The Association of Rotational Molders has named Dru Laws, a longtime industry executive and former president of ARM, and Tom Murdough, founder of Little Tikes, Step2 Corp. and Simplay3 Corp., to the Rotational Molding Hall of Fame.
ARM will induct the pair into the hall Sept. 23 at its annual meeting, which will be held during the Rotoplas show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., Sept. 20-23.
Laws, an executive at Tango Manufacturing in Idaho Falls, Idaho, is the immediate past president of ARM and has a 20-year background in the plastics and rotomolding sectors.
In a statement, ARM said he has been a longtime volunteer for association activities and "has shared his experience and expertise with other rotomolders endlessly through his involvement with ARM."
Laws organized industry events, is a frequent speaker at international conferences and for many years has presented an introduction to rotomolding seminar for ARM, the association said.
He also chaired committees for ARM and wrote the association's Rotational Molding Foam Process Guide. He graduated from Queens University in Belfast with a degree in polymer engineering.
Murdough is a well-known entrepreneur in rotomolding and in the toy industry.
ARM said he revolutionized the industry by building Little Tikes, Step2 and Simplay3 into major competitors in children's products.
"Tom and his design team changed the face of the small household toy and the outdoor home playground markets and ultimately convinced many other molders that there was a business beyond tanks and simple moldings," the association said.
ARM said Murdough's companies drove technical innovations in the global rotational molding industry, including pioneering Teflon coating in molds and design products with few or no fasteners.
"Through smart design techniques, Murdough inspired complicated mold designs that previously had been thought to be impossible," the association said. "Little Tikes' needs drove innovations in UV protection and color matrix developments for its outdoor products that all molders enjoy the benefits of today."
ARM said Laws and Murdough were chosen from nominees received from 2016 to 2021, and its executive committee named a selection committee of six members of the Hall of Fame to winnow that list down to five shortlisted nominees.
All Hall of Fame members then voted to elect the two inductees.