KANTAPPA HALAKE
Daman
Summary
Senior Manager with extensive experience in Technical Services, New Product Development, and Materials Testing within polymer packaging, polymer chemical coating, and geosynthetic industries. Spearheaded successful commercialization of innovative products and optimized manufacturing processes, delivering significant cost reductions and enhanced product performance. Contributed to scientific advancement through numerous publications and presentations, fostering collaboration between academia and industry while developing new R&D infrastructures and mentoring emerging scientists.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager - R&D
Strata Geosystem India Pvt Ltd.
Vapi
04.2022 - Current
- Led new product development initiatives to align with market needs and drive innovation
- Conducted new product trials up to MT level to qualify raw materials for performance standards
- Expanded and developed new testing facility for geosynthetic applications to enhance product validation
- Led strategic initiatives for organizational growth.
- Product innovation and patent filing
Sr. Manager - R&D
Megaplast India Pvt. Ltd.
Daman
05.2022 - 03.2025
- R&D Leadership: Developed completely new R&D facility- wet lab
- Leading comprehensive R&D initiatives, product formulation and new innovations, optimization
- Conducted product trials and qualified products through quality testing, ensuring compliance with standard specifications.
- Proven collaboration of academic and research institutes for NPD which receives 5Cr Govt funding for polylactic acid film from DSIR
- Analyzed customer requirements and coordinated third-party testing and inspection, delivering tailored solutions to meet client specifications.
- Working with cross-function teams with QA, and production for optimization of process and new recipe
- New polyolefin product ideation to market launch with customer expectations
- Process and cost optimization with alternative RM which leads cost saving
- Facilitated training on ISO17025 standards, enhancing team understanding of accreditation requirements and improving compliance practices.
- Polyolefins Product Portfolio Management: Managing a diverse product portfolio in advanced multilayer blown-extrusion technology.
- 3-Layered Geomembranes: Developing a broad range for geosynthetic applications, tailored for environmental containment solutions.
- High Temperature Resistant, Flame Retardant, Anti-Termite, Extra Flexible, Extra Light Reflective, with different masterbatch, polymer base resin and polymer compounding.
- 4-Layered Stretch Films: Designing select product lines for efficient wrapping applications, enhancing durability and cost-effectiveness.
- 5-Layered Packaging Solutions: Innovating in Form Fill and Seal (FFS) bags and heavy-duty sacks, engineered for robust filling and transportation of heavy materials.
- 7-Layered Specialty Geomembranes: Creating specialty gas-barrier geomembranes for critical applications in construction, landfill, mining, pond liners, and agriculture.
- Prototype Trials: Directing new product trials, from initial Raw Material (RM) qualification in prototypes to full-scale commercial trials handling up to several MT.
- Cost Optimization: Executed cost-saving initiatives by modifying formulations, achieving a reduction in additive expenses of approximately 60 INR/kg, with annual usage between 40–50 MT, translating to substantial yearly savings.
- Customer Qualification Trials: Facilitating successful customer trials, ensuring product efficacy at client facilities for final qualification, enhancing customer satisfaction and trust.
- Quality Assurance & Compliance: Overseeing product inspection and accreditation audits for quality control, achieving certifications from industry standards like GAI-LAP, CE certifications, and NABL, reinforcing the lab's credibility and quality assurance practices.
- Strategic Product Innovation and Market Alignment: Driving product innovation by assessing emerging trends and customer needs in the packaging and geosynthetics sectors.
Dy. Manager - R&D
Cosmo Films Ltd.
Aurangabad
08.2019 - 04.2022
- 3-Layered BOPP and Cast PP Films: Successfully led the development of 3-layered BOPP and Cast PP films, advancing quality and performance in packaging solutions.
- Polymer Compounded Product Creation: Reverse-engineered and formulated a novel matte compound giving matte properties for BOPP film, specifically tailored for lamination applications—setting a new industry standard for film aesthetics and functionality.
- Developed polyethylene-based white masterbatches with TiO2 and CaCO3 formulations to enhance product performance.
- Customer Qualification Trials: Conducted successful product trials at customer facilities, securing product qualification and boosting customer confidence.
- Prototype and Commercial Machine Expertise: Managed trials on prototype and high-capacity commercial machines, achieving an impressive output of 4 MT/hr.
- Oversaw a continuous 3-day commercial trial on a 5-layered BOPP machine for stretch film applications, validating product endurance and scalability.
- Synthesized fragrance microcapsules and developed advanced coating formulations for BOPP films, improving durability and application versatility.
- Coating and Microencapsulation Innovation: Engineered fragrance-containing microcapsules of polyurethane, successfully integrating them into BOPP film matte coatings.
- Achieved controlled fragrance release lasting over 12 months and initiated patent protection process for this innovative technology.
- Published in News: https://packagingsouthasia.com/application/cosmo-films-bopp-fragranced/
Assistant Research Professor
Chung-Ang University
Seoul
03.2015 - 08.2019
- Developed surface treatment methods for mechanical interlocking and nano-stitching of polymer interfaces to enhance adhesive performance.
- Applied nanotechnology principles to synthesize nanomaterials for targeted applications.
- Title: Controlled Degradation of Hyaluronic Acid by Flavonoid Conjugation.
- Executed antioxidant stabilization techniques to prolong polymer degradation and improve material longevity.
- Title: Composites of Carbon Nano-Materials: Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene.
- Emphasis: Project planning, experimental design, executing experiments, data analysis, and problem-solving.
PhD Research Scholar
Chung-Ang University
Seoul
09.2010 - 02.2015
- Conducted literature searches to generate innovative ideas and designed experiments to test hypotheses.
- Investigated functional modifications of synthetic and biodegradable polymers to enhance material properties.
- Conducted comprehensive literature reviews to inform research projects.
- Designed and implemented experiments to test hypotheses effectively.
- Collaborated with faculty to develop research proposals and grant applications.
Research Project Assistant
National Chemical Laboratory
Pune
11.2006 - 08.2010
- Project Title: Synthesis of Enzyme Microcapsules for Liquid Detergent, Sponsored by USA-based MNC company.
- Project Title: Encapsulation for fabric care, Sponsored by USA-based MNC company.
- Secured US patents for two innovative projects, enhancing company's intellectual property portfolio.
- Experience: Synthesis of polyurea microcapsules, microspheres, polyacrylic homopolymer, copolymer and terpolymer synthesis with pH responsive property and polymer coating formulations.
R&D Lab Chemist
Thermax
Pune
06.2006 - 11.2006
- Executed lab tests to assess efficacy of waste water treatment chemicals based on project specifications.
- Developed academic project on synthesis and characterization of polymethyl methacrylate based telechelic polymer, contributing to understanding of polymer properties.
- Conducted chemical analyses to ensure product quality and compliance with industry standards.
- Developed and implemented laboratory procedures for efficient testing and analysis.
- Maintained laboratory equipment, ensuring proper functioning and safety protocols.
Education
PhD - Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
Chung-Ang University
Seoul, South Korea02.2019
M.Sc. - Polymer Chemistry
School of Chemical Science, Main Campus, Solapur University
Solapur, Maharashtra, India12.2006
B.Sc. - Chemistry
DBF Dayanand College of Arts and Science
Solapur, Maharashtra, India12.2004
Skills
- Polymer Extrusion
- Polymer Encapsulation
- Flexible Packaging Films
- Geosynthetics/Geomembrane
- BOPP & CPP Films
- Masterbatch development
- Multi-layered Blown Film
- Composite Materials
- Polyacrylate base polymers
- Process Optimization
- Barrier Properties (GTR, OTR, WVTR)
- Sr Level Communicator
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 05/01/83
Languages
- English
- Hindi
- Marathi
- Kannada
Notable Accomplishments
'Excellent Paper Presentation Award', for two successive oral presentations on, “Superporous thermoresponsive MFC/PNIPAm composite hydrogels” and
Timeline
Sr. Manager - R&D
Megaplast India Pvt. Ltd.
05.2022 - 03.2025
General Manager - R&D
Strata Geosystem India Pvt Ltd.
04.2022 - Current
Dy. Manager - R&D
Cosmo Films Ltd.
08.2019 - 04.2022
Assistant Research Professor
Chung-Ang University
03.2015 - 08.2019
PhD Research Scholar
Chung-Ang University
09.2010 - 02.2015
Research Project Assistant
National Chemical Laboratory
11.2006 - 08.2010
R&D Lab Chemist
Thermax
06.2006 - 11.2006
PhD - Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
Chung-Ang University
M.Sc. - Polymer Chemistry
School of Chemical Science, Main Campus, Solapur University
B.Sc. - Chemistry
DBF Dayanand College of Arts and Science