Interlayer Films & Innovation with Dr. Nandan Ukidwe

Meet Dr. Nandan Ukidwe, Product Development Leader at Argotec. As an optical interlayer film expert, Dr. Ukidwe is solidly at the forefront of engineered polymer film innovation. Dr. Ukidwe holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, India. With almost five years in the Argotec R&D department and 15 years previously as a Principal Engineer at Eastman Chemical Co., Dr. Ukidwe brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table.

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Ukidwe shares his valuable insights into Argotec, as well as the technological advancements and market trends shaping the future of the polymer film industry. Read on to learn more about how Argotec film technology is enabling a better future through extruded polymer science.

THE ARGOTEC CULTURE

Q: Why is Argotec the leading choice for polymer film technology?

Dr. Ukidwe: Argotec is the go-to authority for exceptional engineered films and polymer extrusion for more than three and a half decades. Through relentless commitment to operational excellence, workplace safety and customer service, Argotec has not only become the most trusted partner but also a true leader in setting standards in delivering quality products that meet and exceed customer needs every time.

Q: How do you collaborate with customers and other departments, such as sales and operations, to bring new products to market?

Dr. Ukidwe: I use the stage-gate process that Argotec has historically implemented to guide me through stakeholder interactions. Of course, collaboration with the customer is integral to any development effort. I spend considerable time working with the customer to understand their motivation and requirements and develop a specification sheet accordingly. Operations team is brought on board when the product is ready for scale-up to a commercial line.

Q: How important is transparent communication to the development process?

Dr. Ukidwe: Of course, having effective communication is absolutely vital. Although most communication in today’s global workplace is virtual, I do call for face-to-face meetings when needed. I spend considerable time preparing and sharing developmental samples or protypes with customers so that they can provide feedback to facilitate iterative development.

Q: The Argotec north star is “Never settle.” What does this mean to you?

Dr. Ukidwe: To me “Never settle” means always trying to be better and never resting on the past successes. It is a mindset of continuous improvement and pursuit of perfection that defines everything we do.

Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your work in R&D?

Dr. Ukidwe: The most rewarding aspect of my work in R&D is to have an opportunity to develop new ideas and designs, and through application of science and technology, bring them to fruition. There is no better reward than to see your idea - that often begins as a mere thought - grow into a tangible product that solves real-world problems, and in the process, creates value for all stakeholders. Along the way I get to learn new concepts, strategies, and solutions which I enjoy immensely. There is never a dull day when you are developing the cutting-edge technologies that will shape the future.

CURRENT POLYMER SCIENCE TRENDS

Q: How do you stay up-to-date with the latest polymer science and engineered film advancements?

Dr. Ukidwe: It is critical to be conversant with emerging trends in polymer science and engineered films to be able to deliver the highest quality products to our customers and development partners. There are many ways to stay acquainted with the most recent advances and innovations. For instance, at Argotec I constantly review patent landscape to know the innovations happening in the optical interlayer space and share my findings with my R&D and commercial colleagues.

I also get valuable insights into market trends and technical developments through conferences, tradeshows and customer visits. The field of polymer science and engineered films is global and ever evolving. So, as a SME, I incorporate continuous learning as an integral part of my daily activities.

Q: What current market trends are driving product development at Argotec?

Dr. Ukidwe: One of the biggest trends driving product development at Argotec currently, especially in the optical interlayers space, is sustainability. Energy conservation and management is the overarching theme that is driving innovation under the Smart Glass umbrella.

Whether it is an ion-conductive interlayer for electrochromic systems or a Quantum-Dot-based interlayer for transparent photovoltaic systems or a spectrally-selective interlayer to minimize heat gain, Argotec is at the forefront of developing key sustainable solutions for automotive, residential or commercial markets.

CHALLENGES & PROBLEM SOLVING

Q: What are some of the key challenges you face in your role?

Dr. Ukidwe: One of the key challenges I have faced is to be able to wear many hats expeditiously. As Frans Johansson wrote in his The Medici Effect, breakthrough innovation often happens at the intersection of diverse fields that inherently requires one to wear many hats.

Q: Can you give some examples of how these challenges have driven innovation?

Dr. Ukidwe: The ion-conductive interlayer development under the Smart Glass umbrella is a great example of this. It has required Argotec to go beyond its core competency of extruding neat TPU interlayer and establish in-house know-how, and analytical capabilities that fall in the realm of electrochemistry. I have found the best way to overcome these knowledge gaps is to rely on our joint development partners to provide relevant training with mutual benefit.

Q: What is your approach to problem-solving and developing new product concepts?

Dr. Ukidwe: I firmly believe in customer-driven innovation. I put special emphasis on understanding what motivates the customer to pursue a new product, distill that insight into a mutually agreeable specification sheet and embark on product development always keeping in mind product safety, economics, and scalability considerations.

For projects that reside at the intersection of multiple disciplines, it often means learning new concepts and establishing new in-house capabilities expeditiously to build prototypes. It also involves collaborating with outside experts as needed. I believe in a data-driven approach that leverages statistical methods to design intelligent experiments with available resources, and to draw sound inferences.

Q: How is Argotec positioned to stay ahead of the curve?

Dr. Ukidwe: I see the future of polymer technology to involve more collaborations. Again, Argotec is positioned nicely as our joint development partners are industry leaders themselves with strong commitment to innovation.

INNOVATION: A LOOK AHEAD

Q: What are the top technological advancements or innovations you believe will shape the future of Argotec?

Dr. Ukidwe: I believe that the secular tailwinds tied to sustainability, carbon neutrality, enhanced safety and AI/digitization will continue to shape engineered polymer market. Glazing systems generally are becoming larger, more functional, and more ubiquitous, and these trends will continue to shape Argotec’s optical interlayers business.

Argotec already has a significant “Smart Glass” initiative that envisages to add novel functionalities to the TPU interlayer while fully leveraging Argotec’s core competency in engineered film extrusion. From a process standpoint, the new twin-screw extruder in Greenfield offers unique compounding capabilities that will certainly open new avenues down the road.

Q: Where do you see the future of polymer film technology heading?

Dr. Ukidwe: Polymer film technology is advancing very rapidly. The key trends shaping the future of polymer film technology include switching to biodegradable substrates, smart polymers and nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing techniques and polymer recycling and circular economy.

Q: How is Argotec capitalizing on these emerging trends?

Dr. Ukidwe: I believe Argotec is positioned well in these areas. For instance, active projects in the optical space are trying to incorporate nanomaterials in the interlayer to enhance its functionality and the newly installed twin-screw technology is a major boost to this initiative. Development of the novel ion-conductive interlayer falls squarely in the smart product category, as it enables automotive or architectural windows to adjust their tint using a smart device. Argotec has also committed to product recycling and circular economy by investing in new granulators in Greenfield.

Q: What are you most excited for regarding the Argotec brand and product portfolio?

Dr. Ukidwe: Argotec is well-known around the globe and has a very strong brand recognition. Whenever I visit customers or attend trade shows or conferences, people recognize Argotec without failure. It is a testament to Argotec’s unwavering commitment to deliver superior film products and customer service experience to all its customers.

It is exciting to see a good healthy mix of established products such as ST-6050TM and HP-8000TM in the optical space that are very well received in the market and new products that are fundamentally pushing the boundaries of extruded TPU interlayer technology. Along with processing and analytical capabilities that are being installed in Greenfield, I believe it positions Argotec well for continued excellence in years to come.