Solutions Current Issues > Jan.Feb.Mar_08 > COMPOUND INTEREST
Email Link
COVER STORY
COMPOUND INTEREST
CHEMIST BOB DENTON IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MATERIAL FORMULATION.
by Leigh Bell
Bob Denton quickly scrawled equation after equation across the white board in the RL Hudson lab.The red and green markers squeaked as he explained density and how it relates to the development of rubber and plastic parts.This could be boring stuff, but not when Bob’s behind it.
He makes mathematic equations sound like poetry, practically singing about the impact of heat, pressure and time on polymers.He explains the chemistry and physics with so much excitement, so much passion, you can’t help but be interested.
Bob is the force leading the Material Technology team at RL Hudson in developing solutions for customers. The soft-spoken, math-driven chemist understands the science that leads to better-performing, better-priced parts for specific use.
“We’re constantly studying issues and trends that can impact our customers – it’s what they expect, and rightfully so,”Bob says.“We’re always looking at how we can improve the performance of a material – or create new materials to meet a need – while minimizing costs.”
The complex process of material development begins in the RL Hudson Material Technology Lab, where great minds and leading-edge equipment unite.
THE MASTER OF HIS DOMAIN
The lab is Bob’s domain. Here, he is master. He stepped away from the white board and rattled off the equations like it was the alphabet.Who is this guy? Einstein? Close.
Bob goes on to explain as only great minds can – in terms everyone can understand. He breaks down a customer’s needs in the same way — clearly and simply. Customers want reliable materials that perform well, at the lowest possible cost.
He holds up a sample part, an impeller (a rotor that increases pressure and flow of a fluid).The impeller is made of neoprene. Bob compares neoprene to natural rubber, noting that it takes more neoprene (by weight) to fill a mold. That means more money because materials are priced by the pound. Could a lighter material do the same or better quality job at less cost?
That’s what Material Technology at RL Hudson figures out.
“You have to look at the whole application and understand what you’re trying to accomplish,”Bob says.“What does the part have to do? To what standards must it perform? How hot or cold does the part get? What other components or chemicals does it come in contact with?
“It is in answering questions like these that we begin to find the right solutions.”
THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM
Bob and a cadre of experts at RL Hudson are passionate about developing, testing and overseeing the production of customers’ parts.They take a team approach to creating solutions designed to do the job right at the right price.
The talent pool at RL Hudson is vast. And the unique expertise these men and women have in rubber and plastics allows the company to control product development from start to finish, from idea to reality.
Territory managers and product managers work together with customers, RL Hudson’s in-house design engineers and Material Technology to understand customers’ applications. Then, Bob and his team develop, formulate, mix and test compounds with cutting-edge equipment. And with the recent addition of a Rapid Tooling Center, RL Hudson can create a sample part for the customer to test.
“This gives us the ability to test an actual part before we produce first articles,”Bob says.
RL Hudson is involved in every step of the process, which ensures quality and care. This expertise and a teamdriven attitude are key criteria when customers select a supplier.
EXPECTATIONS FOR INNOVATIONS
Anticipating and understanding emerging material requirements is another important part of Bob’s job.
“Our people are out every day in the marketplace, looking at strengths,weaknesses and opportunities,”Bob says. “Most of all, they listen to our customers, so they can understand current and future needs.”
Ah, the future. Once again, you can hear the excitement in his voice. That’s because RL Hudson is at the forefront of technological advances that have greatly increased the use of rubber and plastics across all industries. Adding to the demand for these versatile materials are expanding industries, like oil-and-gas exploration, and the growing emphasis on “green” practices.
“It’s all very exciting,” says Bob. “With our expertise in rubber and plastics, and our state-of-the-art facilities, RL Hudson is well-positioned to address continual material improvements, and even develop new materials that can benefit our customers.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
