ATLANTA, Ga. – Randy Branston, Paper Coatings Technical Specialist Paper Coatings at BASF, will receive the 2014 TAPPI Coating and Graphic Arts Division Technical Award and the Charles W. Engelhard Prize. The award is in recognition of outstanding accomplishments or contributions which have advanced the industry's technology in the division's field of interest. Branston will receive the award at the PaperCon 2014 Conference Awards Dinner on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in Nashville, TN, USA.

“Over the course of nearly 25 years working in paper coating technology Randy Branston has made major contributions to the industry’s knowledge and understanding of this important papermaking technology,” notes Larry N. Montague, TAPPI President and CEO. ”His work has significantly advanced the industry’s technical knowledge in a range of areas including latex binders and specialty chemicals as well as coating process operations and make him an outstanding choice for the Division Technical Award.”

After graduating with a B.S. from the University of Waterloo and M.S. from York University in Organic Chemistry he joined the Xerox Research Center of Canada and conducted research on new photoreceptor materials and novel toner technology. He became involved in coating technology when he joined BASF and worked on the development of new latex binders and research on common coating process problems such as the mechanics of weeping in blade coating. He’s also worked on new natural coating binder applications and unique whiteners and tinting aids while employed by Cargill and Ciba Specialty Chemicals, respectively. He’s worked on patents and published technical publications covering a range of topics including new organic macrocyles, high temperature styrenic thermoplastics and amphoteric co-binders.

An active TAPPI member since 1989 he’s served in a variety of roles including teaching at TAPPI seminars, organizing the Coating Conference as a member of the Technical Program Committee, chairing sessions, and serving as part of committee leadership groups.