Plastics and the Greatest Generation

This edition of Heavy Metal takes you into the world of philanthropy, the heroism of the Greatest Generation and some notable people news in the plastics machinery sector.

Let's start with the 75th anniversary of D-Day, today, June 6. The D-Day invasion at Normandy, France, changed the tide of World War II, as the beginning of the liberation of Europe from Hitler and the Nazi forces. It cost the lives of more than 4,000 Allied troops — and the actual number could be much higher, but is lost to the passing of history.

In today's polarized world, it's hard to imagine that type of unity of purpose, that devotion to a greater cause, that level of sacrifice. America experienced it after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, 18 years ago — our generation's version of Pearl Harbor. Sadly, it didn't last very long.

The Greatest Generation that fought World War II indeed, all Americans who planted victory gardens, recycled tires, cans and newspapers, and supported the troops — waged a sustained, years-long effort.

So today, especially, talk to a veteran. If you can speak directly to a World War II vet, you're very lucky, since several hundred pass away every day. Watch the movie "Saving Private Ryan," which opens with a graphic half-hour portrayal of D-Day.

You're reading this on the website of Plastics News. So what does this have to do with plastics? I had the honor of covering the role of plastics in WWII, in our special report on the Society of Plastics Engineers' 50th anniversary back in 1992. SPE itself was founded in 1942 in Detroit, not long after Pearl Harbor. The mission was urgent. Plastics was still pretty new, but U.S. companies churned out blow molded canteens, windshields on warplanes, vinyl raincoats, helmet liners and more.

Charles W. Kleiderer told me how he helped a team of Navy researchers develop something called a proximity fuze. He was a plastics guy on the project, charged with finding molders to make the parts. The fuze fit on the end of a rocket, missile or bomb, creating a "radio shell," which exploded while passing close to the target, before actual impact, increasing the odds of a destructive hit.

Kleiderer died in 1999. He is a member of the Plastics Hall of Fame.

On the philanthropic front, Foam Supplies Inc., a supplier of polyurethanes systems in St. Louis, donated $40,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri and Kansas for local children battling critical illnesses. The company also is offering opportunities throughout the year for employees to volunteer their time to Make-A-Wish events.

Foam Supplies supports employees who are passionate about a personal cause or charity. A recent example: Employees at FSI's facilities in St. Louis and Lewisville, Texas, spearheaded a month-long drive to collect personal care items, dry goods, snacks and more items for Operation Shoebox, a non-profit organization that supports troops deployed overseas and returning home.

"FSI has a longstanding commitment to making a difference and supporting the community," CEO Todd Keske said.

Giving money is very important. But Heavy Metal said it's even more important to help employees who want to get involved locally. The world needs more of all of it.

Finally, metalheads, let's turn to some major personnel news in the last few weeks.

Paul Caprio is leaving his long-time machinery-company employer, Krauss-Maffei Corp. His last day is June 7 at KM in Florence, Ky., where Caprio was president for the last 10 years, part of his 25 years there.

Caprio combines humor with long business relationships and sales skills—good traits for the often-intense plastics machinery business.

Caprio, 57, will return in the future, probably in plastics, although he said in the Plastics News report that he has no immediate plans.

The other big news is at French robot manufacturer Sepro Group, where Jean-Michel Renaudeau left the company on May 15. Like Caprio's departure, this was a surprise to me.

Renaudeau was the public face of Sepro as its long-time managing director. He led the company's many press conferences and could explain Sepro's role in the robotic sector in terms of innovative technology, partnerships and markets, with equal aplomb.

Renaudeau — known for his snazzy, colorful glasses — managed to be sophisticated and down-to-earth, all at the same time.

It will be weird going to a Sepro news conference without seeing him, and interesting to watch if he returns to the plastics industry.

Machinery is about technology. It's also about people like Paul Caprio and Jean-Michel Renaudeau.