NEWS

Bakelite Synthetics (the Company), a leading global integrated producer of specialty resins, systems, and engineered thermoset molding compounds, is the design and construction “Top Level” Industry Partner of Louisiana Tech University’s new Forest Products Innovation Center. The collaboration establishes the Company as a prominent leader, providing industry-relevant testing and research needs to countless students and industry experts.

As an industry partner, Bakelite Synthetics will collaborate with students, faculty, and other industry leaders to advance ideas and technologies. The Company will also work with research teams to develop scientific discoveries that lead to innovative and valuable solutions for the forest products industry.

With a rich history of more than 100 years, Bakelite Synthetics is committed to advancing sustainable product development by leveraging innovative chemistry to create materials that improve everyday life and protect the planet. Bakelite Synthetics serves multiple industries, including wood and forest products, with a focus on safety, sustainability, and long-term community impact.

The Forest Products Innovation Center will serve as a hub for developing new methods to capture, produce, and utilize Louisiana’s renewable and sustainable forest resources. As part of Louisiana Tech’s Tech 2030 strategic initiative, the center will foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and students in fields such as forestry, chemical and industrial engineering, and sustainable supply chain management. This collaborative approach will help address the evolving needs of the timber industry while benefiting the state, region, and global economy.

“We are excited to have Bakelite join our Forest Products Innovation Center team,” Dr. Gary Kennedy, Tech’s dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, said. “Their strategic approach to innovation and sustainability aligns perfectly with our vision for the center. Bakelite is the first corporation of its kind to partner with us, as it is not directly a forest products company. Instead, it supports the forest products industry through the development of resins, coatings, and adhesives. In addition to an engineered wood products lab and a testing lab, the center will also have multiple chemistry and analytical labs, which is a great fit for Bakelite’s product line and research interests.”

“We are proud to support Louisiana Tech University’s Forest Products Innovation Center as a ‘Top Level’ Industry Partner. This partnership underscores Bakelite’s commitment to advancing sustainable innovation and fostering collaboration with universities and the forest products industry.” said JP Aucoin, president and CEO of Bakelite Synthetics. “By partnering with students, faculty, and industry leaders, we aim to drive innovation and develop valuable solutions that will benefit the timber industry and our planet while empowering the next generation of aspiring scientists.”

The Forest Products Innovation Center is expected to generate greater economic opportunities for the state, create a lasting impact on academic and professional development, and provide a space for solving challenges in the timber industry through a transdisciplinary approach.

About Bakelite Synthetics
Based in in Atlanta, Georgia, Bakelite Synthetics is a leading global integrated producer of thermoset specialty resins, solutions and engineered thermoset molding compounds serving a variety of segments and end markets across geographies. Additional information about Bakelite Synthetics and its products is available at bakelite.com.