KAPCO (Kent Adhesive Products Co.) has added Suresh Murugesan to its team as senior chemist and new product development manager. He has 15 years of extensive education and research experience with water-based, UV-curable ink, binder, topcoat formulations and digital ink dispersions combined with polymeric ma­terials for various novel applications.

Murugesan received his Master of Science in Polymers at University of Madras, Madras, India, in 1994, Master of Science in Chemistry at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, in 1998, and Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, in 2003.

Murugesan has extensively researched synthesis, characterization, modifications and improvements of polymers, lyotropic liquid crystalline behaviors of synthesized polyamides and Sol-gel synthesis of various inorganic particles in poly(dimethyl siloxane) networks (PDMS). Additionally, he contributed to the patent of a novel chemical actuator design invented and fabricated for a wristwatch-type MEMS sensor device. Murugesan’s work specialized in the material selection, surface modification and characterization. The group’s findings were published and also nominated for best poster.

Murugesan plans to “implement cost-effective, novel coatings based on new technology” at KAPCO. He will be responsible for furthering KAPCO’s development in the following focus areas—functional and decorative top coatings for flexible materials with an emphasis on digital printing technologies, modifying che­mistries to facilitate production processes, adhesive chemistries for hard-to-bond surfaces and material selection/sourcing meeting customer specifications—while expanding KAPCO’s coated products business. KAPCO offers die-cutting, coating, laminating, slitting and sheeting capabilities. Murugesan’s formulations will be tested and manufactured for custom applications on the company’s 31-, 62- and 81-inch coating lines.