Coatings
Beyond SurFACES – Meet Adriana Pullin
Thinking beyond the box
Born and raised in Mexico City, Adriana Pullin grew up in a traditional family. As a child, she was curious about the ways of the world, and how she could go beyond what she already knew.
After high school, Adriana chose to study chemical engineering with a minor in polymers at the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico. She joined BASF in 2005 and, in 2016, relocated to Southfield, Michigan, where she currently holds the position of Color Excellence Leader for Automotive Coatings North America. We asked Adriana about her life story, and her passion for color.
Beyond SurFACES – Get to know our winning team
At BASF Coatings, we are driven by passion and science to always go beyond the surface. In our new series, Beyond SurFACES, we introduce you to the talented individuals who make it happen. From developing innovative coatings to creating sustainable solutions, our winning team is at the heart of everything we do. Meet Adriana Pulllin, Color Excellence Leader for Automotive Coatings North America at BASF. Want to be part of the journey?
Join us in going beyond!
How did you first get involved with automotive coatings?
I had an extra class in university, which was a polymer lab. In this polymers class, part of the curriculum was dedicated to thermoplastics, which dove into different kinds of coatings, the science behind them, and the performance they should have. It awakened my passion for it.
I started looking for a job soon after, and coincidentally, I came across one in the refinish industry. They hired me as an apprentice, and I could earn credits for school. There, I was introduced to automotive color theory, how to formulate to improve certain characteristics of coatings and how pigments interact with color. As a car fanatic myself, I was also thrilled that I could see models before they came into the market. I felt like I was changing the world, and going beyond the limits. I could do anything.
Once I finished my initial contract, I decided to continue as an employee for two more years. And after that, I joined BASF and never left.
We create colors with new features that go way beyond anything our competitors have developed that can be profitable for the company.
What does a routine workday look like for you?
I am responsible for pigment activities in North America. Every day, we combine a coating base with a pigment to create colors. Those pigments are particles that can either bring color or create specific effects.
We meet with suppliers to select pigments or develop our own new pigments. My team handles all the science around qualification and testing of the pigments to make sure they meet the durability and stability specifications for each automaker.
Another part of our work is color innovation. We create colors with pigments that go beyond what is already out on the road. Nobody has ever seen them before. We create colors with new features that go way beyond anything our competitors have developed that can be profitable for the company.
Color innovation can also involve sustainability. For example, some colors are traditionally sourced from petroleum. However, it can be possible to obtain pigments from more sustainable sources, reducing carbon emissions significantly. We are working on this, and pushing the limits of science every day.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your job today?
The biggest challenge is creating things that are not there yet. When somebody asks for a pigment with a functionality that has never been achieved before, you have to look for alternatives. You don't always have a straightforward response. My passion is finding that alternative that’s good for the customer, and good for BASF.
Two big challenges are also predicting coming trends and finding the best way to incorporate new technologies.
How do you help bring BASF’s Automotive Color Trends Collection to life?
Each region has its own Pigments and Innovative Colors leader as well as color design leads. Every year, the design leads from all three regions come together to develop the concept behind each new Automotive Color Trends Collection, and my counterparts and I do the scientific work for them.
Once the concept is created, we collectively decide which colors will go into the different aspects of the collection and the regions. It's really fun, because it opens your mind and helps you think beyond the box.
