Product Development Specialist

Reporting into the New Product Development Supervisor, the Lab Technician will be based in Cleveland and will be responsible for the following responsibilities.
* Lab Milling
* Sample panel preparation* + Apply enamel coatings to panels using electrostatic dry spray, wet spray, or dipping.  + Safely dry and fire coated panels
* Lab Smelting* + Ability to smelt small batches of frit safely and independently.
* Patch Tank Testing* + Knowledge of how to use a cutoff wheel and nibbler to cut out panels from a water heater tank.  + Prep water heater panels for testing.  + Run testing on water heater panels and maintain patch tank equipment.
* XRF* + Maintain and use the XRF equipment.  + Use of the program to determine the elemental composition of a raw material or frit.
* Microscopy* + Maintain and operate the digital microscope.  + Knowledge of how to use a bandsaw and cutting wheel to cut out defects in enameled parts.  + Examine defect with 30° and 90° cross section microscopy and determine the cause of the defects.
* Formulation* + Knowledge of how to use Microsoft Access databases.  + Use of the formulation program to calculate the oxidic composition and raw material formula needed to create new frits or products.
* Color Matching* + Knowledge of pigments and enamel products.  + Ability to know which combinations of pigments and products will create which colors.  + Able to color match for new product development and customer requests.
* Chemical Testing* + Understand how to run specific chemical certification testing for various customers.  + Ability to report certified results in appropriate format.
* Ability to mill small batches of enamel powder and slip.
* Knowledge of how to test the physical properties milled products
* High School diploma or GED equivalent.
* Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work with and support colleagues.
* Ability to multi-task, work independently, and employ effective time management skills to meet tight deadlines.
* Lab Experience a plus Vibrantz Technologies is a leading global provider of specialty chemicals and materials solutions whose purpose is to bring color, performance, and vibrancy to life. Every day, our employees, the products we make, and our valued customer partnerships are inspired by this purpose.

Serving over 11,000 customers, Vibrantz’s technologies are trusted in a variety of advanced materials, color solutions and performance coatings applications and consumer products. We are experts in particle engineering, glass and ceramic science and color technology. Our technologies are used in small amounts to make big impacts on applications and consumer products, including durable vehicles and batteries, easier-to-clean appliances, energy efficient roof tiles and bricks, stronger and more decorative glass, and eco-friendly paints.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Vibrantz has over 50 manufacturing facilities and sales offices on six continents, and we employ 4,500 individuals. Our shared culture is rooted strongly in our six core values that focus on safety, our people, customers, excellence in all we do, environmental stewardship and integrity, ethics, and trust. And we are intent upon fostering a workplace that engages not only employees’ heads and hands and – uniquely – their hearts.

Vibrantz is owned by American Securities, a leading U.S. private equity firm that invests in market-leading North American companies with annual revenue generally ranging from $200 million to $2 billion and/or $50 million to $200 million of EBITDA. American Securities and its affiliates have approximately $23 billion under management and are based in New York with an office in Shanghai.

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