William A. (Bill) Haile
Lifetime Service Award
2007
Qualifications Summary
Innovative, accomplished Business and Product Development Consultant who brings value to the organization through application of multiple significant skills developed through highly diversified 30+year career in fibrous materials. Expertise in providing creative leadership to Research and Development, Technical Service, Product Launch and Business Development related to polymers, filament and staple fibers, additives, nonwovens, composites, dyes and textile chemicals.
Accomplishments
Proposed and provided technical leadership for Eastman’s polyester spunbond and BCF initiatives that became very successful programs in the trade, providing three-digit increases in polymer sales.
- Instrumental in significantly doubling commercial sales of copolyesters for binder fiber applications through demonstration of product advantages, introduction of a new higher flow product and focus on dependability of domestic supplier.
- Presented and published over 70 papers.
- Inventor or co-inventor of record on over 100 U.S. and foreign patents.
- Selected by management due to expertise and project management to serve as Development and Commercialization Team Leader for Advanced Melt Blowing Line for specialty polymers at a Kodak venture company. Project resulted in production of filter media that replaced more expensive imported products and new safety separator for lithium batteries.
- Served as Development and Commercialization Team Leader for Capillary Surface Technology, of which 4DG, a deep grooved, spontaneously wettable fiber is probably the best known. This technical advance is often credited with aiding development of high-performance “fluid movement, fluid management” engineered structures.
- Codeveloper of powder bonding process that was later commercialized by three major companies.
- Developed cationic pressure emulsion procedure for making polyethylene textile softeners.
- Chosen to attend Center for Creative Leadership in Colorado Springs, Colorado, due to demonstrated ability to represent both scientific and business interests for Eastman Chemical Company
- Selected to attend Buffalo State College Center for Studies in Creativity due to recognized leadership skills, resourcefulness, and “outside the box” thinking.
Professional Experience
Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport , TN
1970-2004
Development and Technical/Marketing Associate, 2001-2004 Hybrid business position charged with responsibility for developing Polyester Polymers for Fibers business, providing technical support, expanding market focus for specialty polymers, and additionally serving as internal consultant to new Nonwovens marketing initiative that integrated products from four business organizations.
Research Associate and Project Leader, 1988-2001
Utilized specialized skills in Cellulose Esters Research Laboratory for developing biodegradable polymers/fibers for nonwovens and papers and in Melt Spun Fibers Technology & Services Laboratory for spinning and process optimization of existing and new polymers, including polymeric blends and low Tg copolyesters. Served as TeamLeader in Exploratory Fibers Research Laboratory for developing and later commercializing spontaneously wettable, fluid moving capillary surface materials.
Various Positions of Increasing Responsibility, 1970-1988
Included Chemist, Senior Chemist, Group Leader, Lab Supervisor in Development and Technical Service for Dyes, Chemicals, and Fibers.
Military Experience
U.S. Army
1968-1970
Captain – U.S. Army Natick Laboratories, Natick, MA (Body Armor Development) and 101 st Airborne Division, Vietnam
Education
MS, Textiles, Engineering and Science, Institute of Textile Technology, Charlottesville, VA, 1967
BS, Chemistry, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, 1965
Completed Courses in Air Pollution, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 1971
Completed Courses in Economics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 1967-1968
Professional Development and Awards
President, The Fiber Society, 2004
INDA Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry)
Eastman Chairman’s Award, for development of copolyester polymers for fibers, 2000
TAPPI Nonwovens Division Leadership & Service Award (Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry), 2004
Chairman, INTC 05 (International Nonwovens Technical Conference, 2005)
Member, Industrial Advisory Board, School of Textiles, Fiber & Polymer Science, Clemson University
Two-term chairman, INDA Technical Advisory Board
Past president, Southern Textile Research Conference
Graduate, Leadership Kingsport and Past President, Sullivan South Area Community Chest
ADDENDUM
PUBLICATIONS AND PATENTS
Presentations and Publications included: Over 70 papers on melt blowing of polyesters; bicomponent fibers; copolyester binder fibers; powder bonding; nonwovens; spunbonds; thermal analysis: correlations to fiber properties; dynamic insulation testing; 4DG/4SW and other spontaneously wettable capillary surface materials; biodegradable copolyesters; PEN polyester; warp sizing/desizing with water dispersible copolyesters; disperse dyeing, energy conservation in dyeing; and finishing, including: “New Biodegradable Copolyester for Fibre and Nonwoven Applications”, EDANA Nonwovens Conference 2001 (Denmark), later published; “Established and New Copolyester Polymers for Binder Fibers”, INDA-TEC ’98 International Nonwovens Conference, best paper in audience ratings, later published; “Preparation, Dyeing and Finishing of Woven Textured Polyester”, three-part publication in March, April, May 1977 issues of American Dyestuff Reporter; “Dyeing and Finishing Textured Filament-Filled Polyester/Cotton Blends”, paper presented by invitation at seven conferences. Additionally, authored chapter on “Melt Blowing Polyesters” in Miller-Freeman monograph on melt blowing.
Patents included: U.S. 5,268,229 “Spinneret Orifices and Filament Cross-Sections with Stabilizing Legs Therefrom” (1993); U.S. 6,562,938 B2 “Copolyesters and Fibrous Materials Formed Therefrom” (2003); U.S. 6,582,818 B2 “Polyesters Having a Controlled Melting Point and Fibers Formed Therefrom” (2003); and U.S. 6,818,293 “Stabilized Polyester Fibers and Films” (2004).
