rheology modifiers.

30% of our business is in plastics applications, where BYK has grown rapidly over the past few years. Our unique product portfolio consists of a diverse range of functional additives for coupling and compatibilization, wetting and dispersion, as well as clay-based additives for barrier reinforcement and as FR synergists. We have recently added two new PFAS-free PPAs. Many of our products are also available as traditional masterbatches or cost-effective compacts.

What do you think sets BYK apart from its competitors?

BYK differentiates itself from competitors in many ways. Eight percent of our annual sales is invested in R&D and the development of new products—three times more than the standard investment in the industry. More than 20% of all BYK employees work in R&D and technical service. As a leading global specialty chemical company, our technology specialists support our customers in application-specific labs to create tailor-made solutions. Additionally, BYK is committed to eliminating PFAS-containing additives from our portfolio and will end production of these products in 2025. As a leading innovator, we can help our customers phase out products containing PFAS by offering our pioneering alternatives now. The development of new products from sustainable resources is a top priority for BYK, and the ALTANA group aims to be climate neutral worldwide by 2025.

What do you see as the principal challenges facing the industry at the moment?

The industry is facing a crisis of trust among consumers, fueled by NGOs promoting negative narratives related to plastic waste and disposal. The demand for more sustainable solutions, coupled with the slow response from the industry at large, has resulted in a poor understanding among the general public of the irreplaceable role of plastics in our modern world.

The infrastructure for recycling is struggling to catch up with consumer-driven and OEM demand for the use of recycled content. A lack of public education and awareness of the vital role of plastics leads to distrust and continued legislation. Misguided changes to alternative materials are resulting in unintended negative consequences for the environment.

What are you most looking forward to from the expo?

We’re looking forward to repeating the success of past years’ shows. AMI Compounding World is a great way to introduce new products and solutions to the industry while meeting new and existing customers.

Tom Inch will be speaking on Day 1 at the Compounding World Expo Theater.

Conference Producer

Medwyn Roberts manages AMI's compounding portfolio of events. Over the past 2 years he has put together a variety of programs across three continents, including our various expos - Compounding World Expo Brussels 2024, Compounding World Expo North America 2023, and Injection Molding & Design Expo 2023. Medwyn has worked in a variety of industries and is interested in bringing together speakers from different disciplines to share best practice.