SOLON, OHIO — Plastics Machinery Group LLC, the parent of Solon-based machinery dealers Stopol Thermoforming and Stopol Extrusion, is establishing a company in the United Kingdom, headed by Ken Braney — a European thermoforming leader and the former president of the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Braney will be managing director of the operation, Plastics Machinery Group International Ltd. The new European unit will be involved in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, consulting and technical support.
The company will sell new and used plastics processing equipment, including injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding and extrusion machinery. It covers Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Braney is chairman and managing director of Thermoforming Solutions Ltd. Plastics Machinery Group has a long working relationship with Thermoforming Solutions.
Braney also was director and general manager of thermoforming machinery maker Brown Machine LLC, covering operations in Europe, the Middle East and India.
Braney served as president of SPE from 2010-2011. He also has chaired the boards of both SPE Europe and the SPE Thermoforming Division in Europe. He has more than 35 of experience in the plastics industry.
Charles Greenwood will be PMGI's commercial and technical director. He has 27 years of experience.
Greenwood has worked at the Metal Box R&D Centre in Wantage, England, developing new technologies such as multi-layer oxygen barrier sheet for the Lamipac project. For the past 16 years, he specialized in project engineering, plant relocation, startups, commissioning of machinery, serving and installation and training on all types of plastics equipment.
PMG President Donald Kruschke notes that both Braney and Greenwood have solid reputations in the industry.
The new European office also will be the official distributor of both Maac and SencorpWhite thermoforming machines throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.