Lasting Impressions

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The old saying that First Impressions become Lasting Impressions comes to life when you mention Kemira's Hannu Melarti. I first had the pleasure of meeting Hannu in early 2007.

If you have not had the opportunity to meet Hannu, you should make it a point to do so if the opportunity arises. He brings a breath of fresh air to an industry that we sometimes forget has shaped and sustained our world for over 1900 years. Hannu's personality and style permeate Kemira's North American corporate culture, positively impacting both personnel and facilities. The latest Research & Development (R&D) facility in Atlanta, Ga., USA, is absolutely amazing.

Because many of Kemira's 17 R&D facilities came through acquisition, they shared similar competencies and capabilities. Kemira made the decision to consolidate these 17 facilities around the world to five. The site selection process quickly focused on an area of Atlanta near the Georgia Tech campus. It was decided to locate the new laboratory space, and all associated with it, in Technology Enterprise Park (TEP). The TEP complex, situated adjacent to Georgia Tech, is devoted to R&D in various industries.

Not long ago, Eric Fletty and I had the privilege of visiting this amazing new R&D Center, located at 387 Technology Circle NW, Suite 300, Atlanta, Ga., 30313 (404-477-6500). Our gracious host and tour guide for the day was facility co-director Scott Rosencrance, Ph.D., Senior Manager, R&D, Paper.

Scott Rosencrance and his colleague, Lou Rosati, were given the enormous task of opening the new R&D Center. The project came with an aggressive deadline to have the Center ready for business at least six months or more before what many experts predicted as the best possible outcome. Well, guess what? They did it! After many long months, with long days and nights, they were able to meet their deadline for opening, in my opinion, the cleanest, brightest, and most unique R&D Center that I have toured to date.

The opening of this latest addition to Kemira's R&D capabilities was celebrated in September 2009. The Atlanta R&D Center has global responsibility for oil, mining, tissue, recycled fiber, defoamer, and polymer research and is a key part of Kemira's global R&D network. The center consolidates the expertise of all North American research locations under one roof and is intended to promote new levels of synergy between academic research and commercially focused technology and development.

Kemira has been a long time supporter of TAPPI, and we appreciate their loyalty to TAPPI and our industry.

For more information on Kemira and its new R&D center in Atlanta, go to www.kemira.com.

For more information on TAPPI, go to www.tappi.org.

There are two types of people in our industry, TAPPI members and those who should be.

Until next time - Larry