Originally Published MPMN November
2004
INDUSTRY NEWS
Bayer Creates Future
Business Group
Analee
Zelaya
 |
| Led by Robert Kumpf, PhD, Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s Future Business Group will focus on innovation-driven polymer products, next-generation application trends, and complex new technologies. |
In an effort to foster innovative medical technologies, a materials supplier
has launched the Future Business Group. “Innovation is a business imperative,”
says Robert Kumpf, PhD, vice president of future business at Bayer MaterialScience
LLC (Pittsburgh; www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com).
The Future Business Group is divided into three categories: creative center,
new technologies, and industry innovation. The creative center identifies demographic,
population, and societal trends that affect product needs, ideas, and purchasing
behaviors. It is also responsible for determining new product development. The
new technologies component researches how polymers affect that development and
also monitors technological trends. The final subgroup analyzes information
gathered by the other two and works closely with customers on product, technology,
and process implementation. Bryan Iams, Bayer spokesperson, notes that they
are creating new products for tomorrow and are looking into which materials
will match those needs.
The firm began operating in the Americas on July 1, 2004. However, according
to Kumpf, “We’ve already begun to identify and develop innovative
opportunities within many new product, technology, and market areas.” Weight-saving
composites, self-cleaning plastics, nanoscale functional additives, smart polymer
surfaces, and mass customization are among the considerations. Kumpf says that
there are many untapped areas where polymers “can help shape next-generation
product development.” He adds, “This is just the beginning.”
Copyright ©2004 Medical Product Manufacturing News
