People &

Places

Mark
Russell
Norplex-Micarta is pleased to announce Mark Russell as its business development manager.
Mark Russell headshot
In this new role, Russell will bring his decades of industry experience to support Norplex-Micarta’s mission. Primarily focused on new applications and materials, Russell will have the support of facilities globally, which are staffed with development engineers, test facilities and unique capabilities to produce high performance composite materials at scale.

“Mark is an accomplished professional and a respected member of the composite industry. I am excited to have him on the team to bring to market many new materials and approaches that Norplex has been developing over the last few years. These are exciting times for the composites industry, and Mark will be a great resource for us and our customers,” said Dustin Davis, director of sales and business development of Norplex-Micarta.

Russell has decades of sales and application development experience at OEMs such as Applied Materials and Parker Hannifin as well as at material manufacturers such as Freudenberg and Mitsubishi. For the last 12 years, Russell had been at Atlas Fibre, most recently serving as its general manager.

“I have always enjoyed working with the Norplex team and their industry leading products,” Russell said. “Being back in the material development and manufacturing segment of the industry is exciting for me as we help customers unlock the potential of these materials in collaborative and creative ways.”

Joe Taylor
Colton Glenn
Thermwood Corporation announced two promotions.
Joe Taylor headshot
Thermwood Corporation is pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Taylor to Vice president of production. Taylor replaced Don Ubelhor upon his retirement on August 31. Taylor is a long-standing employee with over 30 years of experience at Thermwood Corporation. He has held numerous production positions at the company, initially starting as an electrical assembler, then as an assistant supervisor in electrical. Over the last 23 years he has worked as supervisor of electrical.
Colton Glenn headshot
Thermwood Corporation is pleased to announce the promotion of Colton Glenn to electrical supervisor. Glenn started with Thermwood in August of 2017 in the Electrical Department as an electrical assembler and later was promoted to assistant supervisor of electrical.
Tyler
Sinclair
Redwood Plastics and Rubber is excited to announce the promotion of Tyler Sinclair to Director of Sales — US West.
Tyler Sinclair headshot

Sinclair’s promotion follows the company’s commitment to advancing Redwood’s presence and capabilities in the US West region. Sinclair will lead the sales vision across the Woodland and Spokane, WA teams to accelerate growth, expand Redwood Plastics and Rubber’s customer base and establish new partnerships with both customers and vendors.

“I am excited to take on a new challenge and lead the growth of Redwood in the US West region. I am grateful for the support and opportunities our Executive Team has given me, and also my colleagues both in Canada and in the U.S. for supporting me over the years,” said Sinclair. “I look forward to making a positive impact on our customers, employees, partners and our industry.”

“Tyler has succeeded in everything he has worked on. As the leader of our Product and Market Development Team, Tyler has led our company to numerous sales milestones and expanded our product lines. Tyler’s wealth of knowledge of our manufacturing capabilities, his collaborative leadership qualities and the respect he has earned across Redwood and from our partners will serve him well in his new role as our new director of sales – US West,” said Dale Delmage, vice president of sales at Redwood Plastics and Rubber.

Sinclair started his career at Redwood Plastics and Rubber as a urethane technician in 2007. He quickly took on multiple roles such as machinist and administration personnel. These positions eventually led Tyler to accumulate manufacturing, industry and application knowledge, paving the way for him to land his first sales role in 2010. His exemplary success in sales led him to become the company’s market manager in 2017, where he became an industry leader in the rubber roller market and an expert in elastomer applications. He currently serves as vice president of the Rubber Roller Group.

IAPD — the performance plastics association, is pleased to welcome four new members to the association:

BGM International — Manufacturer
Felder Group USA — APS
Tilara Polyplast Pvt. Ltd. — Manufacturer
US Plast, Inc. — Manufacturer

Tom Corson
James O’Reilly
Susan Jenks
Professional Plastics, Inc. welcomed two new employees and announced the promotion of a long-time team member.
Tom Corson headshot
Joining the company as an Inside Sales Representative, Tom Corson brings his extensive experience and a passion for the plastics industry to his new role. With a career dating back to 1994, he appreciates the industry’s constant innovation and material improvements. He’s a firm believer in the power of effective communication and exceptional customer service, which he has successfully used to turn customers into valued partners. After 29 years in high-temperature thermal plastics, Corson still approaches his work with enthusiasm for learning and growth.
James O’Reilly headshot
James O’Reilly, the new Quality Control Manager based out of San Jose, CA, USA, will oversee the Quality Team’s daily operations and ensure compliance with internal and customer processes and specifications. With 22 years of experience in precision manufacturing and a diverse quality-focused background, O’Reilly brings a wealth of expertise to his new position. He looks forward to contributing to the company’s growth and instilling a lean, continuous improvement and audit-ready mindset within the team.
Susan Jenks headshot

With her promotion to Accounts Receivable Lead, Susan Jenks is responsible for overseeing accounts and credit-related inquiries. She will also serve as a knowledgeable resource for the rest of the Accounts Receivable team and help guide them to surpass their goals. Jenks has been with the company for nearly two decades, during which she has taken on diverse roles ranging from accounts receivable to branch administration and operations. She is excited to take on this new role and looks forward to furthering her knowledge and leading the department and the company to success.

David Kovacs
Kevin Mulligan
Cast Nylons Ltd. announced a new hire and a promotion.
David Kovacs headshot
Cast Nylons Ltd. welcomed David Kovacs as the newest addition to the Inside Sales Territory Management team. He brings several years of sales and communications experience.

Kovacs, who is originally from Buffalo, NY, is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with customers on the Upper East Coast as well as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. Kovacs is also responsible for managing the United States and Cast Nylons Mexico facility relations.

Kovacs is currently attending John Carroll University pursuing a degree in accounting. He is also an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and served as president in 2021. Kovacs joins the sales team motivated by his desire to learn more about the industry and strive for excellence within it.

Kevin Mulligan headshot
Cast Nylons Ltd. is pleased to announce the promotion of Kevin Mulligan to general manager.

In his previous role with Cast Nylons Ltd. as project engineer and S.H.E. manager, Mulligan developed and implemented companywide safety programs that focus on worker safety, risk mitigation and ergonomics.

Mulligan has also been instrumental in developing environmental programs, which are recognized with the Environmental Excellence Awards, presented by IAPD.

In his new role as general manager, Mulligan will be responsible for the operational excellence of the casting, finishing and logistics operations, as well as the Machined Components Division. Mulligan commented, “Cast Nylons is focused on constantly improving the customer experience so that we can be the ones that you can count on.”

AAG Tailored Cutting Solutions celebrates the grand opening of its brand-new global headquarters and dedicated manufacturing plant of the AXYZ CNC Routers product line. The new facility, located in Waterdown, Ontario, CA is also designed to showcase the latest in CNC router and waterjet cutting technology and provide customers with hands-on experience and training.

The grand opening celebration, held October 3-4, gave attendees the opportunity to tour the new facility, witness live demonstrations of the latest router and waterjet cutting systems and view presentations of the benefits of AXYZ router and WARDJET cutting technology. The celebration also featured giveaways, refreshments and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

A VIP ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on October 5.

“We are thrilled to officially celebrate the opening of our new state-of-the-art Waterdown facility and showcase the innovation and precision of our AXYZ and WARDJET CNC cutting systems,” said Doug LoFranco, CEO of AAG Tailored Cutting Solutions. “Our team has worked tirelessly to create a space that not only displays our cutting-edge technology but also provides our customers with the resources they need to excel in their industries.”

Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc. is celebrating 70 years in business.

“We are proud to be celebrating the 70th anniversary of our agency and appreciate the long-term relationships with our manufacturing partners and customer base that we have been able to cultivate over the years.” said Ryan Alexander, president of Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc.

Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc. is a third-generation manufacturers’ representative agency founded in 1953 by Emerson Alexander. The company began with a focus on industrial and thermoformable plastics.

Emerson’s son, Bruce, joined him out of college in 1968 and further developed the agency with an additional focus on OEM componentry, which deepened the agency’s knowledge of the end users, applications and industries that make up their territory.

Emerson Alexander, Bruce Alexander, Sarah Alexander, Joel Kelsey, Chuck Decker, Joyce Padavick and Peg Van Winkle
Pictured in the above photo from the mid ‘80s is the former leadership team of Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc., Emerson Alexander, Bruce Alexander, Sarah Alexander, Joel Kelsey, Chuck Decker, Joyce Padavick and Peg Van Winkle.
Ryan Alexander, John Cavanaugh and Erin O’Neill
The current leadership team of Alexander Industrial Sales, Inc., Ryan Alexander, John Cavanaugh and Erin O’Neill.
Bruce then succeeded Emerson as president of the agency in 1988.

Following in his family’s footsteps, Ryan Alexander joined Bruce in 1999, becoming the president of the agency in 2018. Ryan has continued the agency’s focus and growth in industrial plastics.

Today, the Cleveland, OH-based agency specializes in the representation of thermoplastic and fluoropolymer solutions in the chemical process, building and construction, transportation, marine, medical, packaging, signage and food processing industries throughout the Midwest.

Asahi/America, Inc. announces partnership with McElroy Manufacturing, Inc. to provide welding equipment.

Thermoplastic valve and pipe manufacturer Asahi/America, Inc. has recently formed a strategic partnership with McElroy Manufacturing, Inc., based in Tulsa, OK, USA, to provide industry-leading fusion equipment to the market, compatible with Asahi/America, Inc.’s thermoplastic piping systems. As of September 1, 2023, Asahi/America, Inc. will offer McElroy-manufactured butt and socket fusion equipment that will be available for rental or purchase.

DataLogger 7
McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.’s DataLogger 7 will be offered for purchase or rent by Asahi/America, Inc.
The partner’s tool fleet will be able to butt or socket weld single and double wall pipe diameters ranging from 20-125 millimeter for socket, and 20-630 millimeter for butt in thermoplastic materials such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE and PE100RC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE or HALAR®). The new tool offering is available for shop or field use.

McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.’s DataLogger® 7 will also be available to purchase or rent from Asahi/America, Inc. as an optional accessory. The DataLogger meets ASTM F3124 requirements and is a waterproof, shockproof and dustproof device that records fusion operation data to ensure the correct pressure and fusion times were used according to the job’s parameters. The DataLogger 7 supplied by Asahi/America, Inc. will be programmed with all the necessary weld parameters for all of the company’s single wall and double wall pipe systems. Data from the unit can be uploaded to McElroy’s vault, to store, evaluate and inspect all actual weld data remotely.

In addition to the fleet of welding equipment, Asahi/America, Inc., in partnership with McElroy University, will launch an online welding certification and Learning Management System for contractors and installers who will be operating the equipment. This will be available in early 2024.

“This new relationship with McElroy will bring Asahi/America’s weld program to a new level,” said Joe Poniatowski, Asahi/America, Inc. Welding and Standards Manager. “The McElroy team has been very instrumental in developing a full tool offering for Asahi as well as the new learning system for Asahi’s pipe systems. We will continue to develop new learning modules, i.e., QA/QC weld inspection for all of our materials, double contained piping installation/welding, hot air welding for our thermoplastic duct systems and more.”