British anilox manufacturer Sandon Global has named Siddharth Lokachari the new research and technical manager of its Plasma Coatings Division. Sandon Global says the appointment reinforces its commitment to technical excellence and leadership in anilox innovation.

Lokachari will lead plasma process optimization, integrate advanced plasma technologies, and spearhead the development of novel coatings, aiming to raise the bar in anilox performance and durability. He will also be responsible for developing and mentoring Sandon Global’s Plasma Team to support a culture of continuous improvement and enhanced productivity, as well as forging and strengthening partnerships with external suppliers to create collaborative opportunities to enhance plasma technology offerings.

Richard Millington, managing director, says, “We are delighted to have Sid on board with us. He is an exceptionally talented individual who has already brought a raft of expertise into our business. His deep materials science and coatings knowledge will directly shape the future of our plasma coating capabilities and help drive industry innovation. This is another step forward for us in ensuring that Sandon Global continues to offer the highest standards of precision, quality and consistency to the global flexographic industry.”

Lokachari comments, “I envisage Technology as an embodiment of talent, tool, temerity and trust that shape and make ‘things’ happen. Plasma‑coating technology sits at the heart of our manufacturing process, and its quality directly impacts every subsequent production stage. My focus is on optimizing core plasma processes and strategically directing R&D initiatives to diversify our industrial reach and explore novel combinations of unconventional materials. By employing state-of-the-art characterization techniques, we aim to develop patentable industrial applications that will drive innovation at Sandon Global.”

Lokachari holds a PhD in Materials Science from The University of Munich, Germany and a Master of Engineering from Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan. Previously a Rolls-Royce Research Fellow, he led work on environmental barrier coatings and wear-resistant solutions for jet engines under the £10.5 million Reinstate project.

He is an active contributor to standards bodies including the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and British Standards Institution (BSI), and has been recognised by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) with a Global Talent endorsement in Materials Science and Engineering.

According to Sandon Global, Lokachari’s appointment will keep the company at the forefront of coating innovation as it continues to explore and discover new ways to raise, and set, the standard in anilox science. Millington adds, “Creating a consistent chromium oxide coating has kept us at the forefront of anilox innovation. But innovation doesn’t happen by accident, it’s built from the inside out. Our state-of-the-art metallurgical laboratory provides us with the in-house capabilities to ensure robust coating quality control for anilox consistency. With Sid’s expertise and our continued investment in people and technology, Sandon Global is ideally positioned to lead the next chapter in flexographic printing.”