Rain Carbon Inc., a leading global producer of carbon-based products, announced addition of three technical and commercial experts to its Carbon Distillation and Advanced Materials business in Europe to help drive the company's commitment to meet growing demand for raw materials that are essential to lighter, cleaner and greener products and applications.
The new members of the Carbon Distillation and Advanced Materials business are:
- Dr. Michael Spahr, Vice President of Innovations, who will be based in Zelzate, Belgium
- Stefan Knau, Head of the Resins & Modifiers, who will be based in Duisburg, Germany
- Dr. Volker Erb, Director of Sales for hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins, who will be based in Duisburg, Germany
Spahr, who spent the past 22 years with IMERYS Graphite & Carbon, has an extensive background leading global R&D groups in specialty carbon materials and battery technology. He will lead the Innovations team for the company's Carbon Distillation and Advanced Materials business and spearhead carbon-based battery projects. Spahr holds a master's degree in organic chemistry from the University of Cincinnati, a
diplom in chemistry studies from the University of Stuttgart and a doctorate in solid state chemistry and electrochemistry from ETH Zurich.
Knau, who worked with Rain Carbon-predecessors RÜTGERS Chemicals AG and RÜTGERS Novares GmbH during 2003-2014, brings nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales of resins and specialty chemicals to his new role. Prior to rejoining Rain Carbon, Knau was Director of Marketing and Sales at Schill + Seilacher Struktol GmbH. He holds an MBA in international marketing management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a diplom betriebswirt in international business management from Fachhochschule Ludwigshafen/Rhein.
Erb is responsible for business development with a focus on international adhesives and sealants customers for the advanced resins that will be produced at the company's newly commissioned hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins facility in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany. He has more than 22 years of technical and commercial experience at international manufacturers of adhesives and sealants, as well as at raw material manufacturers and distributors. Prior to joining Rain Carbon, Erb was Sales Director for Europe, Middle East and Asia for Perstop Service GmbH. He holds a diplom and doctorate degree from Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz in cooperation with the Max Plank Institute for Polymer Research.
"Rain Carbon is committed to providing the raw materials needed for today's advanced product applications and tomorrow's changing requirements, and Michael, Stefan and Volker strengthen our ability to follow through on that commitment," said Kris Vanherbergen, Executive Vice President Carbon Distillation and Advanced Materials. "With their in-depth knowledge of advanced resins, polymers and cutting-edge energy storage technology - as well as their keen understanding of evolving technical and commercial expectations - they will provide Rain Carbon with significant additional horsepower as we increase our focus on serving the 21st-century needs of our global customers and the end users of their products."