Plastics Hall of Fame: 18 New Members Announced

The Plastics Hall of Fame will induct 18 new members at K 2025 in Düsseldorf on October 7. Honoured for their groundbreaking work across materials, machinery, packaging, and education, the new class reflects the global reach and evolving priorities of the plastics industry.

The Plastics Hall of Fame, established in 1972, honours professionals whose work has made a lasting impact on the plastics industry. The 2025 ceremony will take place on 7 October 2025 in Düsseldorf, coinciding with K 2025, the world's leading trade fair for plastics and rubber.

This year's class includes experts from recycling, manufacturing, academic research, and publishing:

• Helmut Bacher, Helmuth Schulz, Georg Wendelin – Co-founders of Erema Group, pioneers in plastics recycling.
• Erwin Bürkle – Former head of injection moulding at Krauss Maffei Technologies GmbH.
• Norm Fowler – Former Xerox executive and long-time contributor to the Society of Plastics Engineers.
• Yukio Iimura – Former Chairman and CEO of Shibaura Machine Co. Ltd., advanced injection moulding technology.
• Bill Knight – Played a key role in the development of Dow’s Insite™ polyethylene technology.
• Robert Langer – MIT researcher, advanced drug delivery and tissue engineering using biodegradable plastics.
• Matthew Naitove – Editor at Plastics Technology, chronicled the industry's evolution for decades.

• Chul B. Caleb Park – Professor at the University of Toronto, global expert in polymer foaming and lightweight insulation.
• Irene Schwarz – Long-time leader at Engel Group, instrumental in shaping company strategy.
• Charles Sewell – Founder of CKS Packaging, global manufacturer of rigid plastic containers.
• Bill Stavropoulos – Former CEO of Dow, drove major restructuring and growth initiatives.
• Peter Steinbeck – Former CEO of Windmöller & Hölscher, a leader in flexible packaging machinery.
• William Young – CEO and Chairman of Plastipak Packaging, known for innovations in rigid packaging.

The Hall of Fame also honours early industry pioneers who passed away more than 25 years ago and left a lasting impact:

• Otto Röhm and Otto Haas, inventors of Plexiglas, registered as a trademark in 1933.
• Hans H. Wanders, inventor of one of the first semi-automatic rotary moulding presses and a founding member of industry associations.

The Plastics Hall of Fame aims to spotlight the positive contributions the industry has made in sustainability, healthcare, mobility, and daily life.

Previously held every three years, inductions now occur every 18 months. "There are too many outstanding global leaders worthy of induction," says Maureen Steinwall, President of the Hall of Fame. "While misconceptions about our industry persist, it is imperative to highlight the many success stories that demonstrate the positive impact of plastics."