Michelman Awarded $2.5 Million Grant for New Research & Development Center
CINCINNATI, OH - Michelman has been awarded a $2.5 million Ohio Third Frontier Industrial Research and Development Center Grant for its new R&D center, that will be named the Michelman Advanced Materials Collaboration Center. It will be built at the site of the company's headquarters located in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and is currently scheduled for completion by the spring of 2013.
The grant will help create new jobs at the facility and will be used to enhance Michelman's ability to develop and commercialize innovative new technologies including water based coatings for paper and flexible packaging, and water based surface modifiers, additives and polymers for industries including fiberglass and composite materials, wood and floor care, industrial coatings, inks, and construction products.
According to Dr. Rick Michelman, VP/Chief Technology Officer at Michelman, "The Ohio Third Frontier's stated strategic intent is to 'create an innovation ecosystem that supports the efficient and seamless transition of great ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.' Our customers across all industry segments have come to expect 'great ideas' from Michelman. The addition of this new R&D center, as well as the collaborative approach we take within our R&D department will position us to develop effective solutions that will help our customers win well into the future."
Dr. Michelman went on to add, "The word 'Collaboration' is in the name of the center for a very important reason. It will be physically and conceptually designed so we can collaborate even more closely than we do now, with customers and suppliers, related industry R&D organizations and companies, as well as local colleges, to develop and commercialize technologies across all of our core product lines. Our customers are demanding rapid development of innovative, sustainably sourced, environmentally friendly coating and additive solutions. We believe that by taking an 'open exchange of ideas' approach within our R&D department, our customers and the environment will be the ultimate beneficiaries."
The project will also result in significant job opportunities in the Cincinnati, Ohio area - not just to expand Michelman's current workforce by 20%, but also by opening up construction and other related jobs to build the new facility.
About Michelman
Michelman is a global developer of water-based barrier and functional coatings for flexible film packaging, paperboard, and corrugated cartons; and water-based surface modifiers, additives and polymers for numerous industries including wood and floor care, industrial coatings, inks, fibers, composites, and construction products. Michelman serves its multinational and regional customers with production facilities in the U.S., Europe and Singapore, and a worldwide network of highly trained field technical support personnel.
About Third Frontier
Created in 2002, the Ohio Third Frontier is an unprecedented commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs. In May 2010, the Ohio Third Frontier was extended through 2015 indicating a widely held understanding by the populace that technology and innovation will lead to economic prosperity both today and for future generations.
The $2.3 billion initiative provides funding for open innovation, entrepreneurial support, value chain development, and expansion of a skilled talent pool that can support technology-based economic growth. The program is designed to attract and build-out nationally designated and highly visible corporate, nonprofit or federal research and development centers or laboratory facilities in Ohio.
Michelman Global Headquarters
9080 Shell Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236
1-800-333-1723 (US & Canada); (513) 793-7766 (Worldwide)
(513) 793-2504 (Fax)
www.michelman.com
Contacts: Client:
Christy Randolph
Marketing Associate
Michelman
(513) 794-4225
ChristyRandolph@Michelman.com
Agency:
Jeffry Caudill
President
Gingerquill, Inc.
(513) 448-1140
jcaudill@Gingerquill.com
