CHEMEON Surface Technology Welcomes Dr. Sjon Westre as Vice President Technology
Minden, NV. – On September 8, 2016 Dr. Sjon Westre has been named Vice President of Technology for CHEMEON Surface Technology. He is a proven innovator and recognized subject matter expert in light metal finishing, with emphasis on anodizing and conversion coating solutions for the semiconductor and aerospace industries.
Dr. Westre will lead CHEMEON’s development of environmentally responsible coating and seal alternatives to hexavalent chrome, for use on light metals. His focus will include the creation and optimization of new conversion coating and anodizing chemistries and processes, development of analytical procedures, and management of the CHEMEON Laboratory, Training Center and Technical Support Group. Dr. Westre will also oversee the expansion of the CHEMEON laboratory team to accommodate the growing demand for CHEMEON Research and Development of advanced corrosion protection surface technology.
Madylon Meiling, Ph.D., CEO of CHEMEON Surface Technology, shares: “We look forward to Dr. Westre leveraging his knowledge of environmentally responsible surface technology and his passion for innovation to focus on solutions for our global client base of prime contractors, OEM, military, captive and job shops, as they look to meet the EU sunset date September 2017. Sjon's experience in the light metal finishing industry is unparalleled, and Sjon’s leadership style is collaborative, process-focused, and analytical. We are excited about Sjon’s expansion of the CHEMEON RD team, taking projects from innovation to commercialization, and exceeding expectations.”
Dr. Westre received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from The University of California at Davis and a BS degree in Chemistry with a Physics minor from Cal State, Sacramento. Prior to joining the CHEMEON team, Dr. Westre spent the last decade as Senior Scientist for Modern Industries in Phoenix, where CHEMEON chemistry and technology has been in use for a number for years. Prior to that, Dr. Westre was Technical Director of METALAST International LLC, where his innovations included anodizing process development and QPL certification for the patented Trivalent Chrome Pretreatment that is now known industry-wide as CHEMEON TCP-HF. Prior to that, Dr. Westre was a Research Scientist at Mosaic Industries in Silicon Valley, where he developed custom hardware and software for trace gas detection instruments. Sjon began his career as an analytical chemist at Analytical Associates, Inc. in Sacramento.
Dr. Westre shares, “I am excited for the opportunity to be part of the vision that the Meilings and CHEMEON have set forth in the replacement of hexavalent chrome and other toxic chemical compounds. My past career work, involving the original development of the Trivalent Chrome Pretreatment CHEMEON TCP-HF, and creating CHEMEON’s training program, ‘Anodizing Best Practices and Troubleshooting,’ all provide a fast track to further innovation and optimization.”
Dr. Westre has published numerous technical papers in the fields of Molecular Physics and Analytical Chemistry. He also lectured at technical conferences as well as acted as an instructor for undergraduates at UCD.
