Deon Joins PCN: A Strategic Move Towards Innovation and Growth

We are pleased to welcome Deon de Wet-Roos to the Plastics Consultancy Network, bringing over 24 years of expertise in polymer science, industrial chemistry, and product development. With a PhD in Polymer Science and an MBA, Deon has led groundbreaking innovations in resins, adhesives, surfactants, polyurethanes, and industrial coatings.

Deon specialises in formulation design, process optimisation, and applying machine learning to solve complex chemical challenges, including quantitative structure-activity and structure-property relationships (QSAR and QSPR).

His mission is to develop innovative, sustainable, and bio-based products by integrating chemistry, material science, and applied mathematics. Committed to fostering growth and knowledge sharing, he offers tailored solutions to help clients create new revenue streams and improve operational efficiency.

He has been instrumental in major technological advancements, including patents that have significantly impacted the plastics, coatings, and chemical industries. His expertise includes:

✅ Polymer & Material Science: Specialising in polyolefins, polyurethanes, phenolic resins, acrylics, and composites.

✅ Process Optimisation: Improving polymerisation and manufacturing processes for enhanced efficiency and sustainability.

✅ Advanced Formulation Design: Developing cutting-edge coatings, adhesives, and extruder-based solutions.

✅ Machine Learning & Data Analytics: Applying computational tools to optimise processes and enable predictive modeling.

✅ Renewable & Bio-Based Materials: Innovating with lignin-based polyols, sustainable coatings, and next-gen composites.

Career Highlights & Industry Contributions

🔹 Plascon (Paints & Coatings): Contributed to a patented formulation that replaced titanium dioxide in paint, increasing company profits from R7 million to R770 million.

🔹 SASOL (Polymer Science & Process Innovation): Played a key role in the tetramerization research team, leading to two world patents for producing LLDPE using only ethylene. This breakthrough was later implemented in SASOL’s Lake Charles facility, pioneering the first tetramerization technology to produce octene. Additionally, he contributed to the development of microwaxes using tetramerization catalysts.

🔹 AECI (Bio-Based Coatings & Surfactants): Led a team that developed bio-based coatings for attaching micro-elements to fertilizer pastilles, with an estimated impact of R50–100 million per year. He also spearheaded research into new surfactant technologies for mining explosives and raw material handling, contributing hundreds of millions in revenue.

🔹 SI Group & SAPPI (Sustainable Polymer Development): Initiated the use of lignin-based plywood adhesives, a project that extended into SAPPI.

Developed polyol derivatives for polyesters and polyurethanes, contributing to valuable intellectual property advancements.

🔹 Flameblock (Fire Suppression Start-Up): Assisted in formulating a solution for lithium-ion battery fires, as well as mastics for fire protection and encapsulator technology. These innovations led to commercially available products, boosting the company’s revenue by millions of Rand.

🔹 Australian Automotive Coatings Company: Contributed to the development of ceramic coatings and other automotive products, leading to two new globally launched products.

🔹 Current Projects – Black Masterbatch Extruder Optimisation: Developing a machine learning model for extruder optimisation, enabling "what-if" analyses to enhance efficiency in black masterbatch production.

Areas of Interest & Expertise

✔ Coatings: Acrylic, industrial, powder coatings, ceramic coatings ✔ Formulation Design: Paints, coatings, extruders, injection moulders ✔ Renewable Raw Materials: Polyols, composites ✔ Data Science & Financial Analysis: Statistical modeling, experimental design, economic assessment of projects

Now, as part of the Plastics Consultancy Network, Deon is committed to developing innovative, sustainable solutions while helping clients improve efficiency and create new revenue streams. Discover how Deon can support your business — learn more here.

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