Five innovators to be inducted posthumously into Plastics Hall of Fame

The Plastics Academy has announced the selection of five new members to be posthumously inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame.

The five 2017 inductees are:

L.D. Blackwell – a pioneer in the development of molded plastic products for healthcare, aerospace and consumer products. Among his accomplishments was the co-development of the first coronary bypass pump used in open heart surgery.

L.D. Blackwell

Saul Blitz – an innovator in injection molding, injection blow molding and plastics processing, Blitz was a well-known speaker at national conferences.

Saul Blitz

Tom Mohs – the founder of Placon Corp., a leading manufacturer of thermoformed and injection molded plastic packaging. Mohs was an early advocate of closed loop and continuous production of food service products, as well as a champion for sustainability and re-use of recycled plastics in many of Placon’s products.

Tom Mohs

Leonard Steiner – the developer of the ceramic band heater, the standard for heating barrels on plastics processing equipment worldwide. The founder of Industrial Heater Corp. in the early 20th century, Steiner later became the primary supplier of most of the major equipment manufacturers.

Leonard Steiner

Lucien Yokana – a leading inventor and designer of extrusion machinery, Yokana was the founder of Sterling Extruder. He was also responsible for the design of unique barrier screws as well as gear-drive sheet stack and other new technologies.

Lucien Yokana

“The Plastics Hall of Fame gives us an important opportunity to recognize the individuals that made this industry as vital, vibrant and innovative as it is today,” said William Carteaux, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association. “We honour these posthumous inductees, each of whom expanded the world’s idea of what plastics were capable of.”

The induction ceremony will take place on May 4, 2017, during the Plastics Industry Association’s 2017 Spring National Board Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.