CoatingsPro Magazine - January 2022
News From AMPP
Ben DuBose 2021-12-28 22:08:46
Rust-Oleum Manager Shares His Formulation for Success
November 2021 marked the 20-year anniversary of CoatingsPro Magazine. And for coatings manufacturer Rust-Oleum, another big milestone was achieved. The company is celebrating its 100th anniversary!
In 1921, sea captain Robert Fergusson noticed that fish oil prevented rust from forming on his ship’s metal deck. Working with a chemist, Fergusson developed one of the world’s first rust-preventive paints — and Rust-Oleum was born.
Starting with just 24 paint colors, Rust-Oleum has since grown to be a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower both do-it-yourselfers and professional contractors. The company strives to honor the same innovative spirit that started Rust-Oleum a century ago in categories including small project paints, cleaners, primers, automotive, industrial, high-performance coatings, wood care, and more.
For about the past 10 years, David O’Bryan Jr. is one of Rust-Oleum’s leaders who has played a key role in the company’s ongoing success. Today, he’s the technical service manager for the company, and his licenses and certifications have included being Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10; a Level 3 Coating Inspector under NACE International; a Level 2 Concrete Coatings Inspector (CCI) via SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings; and a Level 1 Architectural Coating Technologist by the Master Painters Institute (MPI). (MPI has since been acquired by what is now the Association for Materials Protection and Performance [AMPP]).
With SSPC and NACE combining in 2021 to AMPP, O’Bryan is acutely aware of the value that an association can have to an individual, company, and the industry at large. As such, we invited O’Bryan to our CoatingsPro podcast series to share what he sees as keys to his personal success and beyond. Topics include the feedback he’s heard from coatings contractors regarding their needs and challenges on the jobsite, how new coating technologies are changing the landscape entering 2022, and why industry associations like AMPP can help move companies and careers forward.
Member Profiles highlights various SSPC and NACE members in AMPP. Connect with our members!
Read on for a Q&A transcript of select portions of that conversation, listen to the complete interview at coatingspromag.com/podcasts, and read what Rust-Oleum has been up to specific to the concrete industry in the 2021 Concrete Covered supplement.
Q: Tell us about your role at Rust-Oleum and your career in the industry.
I’ve been in the coatings industry since 1990, starting in sales as a store manager, sales representative, and commercial sales manager. I shifted my focus at the end of 2009 and took on the challenge of a new audience. At that point, I began consulting with architectural and engineering (A&E) firms in the role of A&E sales manager, which led me to Rust-Oleum and my current role.
I joined Rust-Oleum in 2012 to help re-start their architectural and engineering department, and the focus was working with A&E firms to discuss industry standards, specifications, and products. In 2018, I was promoted to manager of Rust-Oleum’s technical service department. This department handles all things technical for our North American business and our international business. The team functions are specifications, warranties, jobsite surveys, failure analysis, product recommendations, product application training, and the creation and revisions of technical data sheets, among other things. The technical service team members are all members of AMPP, and they hold NACE, SSPC, and other association certifications.
Q: For anyone who does not fully know the company’s scope, tell us about how Rust-Oleum serves the coatings industry. For example, I know you’re celebrating your 100th anniversary, so clearly you all have been doing this for quite a while. What is your overall scope, within coatings?
When it comes to concrete floor projects, certain technologies are gaining speed as the industry moves into quicker return-to-service demands.
Rust-Oleum was founded on the principle of creating innovative products, and as you mentioned, is currently celebrating its 100th year in business. In 1921, sea captain Robert Fergusson noticed that when fish were dropped on the deck of his ship, the fish oil prevented rust from forming on the ship’s metal deck. Working with a chemist, Fergusson developed one of the world’s first rust-preventive paints… That’s how Rust-Oleum was born: a sea captain and fish oil.
Back then, we started with just 24 colors of paint, and now Rust-Oleum has grown to be a global leader in manufacturing innovative coatings that empower do-it-yourselfers and coating professionals alike. We strive to honor the same innovative spirit that started Rust-Oleum a century ago in all our categories, including consumer-based paints, cleaners and disinfectants, automotive products, industrial high-performance coatings, wood care, and more.
Q: I know you all are in constant communication with your end users since you want to develop products that meet the current needs out in the field. What are coatings contractors telling you these days about their needs and challenges?
One of the challenges I hear about in the coatings industry these days is the lack of skilled labor with proper industry knowledge. As a manufacturer, we work with many different trades in the architectural- and industrial-built environment, and having properly trained and knowledgeable applicators is always a key to project success. These contractors can get proper training from local union training programs, assistance from manufacturers like Rust-Oleum, and especially from associations like AMPP, NACE, and SSPC by completing programs like the QP (Qualification Procedure) series. The understanding of surface preparation requirements is critical to coating performance and life cycles, and these QP-type programs assist in gaining the education to accent what applicators are learning in the field.
Q: From a technology perspective, what are some of the coating technologies that are at the forefront of the industry entering 2022?
Industrial coating technologies have been fairly consistent over the past 30 years. Most of the industrial coatings for steel structures today still focus on asset protection, based on either cathodic protection with zinc-based primers or through barrier protection with high-build epoxy and urethane coatings. As the industry looks into newer technologies, the emphasis is still based on the protection of assets for an extended life cycle for the owner. These newer technologies, like self-healing epoxy coatings and advanced urethane and polysiloxane coatings, are driving better corrosion protection, as well as expanded UV [ultraviolet] protection.
When it comes to concrete floor projects, certain technologies are gaining speed as the industry moves into quicker return-to-service demands. These are products like polyureas in place of epoxies when job environments and the service performance fit.
But you can’t base the job on a quick turnaround and a faster return to service, if the system doesn’t meet what they’re going to do at the end. You’ve got to have a system that works for the environment that the customer is looking for. It doesn’t matter how quick it’s on there if it only lasts a couple weeks. You need something that fits in all places.
But over the years, on the jobs that I've been involved with — whether it’s been water tanks, treatment plants, production facilities — it’s always been based on proper surface prep, and with the proper type of recommendation to get the customer where they need to be and give them the expected lifecycle they’re looking for. The technologies that have been out there for years still accomplish that, but I do see a drive towards extending some of these situations with these newer products that are coming out.
Q: In terms of associations, how have organizations like SSPC and/or NACE helped both your career and that of Rust-Oleum as a whole?
Rust-Oleum believes in membership with these associations for industry knowledge as well as for networking abilities. I manage our current SSPC Corporate Sponsor Roster, and I try to keep our employees engaged and involved in education that meets their requirements.
As far as my personal career, I fully believe that if you want to “play in a space,” you should understand the rules of engagement. Early in my career, I worked more with architectural and commercial coatings, and I focused on associations that would provide networking and education opportunities. The same was true when I became involved with the architectural engineering community. I joined their association and became certified to better understand their project requirements when it comes to specifications and construction documents.
I still try to attend conferences yearly to continue to improve and broaden my education and industry knowledge as well as the networking aspect.
During my whole career, industrial coatings were always a big part of my responsibility, so the relationship with associations like NACE and SSPC became paramount. Proper education and training through the NACE Coatings Inspector Program as well as the SSPC Concrete Coatings Inspector Program helped me gain the industry knowledge that led to my NACE CIP Level 3, as well as my SSPC CCI Level 2 certifications. The knowledge attained during these courses helps me every day with my job functions.
I still try to attend conferences yearly to continue to improve and broaden my education and industry knowledge as well as the networking aspect. I am also a member on two NACE Technical Committees, the SC-02 External Coatings Committee and the SC-23 Protective Coatings for Corrosion Control Committee. I feel that being on these committees helps to understand the evolution of standards as well as offer industry product knowledge when it fits.
Q: As a manager, what would your advice be to someone new to your company or new to the industry? How can associations like SSPC, NACE, and now AMPP help advance the careers of industry newcomers?
As I mentioned before, if you expect to be successful in an industry, you need to have an understanding and knowledge of the requirements. Become involved and learn as much as you can to elevate your industry knowledge. Gaining those industry certifications can set you apart from others who are not as driven to move forward or do not have the opportunity.
There are some great mentors out there who are a wealth of knowledge. I have several who I have met and keep in close contact with for advice when needed. Always keep in mind that if you join an association and just pay dues, you are not doing anything to better yourself or the association. Get involved and learn in any capacity that you can, and you will find your way.
Q: With SSPC and NACE merging to form AMPP, what are you hoping to see from the newly combined association? Where can we help?
I’ve enjoyed being a member of both associations separately over the years — from the education side with networking and just the general knowledge and learning that you can pick up. I look forward to the combined synergies of the two of them coming together. I’m also a little concerned because I enjoyed NACE, and I enjoyed SSPC, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they come together. I’m sure this will be done appropriately and properly, and we’ll all be fine. Normally when you merge some things, there can be some bumpy roads. But so far, everything that’s happened in 2021, they’ve been very transparent and forthcoming, and I think that most of the members understand the direction we’re going.
I also manage our Rust-Oleum MPI program, and with MPI now being part of this combined association, I’m working with the new MPI Task Force to help review the current MPI standards and how they address the needs of the industry. The combined focus of these three platforms, managed and focused in the same direction, can only lead to better programs, standards, training, and certifications.
CoatingsPro has been featuring legacy SSPC members each month — from coating contractors to equipment manufacturers and everything in between. If you’ve been an active SSPC member and would like to be featured, or if you’d like to recommend a peer for this profile, reach out to editor@coatingspromag.com. We are always looking to showcase your hard work in the protective coatings industry.
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