Meet Our Team
Dr. Ron Horwitz - Research & Development Manager - Dyna-Tech Adhesives
How would you describe what you do at Dyna-Tech Adhesives?
As R&D manager it is my responsibility to lead our experienced chemists to design and develop new products that will expand Dyna-Tech’s portfolio and provide our customers with more tools so that they may continue to grow and to innovate. Our development efforts come partially from market trends and advances in adhesive research, however our most important source of direction comes from our customers. I encourage open dialog with our customers and a partner relationship as we strive to find solutions that will lead to success and the next technical challenge.
What education and experience do you bring to the adhesive industry?
I received my training as a Ph.D. in physical chemistry focusing on photochemistry and photophysics. I have spent my 14 year industrial career in the adhesives industry in development and technical service roles for small, medium and major global companies. I have worked on structural, product assembly and pressure sensitive adhesives utilizing rubber, acrylic and urethane bases in solvent, water and 100% solids forms. I also earned an MBA degree that allows me to integrate business and science. I have been involved in all parts of the development chain from initial customer meetings through development, scale up, production and post-commercialization field support.
How can you help our customers?
I help our customers by striving for a high success rate in commercializing development projects. We achieve this together by taking the time to understand the needs, the performance parameters and the application methods. My team keeps our field sales appraised of the development timeline. We pool our internal resources to ensure that we develop elegant solutions. Finally, the R&D group works with our Technical Service colleagues to allow a seamless transition to a fully commercialized success for our customers.
Dan Ratka – Technical Service Manager – Dyna-Tech Adhesives
How would you describe what you do at Dyna-Tech Adhesives?
As Technical Service Manager, it is my responsibility to help maintain Dyna-Tech's reputation as a responsive and flexible supporter to the Tape and Label Market. I do this by guiding my group in the resolution of customer issues, developing new PSA and Coating products not requiring extended R&D, evaluating and scaling up alternate replacement materials for cost reduction and the replacement of discontinued items, provide samples for customer evaluation and support the other departments including Sales and Production when needed with the help of analytical capabilities such as FTIR spectrometry and standard PSTC and ASTM techniques. I am also responsible for regulatory compliance communication and Dyna-Tech's representative in TLMI.
What education and experience do you bring to the adhesive industry?
I have a BS in Chemistry and over 30 years of experience in formulating, coating and converting solvent-based, water-based and hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives and coatings. I have held various positions from Bench Chemist to Applications Engineering Manager, Plant Manager and Technical Director. I am trained in SPC and SQC techniques and other statistical methods for Design of Experiments and formulations development. I am a participant in patents relating to medical forms/label combination and resin emulsion.
How can you help our customers?
I can and do help our customers every day in the resolution of coating issues relating to a variety of coating methods from Slot die to Flexo and Spray. This may be accomplished through the optimization of rheological additives and other components contained in the coating package for foam and viscosity control, coatability and/or modification of the base adhesive to enhance specific performance properties. I can suggest Dyna-Tech alternatives to competitive adhesives for cost reduction and/or performance enhancements. I provide analytical services to our customers and compliance information relating to VOC's, RoHS, REACH, etc. and act as a conduit to other departments for those topics that I am not directly involved.
Aziz Calcuttawala – Manager of Technical Operations – Dyna-Tech Coatings/Quretech®
How would you describe what you do at Dyna-Tech Adhesives?
As Manager of Technical Operations, I design and formulate coatings and adhesives to meet our customers’ requirements. I also assist the production department in scale-up from lab to production batches.
What education and experience do you bring to the adhesive industry?
I have BS in Chemistry and MS in Plastics from the University of Lowell, in Lowell, Ma. I have over 23 years of formulating and manufacturing experience in the UV/EB industry. Prior to that, I worked in various coating and resin manufacturing industries. I also have experience in formulating, manufacturing and processing solvent- and water-based coatings and adhesives.
How can you help our customers?
Having developed UV/EB products for a variety of end-use applications, as well as working with various coating equipment, process and substrates, I can help customers meet their goals by providing the right product, assisting with manufacturing start-up, and troubleshooting issues.
Patricia Harman – Chemist – Dyna-Tech Coatings/Quretech®
How would you describe what you do at Dyna-Tech Adhesives?
I provide product development and technical service for our UV curable product line and also supervise the quality control testing of all UV curable products.
What education and experience do you bring to the adhesive industry?
I hold a BA in Chemistry from West Virginia University and have twelve years experience in the UV coatings and water based adhesives industries. I'm also listed as an inventor on a patent for a heat shrinkable film that uses a UV curable adhesive that I developed.
How can you help our customers?
I can develop custom solutions for our customers to help them meet and exceed their needs, goals and expectations by offering one-on-one assistance for projects and/or questions.