Glenview, IL – November 30, 2017
We at LCR Hallcrest are at once delighted and disheartened to announce that Chris Rowland is retiring. His last day is December 22, 2017. Chris joined LCR Hallcrest US operations in June 1987 and transferred to the company’s UK start up in 1992 as its first employee. He has been a tremendous asset to the group with numerous accomplishments throughout his tenure. He is gifted with a keen chemical engineering mind and a cooperative nature with a BSc Chemistry degree from University Hertfordshire MRSC.
Chris pioneered the company’s work in the commercialization of color changing liquid crystal products, products that we now consider the backbone of the company’s technology. He was instrumental in establishing microencapsulation techniques and developed a modified microencapsulation method to make large diameter microcapsules for cosmetics.
Among his many achievements, Chris set up pilot manufacturing for the Duracell battery tester, developed sprayable coatings for use in research and testing and set up the first UK manufacturing/ lab facility in Poole UK. He expanded microcapsule and liquid crystal production in Poole facilitating its transfer from the US to the UK. Recently he has moved away from production responsibilities to assume the technical manager role for cosmetic microcapsules facilitating its growth by providing technical, training and troubleshooting support to the company’s Deeside UK plant.
“Chris Rowland has had an extraordinary distinguished career, working tirelessly to further the science of liquid crystals on the behalf of LCR Hallcrest’s customers and employees.” comments Rocco Sapienza, President of LCR Hallcrest. “He will be missed, and we wish him the best in his retirement.”
“Chris joined the company and immediately impacted the lab culture.” comments Rocky Sapienza, VP Operations LCR Hallcrest “His professionalism and approach transcended the way the lab functioned and laid the foundation by which we operate today. We are all very fortunate to have worked with Chris and there is no doubt that LCR Hallcrest would not be the world leader in liquid crystal had it not been for the transition that Chris started in 1987.”
Russel Booth Managing Director LCR Hallcrest Ltd comments “I have had the pleasure of working with Chris since 2006 when he helped set up the new R&D Centre in Poole. The last 11 years have produced some fantastic results with a whole new range of Liquid Crystal mixtures being developed to take us forward into a new era. His support and dedication will be sorely missed.”
About LCR Hallcrest: The company is the leading international manufacturer of “SMART” color and chemical changing labels, thermometers, pigments and graphics that react to environmental and temperature fluctuations, providing visible evidence of change and measurement with in-house design, development and manufacturing capability.
Press Contact: SM411 Rev00
John Romano
LCR Hallcrest
john@hallcrest.com Ph. 847.998.8580