A Conversation with Nathan Silvernail, PPG
Nathan Silvernail is the technical manager for Substrate Protection at PPG’s North American region in Springdale, Pennsylvania. He manages industrial electrocoat and pretreatment. Nathan received a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Notre Dame before starting his career with PPG in 2008. He is the owner of six patents with more pending.
PF: What excites you about the electrocoat industry?
NS: It’s exciting today because both performance requirements and regulatory constraints are becoming greater and more complicated. This is further highlighted due to the number of car builds in North America by global non-U.S.-based OEMs. There are opportunities for solutions to these issues.
PF: What led you to get involved in the coating industry?
NS: I wanted to use my chemistry background to solve practical problems. When I was 16, my father and I “repaired” a vehicle with Bondo, and to my surprise two years later it was in poor shape. It sparked my interest in metal treatments and coatings.
PF: How does it feel to have six patents and another seven pending patent applications to your credit? Is it a time-consuming process?
NS: I am happy to be part of the teams that create value for PPG. When I decided to pursue the finishing industry rather than academia, it was a tough transition to work on patents as opposed to peer-reviewed articles. The process is very different than I anticipated as a student. It is time consuming and requires you to think differently than you do when formulating coatings.
PF: You write a lot of white papers and facilitate research. Is that a lost art in the finishing industry?
NS: I don’t believe it is a lost art; there is a great deal of research that is occurring with the suppliers to finishers. It is challenging today to balance creating useful public information versus proprietary information. I do think it is important to help educate our industry; it is good for business to be informed.
PF: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
NS: Burger King. I learned that if I wanted some control over my career that I needed to learn all of the jobs. I wanted to understand not only what my customers and colleagues need, but their motivations.
PF: If you had $100,000 to give to a charity, which one would it be?
NS: I would support STEM education focusing on the underrepresented populations. I have two young daughters, and having spent many years at universities and now the coatings industry, it is clear to me that certain groups need more exposure to science and engineering and good science role models early in their education.
PF: What was your first car, and what is your dream car?
NS: A 1984 Plymouth Horizon. At the time as a 14-year-old in South Dakota, it was my dream car. Today, if it were practical, I would drive a full-size pickup truck.
PF: What did you want to be when you grew up?
NS: I was sure that I would be an astronaut.
PF: Night owl or early bird?
NS: An early bird.
PF: Where would we find you on a typical Saturday?
NS: With my family, hiking in one of the local parks.
PF: Best way to keep competitive edge?
NS: Talk to as many people in and around the industry as possible and read as much as possible.
PF: How do you motivate yourself?
NS: It is not novel, but I set short- and long-term goals. When either goals are failing, or bound to fail, I make changes.
PF: Three greatest passions?
NS: Family, science education and the outdoors.
PF: Most unique office décor?
NS: My Kelly green Notre Dame coffee mug.
Get to Know Nathan
Family: Wife Melissa and daughters Eleanor and Louisa
Favorite hobby: Hiking
Favorite movie: Wes Anderson movies
Favorite book: Books by Erik Larson
What’s playing in your car CD/radio: “Winter Fortress” by Neal Bascomb
To learn more visit PPG.
Originally published in the April 2017 issue.
Related Content
Top Shop Leader Focuses on Its People as Key to Success
Twin Cities job shop, Avtec, was named a Top Shop for the third time in 2022, due in no small part to its commitment not only to the work it produces but to those who produce it — its employees.
Read MoreInstalling an Ecoat Line
Thinking of investing in electrocoating capabilities? George Lovell, coatings plant manager for Lippert, discusses considerations you should keep in mind as you add your ecoat line.
Read MoreECOAT24 Attracts Both Serious Electrocoaters and Novices Alike
The conference, held April 2-4, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, provides the ecoating industry with educational sessions, supplier exhibits and networking with colleagues.
Read MoreTake Full Advantage of Industry Events
As travel plans ramp up for the year, what industry events will you attend? Products Finishing offers a quick look at some of the upcoming opportunities for 2024.
Read MoreRead Next
Education Bringing Cleaning to Machining
Debuting new speakers and cleaning technology content during this half-day workshop co-located with IMTS 2024.
Read MoreA ‘Clean’ Agenda Offers Unique Presentations in Chicago
The 2024 Parts Cleaning Conference, co-located with the International Manufacturing Technology Show, includes presentations by several speakers who are new to the conference and topics that have not been covered in past editions of this event.
Read MoreDelivering Increased Benefits to Greenhouse Films
Baystar's Borstar technology is helping customers deliver better, more reliable production methods to greenhouse agriculture.
Read More