Professional History

Professional Experience:

2006 to 2009

Grieger Motor Sale
Valparaiso Indiana 46385
Service Department -- Driver

Actively searching Polymer Chemist and Technologist positions through Proffesional Search Organizations, Professional News Magazines and Job postings e.g. Monser and Cyber

1984 to 2006

Gettig Pharmaceutical Instrument Company
Knox, Indiana 46534
Technical Director

Primary functions are to oversee and develop modern rubber formulations to meet today’s tighter Food and Drug Administration’s requirements, together with other special requirements like no nitrosoamine content, no MBT etc., and that the compounds will be injection moldable. I designed rubber compounds to meet the Food and Drug Administration’s standards together with the standards of various other country’s Pharmacopeia. The rubber compounds were based on:

1. Polyisoprene for its use in disposable regular and premature baby bottle nipples, soft multi-dose vials rubber stoppers.

2. Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer (EPDM) rubber for cannulae covers and for parenteral drug packaging with wide range of pH.

3. Chlorobutyl rubber for variety of stoppers, primarily for freeze dried drug products, blood collection tube stoppers etc.

 > Advised and introduced the production personnel to various rubber molding machine manufacturers with specific parameters needed for uniform flash-less molding of rubber components. Special emphasis was on the cure -integrator and close-loop data processing of the press.
> Together with the development of the rubber formulations, I Directed, Designed and set up a new analytical laboratory and trained people in the laboratory.
> Oversaw the injection molding process by guiding in the designing and improving of the mold manufacturing for flash-less injection molding of the pharmaceutical rubber closures.
> Ddirected the project of building the Clean Room facility, together with the monitoring of the Clean Rooms and training the personnel regarding the gowning and the principles of the Clean Room.
> Assisted in the Technical Sale and consulted pharmaceutical drug manufacturers regarding their requirements for the packaging of specific drugs.

Gettig Technologies Inc. has a custom plastic molding facility, -Stelrema Corporation-. I instituted control procedures for the incoming raw materials, thereby avoiding any failures and incorrect use of plastic materials. All shipments of materials were examined for its characteristics or identity as to the type of material using infra-red scans. Every material was checked for it specific gravity, ash content, moisture, melt-flow characteristics. Viscosity, utilizing Tinius Olsen Plastometer. To further improve the quality of the finished product, all materials from the production floor were checked daily for moisture content, melt-flow and viscosity.

In addition to production of the pharmaceutical rubber closures, I developed the test procedures for plastics, e.g. moisture content, melt-flow characteristics etc., I also developed procedures for testing closures and cannulae, e.g. quantitative determination of silicone oil on cannulae utilizing infra-red technique.

1982 – 1983

Burton Rubber Processing, Inc. [ M.H.Hanna]
Burton, Ohio 44021
Senior Chemist - Technical Services, Polymer Chemist and Technologist

Burton Rubber was involved in custom mixing of rubber compounds for the various rubber industries. Together with custom mixing of rubber compounds based on customer’s rubber formulations, Burton Rubber also developed rubber compounds to meet customer requirements, in-house requirements or to meet specific specifications as per ASTM call-out.

As a Senior Chemist and Technologist, I primarily designed and developed rubber compounds to meet the customer requirements and providing the customer with sample batches for experimenting. On approval of the compound, it was also my function to see that, that particular rubber formulation was easily producible on the production machines and that the compound met the desired physical property requirements. I supervised the mixing of the compounds on the production scale and followed through with the customer for easy producibility of the finished components at the customer facility, utilizing the recommended rubber compound.

Further to following the mixing and production of rubber compounds, I gave customers technical assistance and along with the Sale Staff visited the customers.

I assisted the production department in improving the mixing cycles to increase the production by either shortening the mixing cycles without any adverse effects on the physical properties or by adjusting the addition of various compounding ingredients to improve mixing and hence the efficiency in mixing.

1978 – 1981

The West Company
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
Technical Director - International Division

Primary functions were to oversee and supervise the production of affiliate plants in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Other functions were to improve the productivity, quality, quality control and handle customer service. Customers included the manufacturers and packagers of pharmaceutical drugs, both local and international. I also provided the same assistance to affiliates in Europe ( Germany, England and Spain ) and the Far East ( Australia, India and Japan ). Product QualityLatin America. Plants were in general in poor condition due to beat up machinery together with inadequate quality of raw rubber compounds.I implemented the following programs to improve operation:RawMaterial StorageReorganized the raw material storage conditions. Instuted proper identification of each of the raw materials and proper identification of each of the statuses of the material ( i.e. approved or not approved ) and a first-in, first-out system.

Weigh Up andMixing Areas- To improve raw batches, I prepared new mixing procedures as guidelines and introduced two-stage mixing where compounds were mixed and cross-blended without vulcanizing agents. After twenty four (24) hours of laying, the compounds were accelerated and in so doing, the compounds were made more homogeneous and matured. This practice immediately improved the molding property of the products.

Control of Parts Prior to Packaging- The Latin American plants in general controlled all parts just prior to packaging and hence a greater risk of production and rejection existed. To eliminate this risk and save the labor cost, I implemented a rule that each and every batch was checked/examined for duro, specific gravity and ash prior to further processing in the molding area. By carrying out these tests on the raw batches, it made sure that the final product was in accordance with the specifications. If during the process an out of specification result was obtained, the compound could be repaired. Thereby, usage of an incorrect compound in molding and loss of total labor in molding, trimming and inspection was eliminated. With these changes the general operating conditions and quality of the final product were considerably improved. People handling the material were more content since there were fewer problems and less hours of labor to complete an order. Similar systems had been implemented for India, Australia and European operations.

Technical Training and Speeches- To assist customers with regards to quality and understanding of function of polymers and closures, in Latin America I presented lectures/seminars to the pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical packaging industry as follows:

Brazil and Colombia - Presented papers:
Closure Function and Manufacture of Closures 
Treatment of Rubber Closures.
Function and Production of Pharmaceutical Rubber Industry Closures
These presentations were also given to Latin American Staff members in individual plants.

Embalagen Pharmaceutica- Received an honorary certificate from Union of Pharmaceutical in Sao Paulo ( A Unicio Pharmaceutica de Sao Paulo).

Plant Standards/Formulations- To improve standards, newer and modern formulations were introduced and when necessary developed to meet customer requirements. I conducted educational courses so that people working with various systems and formulations were aware of implications in medical industry.

1977 – 1978

International Division, Research Center
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

International Liaison - Research Development Chemist For the first five (5) months with this company, I performed this dual function. After this short period joined the International Division in a full time capacity. I also advised the Research Center in the development of formulations.

1973 – 1977

Pharma - Gummi Wimmer West GmbH ( Pharma - Gummi )
Eschweiler, Germany
Polymer Chemist and Technologist

Primarily conducted research and development of rubber formulations for closures (Stoppers) for the pharmaceutical industries, together with the improvement of processing conditions in the plant. Also involved in providing the technical assistance for the production and quality control of similar items for European affiliates in England and Spain.

Reduction of Mixing Cycles- A major project was to reduce mixing cycle for compounds in the internal mixer thereby increasing productivity of batches while maintaining quality. Almost all batches were mixed for twelve (12) minutes in the internal mixer followed by another ten (10) minutes on the open mill for finishing up the compound. Successfully reduced the cycle 30% in the internal mixer for a large number of formulations within three (3) months and maintained the quality and even improved some of the rheological properties slightly for some of the compounds. Although, given a year to complete the project, it finished well ahead of time. After running the program for one (1) year, I had successfully reduced many of the mixing cycles by 50% overall.

New Rubber Compounds- To further reduce mixing cycles, I developed new rubber formulations utilizing modern and new polymers like Bromobutyl, Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer (EPDM), thermoplastic rubber and low temperature or room temperature vulcanizable rubber formulation instead of the general purpose rubbers e.g. natural rubber, butyl rubber, chlorobutyl, styrene butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber etc.. Main purpose of new formulations was to introduce them to meet German and International chemical standards and to reduce number of traditional multitude of formulations. I investigated polymers and other ingredients to meet standards and requirements of customers with respect to compatibility with their drugs. In preparation and analysis, I used modern technology such as atomic absorption, infra-red spectroscopy, ultra-violet spectroscopy to provide a better feel of customers products and need for improvement of corporate rubber formulations.

1972 – 1973

FIT - Gummiwerk
Neu-Isenburg, Germany

Polymer Chemist and Technologist and Assistant Plant Manager
Joined this company specializing in custom mixing, soft rollers and long length sheeting. Job was to revitalize a small scientific area in terrible condition, improve factory conditions, formulations, processing and process controls. Successfully cleaned up the plant and then developed the new formulations needed by the company for profitable operation.

1969 – 1972

Hoesch - Chemie GmbH ( Akzo - Chemie GmbH )
Dueren, Germany

Polymer Chemist and Technologist
Company was a manufacturer of active silicas and silicates used as reinforcing filler in the rubber industry. Major projects were: Fundamental investigation of filler effects and Customer Service and Promotion of fillers in foreign countries.

Investigation of Varying Degrees of Silica in Different Polymers. Used natural rubber (N.R.), styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile-butadiene-rubber (NBR), and ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM), and butyl rubber for this study. Developed a general rubber formulation using each of the polymers and then increasing the quantity of silica from 0% to 80% filling where possible. From each compound after rheological investigation, test plates were vulcanized at the optimum time at a given temperature. From the test plates various physical properties were determined and statistically analyzed. Study was later published in Gummi Asbest Kunststoffe.

Introduction of Fillers in Foreign Countries. Brought fillers to Portugal, Israel, Finland, England and other countries at a time when competitors were already marketing similar products in these countries. Sold by technical background and the slight technical advantage of the product, reached a market share of 50%.

Effect of Silica in Tire Compounds. Investigated heat build up in tire compound. Prepared samples with modified standard tire formulation, fixed samples in chucks revolving in opposite directions at a speed of 2,000 R.P.M. and measured the temperature increase at the curvature with an infra-red thermometer. The first sample was a surprise -- the sample would not break, and temperature was stabilized within an hour. Project continued and today many tire companies use a blend of silica and carbon black as filler for the reduction of heat build up and for improvement in abrasion.