David Hitzler

Job Title: Senior Development Chemist

Company: Bostik Findley Australia

City of Residence: Melbourne

Year Graduated& Degree: 1998, Applied Chemistry Undergraduate Degree

David talks about being an Industrial Chemist

Bostik is a global adhesives and sealants manufacturer. The adhesives industry is a relatively niche chemical industry, and in terms of skills and materials used, is comparable to the paint industry.

I am a senior chemist working in the research and development lab at Bostik Australia. I am developing and servicing industrial water based adhesives. This includes talking with the customer to determine their requirements, sourcing raw materials, formulating a product for a specific industrial process, testing and trialing the product, establishing commercial manufacture of the project and providing ongoing technical support for the customer. Providing technical support for production is also a major part of my work.

Interstate travel is required at times to investigate new business or service interstate customers. I work together with our sales reps and business managers in developing new business and servicing existing customers. For a given application, sometimes a new adhesive may have to developed, while other times I can recommend an exciting adhesive.

On an average day, I start by checking emails and setting a prioritized job list. I complete the preparation of a trial sample of development adhesive started the previous day. Carry out any physical testing required to ensure the sample meets the customers' specification (eg. viscosity test, adhesion tests, heat resistance tests).

I visit an existing customer that is having some trouble bonding a new plastic material they would like to use in order to gather samples of their materials. Upon my return to the lab, I prepare some bond assemblies using the new material to determine a solution to the problem.

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