Monthly Archives: December 2011

Feb. 2004
The festive atmosphere of Mardi Gras provided the perfect setting for Polycon 2004, the largest annual convention and trade show for representatives of the cast polymer industry. Joining in the revelry, 820 convention-goers filled the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans from February 19-21 to visit with exhibitors, network with colleagues, and attend educational seminars offered through the International Cast Polymer Alliance (ICPA).

HK Research Laboratory Manager Jerry Killian went to Polycon not only to gain insight about cast polymers, but also to give it to 65 cultured marble industry representatives who attended his session. The seminar, “Cultured Marble Patch and Repair,” provided practical and technical information about how manufacturers can improve throughput by repairing defective castings as a cost-effective alternative to discarding them.

The benefits of being a seminar presenter for Killian are twofold. “I enjoy talking with other folks in the industry about situations they face every day in their facilities. The seminar helps them solve problems and provides useful information that I can take back to the lab to help us improve our products,” says Killian. “HK Research has always been very customer oriented. I believe these seminars show that we want to help the manufacturer and can be an asset to their production process.”

The International Cast Polymer Alliance has scheduled its next annual meeting, Polycon 2005, for February 17-19, 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information about the ICPA, visit www.icpa-hq.org.

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April 2004
HK Research Corporation recently announced several major facilities improvements already under way. “We are updating our computer control capabilities as well as adding new mixing and production equipment in order to increase throughput efficiencies,” stated David Higgins, National Sales Manager.

Like most efforts to improve productivity, the principle of working smarter is the primary focus of these enhancements. “HK Research has built a solid reputation based on the consistency of our products, and state-of-the-art touch-screen computer control is the best way we can maintain and build that reputation. All functions of our automated equipment, such as formula transfer and production schedules, can be managed with even more precision than was possible with our relay logic-based system”, said Higgins.

Production capability will be enhanced with the addition of three new 50-drum mixing tanks. HK Research currently has the ability to manufacture well over 200,000,000 pounds of gel coat per year. These new additions will enable the company to produce about 500 drums (over 250,000 pounds) simultaneously.

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Jun. 2006
HICKORY, NC – Leading gel coat manufacturer HK Research recently expanded its nationwide coverage with two technical sales representatives and one technical service representative. Based in Georgia, Technical Service Representative Greg Greene brings 24 years of experience to the southeastern region. In the Midwest, 20-year industry veteran Glen Stewart joins the sales department. Bernie Von Dette, also a Technical Sales Representative, begins his 36th year in the industry in the southern Great Lakes area. “The addition of technical personnel assures our expanding customer base that quick and knowledgeable help is available at a moment’s notice. HK’s reputation for customer service has been built on this philosophy,” said National Sales Manager David Higgins. “Some in our industry have been forced to downsize, which can marginalize their quality of service, we are proud to be in “growth mode” and to offer our customers the skills of these three experts.” HK Research operates North America’s largest gel coat manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina, as well as warehousing in Rialto, California. To learn more about the company’s 26-year history of innovation, visit the website atwww.hkresearch.com or call toll-free, 1-800-334-5975.

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Aug. 2006
HICKORY – Over the last two years, HK Research has streamlined their state-of-the-art production facility in Hickory, North Carolina. The fully-automated plant can currently produce 400,000 lbs. of gel coat per day. Composite Sales Manager Rick Graham said recent improvements should be considered refinements, rather than upgrades. “The refinements we’ve made [to our facility] have given us an increased capacity to accommodate our rapidly expanding marine business. In the past five years, we’ve grown faster than any other gel coat company,” said Graham. HK Research is based in Hickory, North Carolina, and has the largest facility in North America designed exclusively for premium gel coats. For more information, visit the website at www.hkresearch.com, or call toll-free, 1-800-334-5975.

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Former National Sales Manager Promoted

Hickory, NC – Gel Coat manufacturer HK Research Corporation announces the promotion of David Higgins to Vice President of Sales. The company operates a fully-automated manufacturing facility in Hickory, NC, which produces polyester gel coats and resins, pigments and industrial coatings.

Higgins has been with HK Research since he graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1985. Formerly the National Sales Manager, Higgins’ promotion is due to his having put together an outstanding sales team which increased sales as well as our ranking” as a manufacturer of Polyester Gel Coats, according to HK Research President, Richard Higgins.

Recently, Higgins observed that while many in the polymer industry have had to downsize, HK Research is growing. In fact, the company has become one of the largest producers of Gel Coat materials in the world.

In his new position, David Higgins will have added budgetary responsibilities. As a Vice President, he also becomes a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

HK Research Corporation is American owned and operated in Hickory, NC. For more information, visit the website at www.hkresearch.com, or call toll-free, 1-800-334-5975.

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HICKORY, NC — HK Research, a leading gel coat producer in North America, recently launched a new website, www.hk-marine.com.  The site is dedicated exclusively to premium gel coats designed for the specialized demands of the marine industry.

One of the more prominent features of the new site examines HK Research’s latest innovation: High Definition™ (HD-series) marine gel coats, a new line of MACT-compliant marine gel coats specially formulated for high-quality exterior boating applications.

“We have been providing the marine industry with premium gel coats for years,” said David Higgins, Vice-President of Sales for HK Research. “This website reinforces our position as innovators in the manufacturing of marine gel coats,” he added.

Based in Hickory, North Carolina, HK Research has the largest fully automated, computer-controlled facility in North America designed exclusively for the manufacture of premium gel coats in the marine and composites industries. For more information, visitwww.hkresearch.com, or call toll-free, 1-800-334-5975.

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