People &

Places

  • Randy Kirkpatrick
    Greg Martino
    headshot of Randy Kirkpatrick
    Artek, Inc. announced the retirement of Randy Kirkpatrick, director of sales and marketing, after 31 years with the company. Kirkpatrick joined Artek early in its history and played a key role in building customer relationships and contributing to the company’s growth in the performance plastics industry.
    headshot of Greg Martino

    Greg Martino has been named the new director of sales and marketing, effective August 4, 2025. Martino brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in plastics sales, with previous roles at GEHR Plastics, Georg Fischer Harvel and Ensinger.

    To support a smooth transition, Kirkpatrick will work alongside Martino for a period of time to facilitate knowledge transfer and ensure continuity of ongoing initiatives.
  • Elliot Dworkin
    CartierWilson LLC announced the retirement of Southwest Territory Manager Elliot Dworkin, effective September 1, 2025.
    close up of Elliot Dworkin smiling while holding a caught fish on a boat
    His career in the performance plastics industry began in 1985 and has spanned roles in distribution, manufacturing, fabrication and machine shops. Over the years, Dworkin supported operations worldwide, including work with semiconductor facilities in Singapore, Malaysia and Germany.
    For the past decade, Dworkin served CartierWilson’s Southwest territory, which includes Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana and Colorado. Known for his integrity, consistency and commitment to both principals and distribution partners, he built a reputation for strong relationships and trust across the region.
    “My career was so much fun that I never thought about retiring,” Dworkin said. “When I was working, I was thinking about golfing and fishing and when I was golfing and fishing I was thinking about working.”
    Chris Corona, principal of CartierWilson, added, “The performance plastics market won’t be the same without Elliot. His customers have always counted on him to be an advocate, and he always answered the phone with a smile. The energy Elliot brought to his career is something we will all truly miss. We wish him the best in a well-deserved retirement.”
    CartierWilson also announced that Josh Delaney will assume the role of Southwest Territory Manager. Delaney brings a collaborative spirit and a commitment to continuing the tradition of service exemplified by Dworkin.

  • Steve Bench
    William Slade
    Keith Bateman
    Ensinger announced that Steve Bench has joined the company as territory manager for the Rockies region, covering AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT and WY.
    headshot of Steve Bench

    Bench brings extensive experience in the plastics industry, having previously supported Ensinger products as a channel partner. He began his career in inside sales, later moving into outside sales before advancing to leadership positions in sales and marketing. He also served as a general manager, overseeing operations and leading teams to achieve strategic goals.

    He holds a Bachelor of Science in professional sales and a Master of Professional Communication, both from Weber State University.
    headshot of William Slade

    William “Will” Slade has joined Ensinger as industry segment manager – Semicon in the company’s Strategic Growth Group.

    Slade brings more than 10 years of experience selling technical products into the semiconductor industry, with a proven background in customer engagement and supporting complex applications. Originally from Minnesota, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota.
    Outside of work, Slade enjoys spending time with his family and his German shorthaired pointer, as well as playing squash, fishing and listening to music.
    headshot of Keith Bateman

    Ensinger also announced that Keith Bateman has joined the company as territory manager for the North Central region, which includes ND, SD, NE, KS, IA, MO, WI and IL.

    Bateman brings more than 20 years of experience in high-performance thermoplastics, with a background in sales leadership, product management and technical marketing across both OEM and distribution channels. His expertise and focus on customer success will support Ensinger’s continued growth in the region.
  • Lucas Gillman
    headshot of Lucas Gillman

    Roechling Industrial Gastonia is pleased to announce the hire of Lucas Gillman as Territory Manager for the Northeast.

    Lucas comes to the company with 11 years of experience in manufacturing sales, having worked in both inside and outside sales roles.
    He resides in New Jersey with his wife and two children, allowing him to be close to the market he serves. Lucas is responsible for the New England states as well as DE, MD, NJ, NY and PA.
  • Daniel Brix
    headshot of Daniel Birx

    AGRU America, Inc. announced that Daniel Birx has joined the company as business unit manager for the Fluoropolymer and Semi-Finished Products group.

    In this role, he will oversee sheet, rod and other stock materials made with engineering plastics, including sales, technical support and strategic growth of the group.
    Birx earned a degree in chemical engineering and a certificate in polymer engineering from the University of Akron. He has more than eight years of industry experience, including roles in process engineering, application development and product development. His background includes leading projects in manufacturing and process optimization, along with customer-facing business development.
    “I’ve been impressed by the enthusiastic welcome and support from my colleagues at AGRU,” Birx said. “I look forward to contributing my knowledge and experience to support our customers and advancing the development of the product group.”
Thermwood and Purdue University collaborate on advanced composite manufacturing.

Thermwood Corporation and Purdue University’s Composites Manufacturing and Simulation Center (CMSC) have formed a partnership to integrate predictive simulation with large-scale 3D printing. The collaboration is designed to support “first-time-right” production of advanced composite parts, improving efficiency while reducing costs and development time.

The project combines Purdue’s research expertise and simulation tools with Thermwood’s LSAM® (Large Scale Additive Manufacturing) technology. Applications include aerospace, automotive and defense, where the need for strong, lightweight and complex structures is growing.

Dr. Byron Pipes and Dr. Eduardo Barocio of Purdue University emphasized the role of digital simulation and industry partnerships in accelerating innovation. Their work highlights how research can move from the lab into industrial-scale production environments.

Inteplast Group acquires con-pearl and launches sustainable packaging and printing solutions business unit.

Inteplast Group announced the acquisition of con-pearl, a manufacturer specializing in sleeve packaging and bubble board products. Founded in Germany, con-pearl has locations in Geismar and Leinefelde-Worbis as well as Greenville, South Carolina. Its products are widely used in the automotive dunnage and material-handling industries.

The acquisition complements Inteplast’s existing corrugated board product lines and expands its capabilities in packaging solutions.

In conjunction with the acquisition, Inteplast has launched a new business unit: Sustainable Packaging & Printing Solutions. This unit replaces the former Corrugated Boards group and brings together Inteplast’s portfolio of packaging and printing brands, including con-pearl, IntePro, Coroplast, Matra Plast, CoolSeal and PallCon.

The restructuring reflects Inteplast’s focus on sustainability and innovation in the packaging sector.

Colorado Plastics celebrates 20 years of ownership by Drew and Anita Schwartz
Drew and Anita Schwartz lean together for a photo standing beside a large machine in a factory

Drew and Anita Schwartz, courtesy of Colorado Plastics

Colorado Plastics, based in Louisville, CO, marked the 20th anniversary of its ownership by Drew and Anita Schwartz in September 2025. The couple acquired the company in 2005 from Ralph and Jane Ranson and have since guided it to become a leading locally owned supplier and fabricator of performance plastics in the state.

From its facility in the Colorado Technology Center, Colorado Plastics serves customers in aerospace, renewable energy, biotech, architecture and military industries. The company’s products range from stair treads and protective windows to custom fabrications for advanced technologies.

“From the beginning, our strength has been that we have a very large number of repeat customers,” said co-owner Drew Schwartz. “That diversity and loyalty have kept us strong through every economic cycle.”

Sustainability initiatives have played a central role under co-owner Anita Schwartz’s leadership in marketing and communications. The company’s monthly Remnant Sales divert thousands of pounds of plastic from landfills each year while offering affordable materials to schools, makers, artists and local businesses. Colorado Plastics has also invested in an energy-efficient facility to reduce its environmental footprint.

In August 2025, the company achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, further underscoring its commitment to quality management and continuous improvement.

As a certified woman-owned business, Colorado Plastics attributes its success to the combined expertise of Drew and Anita Schwartz in operations, finance, marketing and community engagement. The company thanks its more than 3,000 customers for two decades of collaboration and looks forward to continuing its role in supplying solutions, supporting innovation and strengthening community.

a man stands at a large CNC mill with raw UHMW blocks for fabrication, pressing buttons on a console
Jonah Collins, one of Curbell Plastic Inc.’s skilled machinists in Arlington, programs a CNC mill with raw UHMW blocks for fabrication.
Curbell Plastics, Inc. Arlington facility achieves AS9100 certification.

Curbell Plastics, Inc. announced that its Arlington, Texas, facility has earned certification to AS9100D / ISO 9001:2015, the internationally recognized quality management standard for the aerospace, aviation and defense industries.

This certification strengthens Curbell’s long-standing relationship with aerospace customers, a legacy that dates back to the company’s founding in 1942 when it produced plastic aircraft parts during World War II.

The Arlington location operates as a machining and fabrication center specializing in high-performance materials such as nylon, PEEK, Ultem®, PTFE and Torlon® PAI. Its advanced CNC routing, milling and turning capabilities support production of tight-tolerance parts for critical aerospace and defense applications.

“With AS9100 certification in Arlington, we’re not just honoring our company’s history in aerospace — we’re ensuring our team is prepared to meet the rigorous standards of today’s industry,” said Gerry Helbig, president of Curbell Plastics.

Scott Reed, senior business development manager for aerospace, added, “This certification assures our customers that we provide traceable, defect-free components backed by a culture of continuous improvement.”

Curbell Plastics is headquartered in Orchard Park, New York, and operates 22 locations nationwide. Several facilities maintain ISO 9001 certification, and the company complies with ITAR and EAR requirements across its network.

Professional Plastics, Inc. and Tangent Technologies LLC announce distribution partnership.

Tangent Technologies LLC and Professional Plastics, Inc. announced a strategic partnership to expand distribution of Tangent’s extruded lumber and HDPE sheet product lines through Professional Plastics’ nationwide network of facilities.

Under the agreement, Professional Plastics will serve as the exclusive distributor for Tangent’s sheet goods and a master distributor for its sustainable lumber profiles.

Kevin Potthoff, CEO of Tangent, said the partnership will support the company’s growth objectives and open new business opportunities. Mark Casey, president of Professional Plastics, highlighted the alignment of values between the two companies and noted that the collaboration will strengthen their ability to deliver material solutions to customers worldwide.

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