DALLAS — This year's Hall of Fame inductees were announced at the Association of Rotational Molders fall meeting in Dallas, held Oct. 18-20. There were five recipients:
Glenn Beall, Glenn Beall Plastics Ltd. Beall has been designing and developing plastic products since the 1950s. He entered rotomolding in 1963 while working at Abbot Laboratories making medical products. Beall's work at Abbot contributed to 12 patents. In 1968, he formed Glenn Beall Engineering and added another 23 patents to his portfolio. Currently, Glenn Beall Plastics is Beall's outlet for design and development. In addition, he plays an active role in plastics education for ARM and other industry associations.
Philip Dodge, Equistar Chemicals LP. Dodge's role in rotomolding has been the development of new polyethylene resins for the industry. He was one of the first people to research the importance of antioxidant requirements to reach a proper cure. He also has studied the effects of cold temperature impact losses when parts are overcured.
Bud LaMont, Plasti-Cast Mold & Products Co. LaMont pioneered the use of plaster for casting aluminum molds. Also, in the 1950s and 1960s, when rotomolders used plastisols, LaMont began using other materials.
Patrick Long, Formed Plastics Inc. Long is president and chief executive officer of Formed Plastics, one of the oldest rotomolding companies around. It is here that Long helped develop one-piece rotomolding spheres and ornamental-post-top globes for the lighting industry.
Thomas Schidel, Rotocast International Inc. Schidel has spent the past 38 years in the rotomolding industry. His career began at Rubbermaid; later he formed his own company, Rotocast Plastic Products. Among his achievements: He has acquired and installed 96 machines; designed and tooled 1,345 rotomolded parts; and has made significant contributions to ARM, including the set up of ARM's original technical library, which continues to grow today.
ARM is based in Oak Brook, Ill.
To be recognized in the Hall of Fame, inductees must have worked in rotomolding for a minimum of 25 years and made significant contributions to the advancement of the industry.
ARM also recognized three other members with its Distinguished Service Award: Roy Crawford of Queen's University of Belfast, Ireland; Sandy Scaccia of Kelch Aluminum Molds; and Gary Reep of Ashland Plastics Inc.
Bonar Plastics Inc. of Newnan, Ga., received the Organizational Service Award.