After 26 years of devoted service, Tom Powell is set to retire this fall from Orion Engineered Carbons.

“Tom will be greatly missed at Orion and in the industry,” said Henry Brooks, Vice President, Specialty Carbon Blacks Americas. “He was instrumental in developing several new grades of Carbon Black for the U.S. packaging ink market and also developed the first D&C Black #2 sold to the cosmetics industry.”

Powell joined Orion predecessor Degussa Corporation in 1989 as an applications chemist after working as a tire scientist at BF Goodrich Tire Co. He held roles of increasing importance at successor companies Degussa-Huls, Evonik Corporation and finally Orion Engineered Carbons as a technical market manager. In this role he has been responsible for all technical aspects related to the ink and adhesives industries for the Americas.

“My time at Orion is memorable because of the great relationships I formed with colleagues and customers over the years,” said Powell. “It was easy to go to work every day because I worked with great and friendly people. The thing I will miss most in retirement is the people I have been honored to work with.”

Powell was a member of the US Carbon Black delegation of the ISO TC45 technical committee on rubber/rubber products, the American Chemical Society Rubber Division, and the Akron Rubber Group.  He served as secretary for the ASTM Committee D24 on Carbon Black.  Powell was awarded the ASTM Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and the Chicago Printing Ink Production Club Service Award in 2010.