Nanomanufacturing Center at UMass Lowell Names New Board Member

Rick Daniels has been named to the executive advisory board for the Nanomanufacturing Center at UMass Lowell.

The Center is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing and the Nanomanufacturing Center of Excellence as part of a collaborative effort working on developing nanoscale processes and applications.

Nanotechnology is the construction and use of functional structures designed from atomic or molecular scale with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometers. Their size allows them to exhibit novel and significantly improved physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes because of their size. Nanomanufacturing is the process of assembling complex structures with atomic precision. Nanotechnology is already being used as the basis for new, more effective drug delivery systems and is in early stage development as scaffolding in nerve regeneration research. Moreover, the National Cancer Institute has created the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer in the hope that investments in this branch of nanomedicine could lead to breakthroughs in terms of detecting, diagnosing, and treating various forms of cancer.

Daniels is general manager of the the Advanced Materials and Contract Manufacture business at Carestream Tollcoating and is responsible for both contract manufacturing and joint-venture activity.

“As the leader of a key business involved in roll-to-roll processing and scalable nanomanufacturing methodologies, I am honored to join the executive advisory board of the Nanomanufacturing Center at UMass Lowell,” said Daniels. “It is critical to bring researchers, institutions and leading companies together as the high-rate manufacturing of nano-enabled products evolves. I look forward to being a part of this initiative, which promises to accelerate the creation of a variety of commercial products enabled by the development of an entirely new generation of nano applications.”

Daniels’ background includes domestic and international general management, strategy, finance, marketing, and mergers and acquisitions. He has founded several companies including a precision coating contract manufacturing company formed with private equity and Polaroid coating assets. Daniels also serves on the board of directors of the Association for Corporate Growth and the board of NeuCo Inc.

“The Nanomanufacturing Center at UMass Lowell recognizes that nano products are likely to fuel the next economic boom, which is why it is so important for us to bring together leaders in the industry and academia,” said Dr. Joey Mead, co-director of the The Nanomanufacturing Center. “We are pleased to welcome Rick to the executive advisory board. His business and technological experience make him a logical addition to the team, providing a unique perspective to aid in the creation of solutions for more useful, cost-effective and durable nano products.”

Carestream Tollcoating, of Bedford, Ore., offers contract coating services specializing in the application of aqueous and solvent coatings on flexible substrates for display component, battery component, membrane, medical devices, nanotechnology and imaging products.