East China University of Science & Technology

SI Group, a global developer and manufacturer of performance additives, process solutions, pharmaceuticals, and chemical intermediates, has announced it has appointed Frank Yang as VP & managing director, Asia Pacific. As the VP & managing director, Asia Pacific, Yang will lead SI Group’s Asia Pacific management team to optimise the business and deliver results in the region. With more than 20 years of experience, Yang brings knowledge from global chemical organisations. Most recently, Yang was the vice president – strategy at INEOS Aromatics. Prior to INEOS Aromatics, Yang held leadership roles on several continents at bp Global Petrochemicals, bp, and PetroChina. “While the Asia Pacific chemical market is currently dynamic, the region continues to be important for SI Group—we’re confident that Frank’s history of successfully growing and transforming businesses will be a tremendous addition to our organisation,” said Joey Gullion, chief commercial officer at SI Group. “With Frank as VP & managing director, Asia Pacific, we look forward to delivering more value to our customers and shareholders in the region now and in the future.” “SI Group has a strong brand and market presence in the region with opportunity for growth and an ambitious vision statement, making it an exciting organisation to join,” said Frank Yang. “I’m eager to advance the business while building on the company’s already strong safety and reliability foundation.” Yang has a master’s degree in business management from the University of Chicago and a degree in chemical engineering from East China University of Science and Technology.

Nippon Paint (China) Co., Ltd., East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), and East China Normal University (ECNU) formally launched the "Photocatalytic Purification Coating Technology Innovation Platform." This platform seeks to promote innovation and application of photocatalytic purification coating technology through a cooperative industry-academia model of innovation. Taking this launch as an opportunity, Nippon Paint China is committed to leading the development of future efficient solutions for urban air pollution control, improving living environments, and accelerating the construction of a beautiful China. As China's "3060" dual-carbon goals and the new round of the Shanghai Clean Air Action Plan starting from 2023 progress, the "green transformation" of the coating industry has accelerated. Dr. Xiu Guangli, rofessor of the ECUST School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, director of key laboratories endorsed by Ministry of Ecology and Environment and Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, emphasized the significance of updating architectural coating technology to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for greener buildings and greener cities. Photocatalysis refers to the oxidation-reduction reaction generated by specific catalyst materials when exposed to light sources of a specific wavelength. Dr. Sun Zhuo, professor at the ECNU School of Physics and Electronic Science and academician of the Asia Pacific Academy of Materials, explained that nanocrystalline titanium nanomaterials have been demonstrated to be environmentally friendly, safe, and effective. Currently, nanocrystalline titanium materials are utilized in the R&D of Nippon Paint China. Recent studies have proved that Nippon Paint China's photocatalytic purification coating technology used in Interior coating has formaldehyde removal, odor removal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, whereas exterior coating can reduce nitrogen oxides effectively, with the removal rate of nitrogen dioxide reaching more than 80% in 2 hours[i]. This launch event marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between Nippon Paint China, ECUST, and ECNU that will strengthen joint scientific research, talent development, brand promotion, and technology transfer. “Adhering to the corporate vision of 'building the most valuable ecological platform with technology and becoming the leader of the overall coating solutions', we will make technological innovation, talent cultivation, and industrial applications closely linked through this cooperation, creating a green future for the coating industry,” said Eric Chung, CEO of Nippon Paint China. [i] Under experimental conditions, refer to JC/T1074-2021's G-type photocatalytic material testing criteria.

Effective Aug. 1, 2023, the Coatings division of BASF will implement global units for its Automotive OEM Coatings Solutions and Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions businesses. With the new organizational setup, BASF better serves its global customers who increasingly ask for global support and services. Patrick Zheng Yu Zhao will take charge of the new Global Automotive OEM Coatings Solutions business unit, based in Hong Kong. Prior to this role, he was SVP at Coatings Solutions Asia Pacific. Zhao started his career at BASF in 1999 within the Polyurethane business and held various positions across different divisions. He has an MBA degree from Donghua University and a bachelor's degree in Polymer Science from East China University of Science and Technology. Chris Titmarsh will assume responsibility for the new Global Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions business unit, located in Münster, Germany. Most recently, he was SVP Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions EMEA, based in Germany. In 2006, he started his career at BASF as a polymer research chemist. He held various positions in marketing and business management before moving to the Asia Pacific Automotive business located in Hong Kong in 2015. Frank Naber will assume responsibility for the Global Surface Treatment business unit, which operates under the Chemetall brand, in Frankfurt, Germany. In this position, he succeeds Christophe Cazabeau, who will prepare for a new assignment. Prior to this role, Naber was SVP at Automotive OEM Coatings Solutions EMEA. He worked in various regional and global roles in the Polyurethane division in Germany and Belgium. In 2012, Naber joined the Coatings division, where he took on various account and business management functions in the Automotive OEM Coatings business unit in Münster and Hong Kong.