Our Client is a leading global specialist for high-quality plastic films, sheets and other plastic products. With more than thirty production sites and sales entities in over twenty countries, the company is one of the world’s leading plastic product manufacturers. Today more than 4,700 employees continue to further the knowledge and expertise gained from over seventy years of business.

Our Client is seeking a skilled Chemist, with a focus on developing decorative gravure-printed films for kitchen doors and window profiles. This role combines creativity and technical know-how to design new patterns, optimize gravure printing conditions, and evaluate solvent-based ink systems.

The Chemist will play a key role in the research, development, and production of decorative PVC films and will contribute to the development of new products, improvement of existing formulations, and optimisation of manufacturing processes. It is desirable for the candidate to understand polymers, resins, and surface coating/decorating technologies (printing, priming, embossing etc.) and can bring new methodologies in these areas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and optimize solvent-based ink systems, with a focus on pigment selection, dispersion and stability.
• Evaluate and support the development of primers to ensure strong bonding of films to polymeric substrates.
• Conduct lab and pilot-scale gravure printing trials, managing all print parameters including cylinder selection, drying and ink transfer.
• Troubleshoot printing issues such as colour issues, poor adhesion, solvent retention and miss printing.
• Perform detailed visual and instrumental colour evaluations, using tools such as spectrophotometers and gloss meters.
• Document all findings in technical reports and support the scale-up of new designs to full-scale production.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams in formulation, product development, process engineering, and production to ensure successful implementation of print innovations.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging pigment technologies, sustainable solvent systems, and regulatory requirements (e.g., REACH, VOC limits).

Candidate Profile

• A strong understanding of pigment chemistry, solvent systems, and adhesion on polymeric substrates is essential, along with experience in gravure-printing, ideally in decorative or laminated film applications.
• Working knowledge of primers and adhesion promoters, including solvent selection and performance testing.  Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and solve complex printing and adhesion issues.

Package and Benefits

• Full time role 35.5hrs per week Mon-Thurs 9-5, Fri 9-3. Homeworking not an option except in emergencies.
• Employer contributions of up to 9% depending on employee contributions
• Health and wellbeing initiatives and Employee benefits hub, 
• Private health insurance
• Company performance bonus (not guaranteed) but awarded annually in December 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
• Company sick pay
• Life insurance
• Annual leave; 25 days plus 2 days (fixed at Christmas) this is 3 days for 2025 only plus all bank holidays

Whitehall is the Recruitment Specialist for the Chemical, Polymer, Coatings and Life Science Industries.