The Late, Mr. Hugh Barrett, was a well-respected technical consultant with APV Engineered Coatings from 2002 to 2021. He had a vast chemical engineering background and was instrumental to the company in formulating for unique coating challenges.
Barrett entered the U.S. Navy in 1965 and served as a Petty Officer Second Class Gunner’s Mate responsible for the operation and maintenance of small arms, torpedoes, vertical launching systems and gun systems. Barrett served time aboard the USS Terrebonne Parish (LST-1156), USS Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708), and completed training and operations on the Mediterranean and Caribbean Sea before his honorable discharge in 1972.
Barrett found his way to the chemical industry in 1980, starting as a plant engineer and PVC formulator with Proto Corporation. He became a research scientist then laboratory supervisor in 1987 with Polyplastex International and worked as a Federal Aviation Administration Designated Engineering Representative, among other positions. In 1995, Hugh developed and manufactured custom PVDF-based chemistries with PVDF Products LLC, where he served as president. His expansive polymer and solvent research have been implemented into commercial products for the marine, automotive, aerospace, industrial fabrics, and architectural industries. Barrett is well known for his engineering and constructing of test instruments, including air-powered laboratory rotogravures, goniometers, FAA-approved heat release rate chambers and smoke density test tunnels for flammability studies.
