| Soon, you’ll receive a “Call for Nominations” for open positions on the SPE Board of Directors. This is not just a general request. It’s a sincere invitation for you to consider serving as an SPE Director. SPE needs thoughtful, diverse, passionate, engaged plastics professionals to help us chart the course for the Society’s continued contributions to industry. Whether you have five or fifty years of experience doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re willing to contribute your time, ideas, and energy to the success of SPE and its members. But, you might ask, what’s in it for you? Serving on the board of directors for a professional society offers numerous benefits and opportunities. Here are several: Professional Development: Being part of a board allows you to enhance your leadership and management skills. You’ll gain valuable experience in strategic planning, decision-making, financial oversight, and governance, which can be beneficial for your career advancement. Networking: Serving on a board provides exceptional networking opportunities. You’ll have the chance to connect and collaborate with other professionals who share your interests and goals. These connections can lead to valuable partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and career advancements. Industry Influence: By serving on a professional society’s board, you can actively contribute to shaping the direction and policies of your industry or field. Your insights and expertise can influence decision-making, advocacy efforts, and the development of best practices. This allows you to have a direct impact on the profession you care about. Knowledge Sharing: Serving on a board enables you to contribute to the sharing of knowledge and expertise within your professional community. You can participate in organizing conferences, workshops, and educational programs that promote learning and professional development. It’s an opportunity to contribute to the growth and advancement of your field. Personal Fulfillment: Volunteering your time and expertise to serve on a board can be personally rewarding. It gives you a sense of fulfillment knowing that you’re making a meaningful contribution to your professional community. It also allows you to give back to the profession that has shaped your career. Professional Visibility: Board membership provides increased visibility within your industry or field. It positions you as a leader and expert, which can open doors to speaking engagements, publishing opportunities, and invitations to prestigious events. This increased visibility can raise your professional profile and enhance your reputation. Access to Resources: As a board member, you’ll gain access to resources, information, and tools that may not be readily available to others. This can include industry reports, research findings, funding opportunities, and other valuable resources that can benefit your professional development. Personal Growth and Learning: Serving on a board challenges you to learn and grow beyond your comfort zone. You’ll encounter new perspectives, engage in critical discussions, and expand your understanding of complex issues facing your profession. It’s an opportunity for personal growth and continuous learning.Ultimately, serving on the board of directors for a professional society allows you to contribute to your profession, develop as a leader, build a strong network, and make a positive impact. I would be happy to help you on your journey to serve! If you’d like to learn more about how to join the SPE Board of Directors, drop me an email. Whether you’re considering serving now or sometime in the future, I will gladly share my insights and suggestions for how to best achieve your goals.Best wishes, |
| Patrick Farrey CEO SPE – Inspiring Plastics Professionals Main: +1 203 740 5400 Direct: +1 203 740 5471 pfarrey@4spe.org www.4spe.org www.linkedin.com/in/farrey |
Categories
Remembering Glenn Beall (1933–2025)
Glenn Beall, a revered figure in the plastics industry and lifelong champion of innovation, mentorship, and education, passed away on July 24. His remarkable career spanned more than six decades, shaping the landscape of plastic part design with vision and integrity.
Beginning his journey at General Electric in 1957 after graduating from Bradley University, Beall’s pioneering work later transformed medical devices at Abbott Laboratories. He earned 35 patents, including 12 during his decade at Abbott, and became a cornerstone of modern product design through his own ventures—Glenn Beall/Engineering Inc. and Glenn Beall Plastics Ltd.
Beyond technical accomplishments, Beall’s legacy lies in his passion for sharing knowledge. He led hundreds of seminars for nearly 30,000 professionals, making design and processing accessible to generations of engineers. His contributions were recognized through his induction into the Plastics Hall of Fame and honors at the Antec 2024 symposium.
Glenn shared his life and work with his beloved wife Patsy, a fellow industry leader and co-founder, until her passing in 2014. Together, they served as a dynamic force in shaping the future of plastics.
Beall leaves behind an enduring legacy as an engineer, inventor, and mentor whose influence will resonate for years to come.
Plastics Engineering honors Glenn Beall’s remarkable journey, highlighting his deep impact on design, education, and industry collaboration.
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) respectfully acknowledges the passing of Mr. Glenn Beall on July 25. His remarkable legacy—marked by innovation, mentorship, and unwavering technical excellence—profoundly shaped generations of plastics professionals. For more than six decades, Mr. Beall championed the advancement of the industry and helped shape SPE into a global community for education, collaboration, and innovation. His impact will continue to inspire for years to come.
A Career Forged in Innovation
Glenn Beall launched his plastics career after earning a Bachelor of Science from Bradley University in 1957 and joining Abbott Laboratories. There, he contributed to the development of disposable drug delivery systems, which earned him 12 patents and demonstrated his inventive approach. This early success encouraged him to establish Glenn Beall Engineering, Inc., and later Glenn Beall Plastics, Ltd., expanding his design leadership. Through these ventures, he advanced critical innovations, and over his lifetime, he earned 35 patents in plastics design and manufacturing processes. Consequently, Mr. Beall helped define modern engineering standards for plastic components, leaving a technical legacy that continues to influence today’s practices.
Educating Thousands Through Clear Communication
Although Mr. Beall was an inventor, he was equally known for his commitment to educating others across the plastics industry. He delivered more than 650 technical seminars, reaching nearly 30,000 professionals and bridging the gap between theory and practical application. Because of his teaching style, he empowered engineers, designers, and students to understand complex processes in accessible, actionable ways. His impact as an educator ensured his teachings would ripple through future generations of plastics professionals and product innovators.
A Lifelong SPE Leader and Advocate
Mr. Beall joined SPE in 1960 and played a vital leadership role, serving as president of the Chicago Chapter by 1967. He helped establish multiple SPE divisions, always striving to strengthen the society’s technical scope and support professional development. SPE named him a Fellow in 1985 and Distinguished Member in 1990, recognizing his lasting contributions to plastics education and service. In 2024, SPE hosted the Glenn Beall Symposium at ANTEC®, honoring his impact across molding, thermoforming, design, and additive manufacturing.
Championing Plastics History and Design
Mr. Beall also contributed extensively to technical publishing as an editor and author for key journals and handbooks in the field. He served as a strong voice for rotational molding, collaborating with the Association of Rotational Molders to advance the technology’s reach. He was deeply involved with the Plastics Pioneers Association, where he helped preserve industry heritage through Syracuse University’s Plastics Collection. Because of his efforts, generations to come can trace the roots of innovation through carefully preserved archives and thoughtful documentation.
A Lasting Legacy of Leadership
In 1997, Glenn Beall was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame, honoring a lifetime of invention, education, and industry service. His passing closes an extraordinary chapter, but his teachings and leadership continue to inspire the global plastics community today. The Society of Plastics Engineers honors Mr. Beall for his lifelong service, unmatched curiosity, and unwavering dedication to the profession he loved.
By Juliana Montoya | July 28, 2025
Glenn Beall, one of the plastics industry’s most influential pioneers whose contributions have shaped generations of plastics professionals, passed away on Thursday, July 24th.
An engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, educator, editor, and historian, Mr. Beall has spent over six decades elevating the practice and understanding of plastic product design and manufacturing.
After earning his Bachelor of Science from Bradley University in 1957, Mr. Beall began his career at Abbott Laboratories, where he helped design innovative disposable drug delivery systems. His work resulted in 12 patents and laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration into plastics processing. His entrepreneurial spirit soon led to the founding of Glenn Beall Engineering, Inc., and later Glenn Beall Plastics, Ltd., where he continued to influence the field through groundbreaking design and another 23 patents.
Mr. Beall’s dedication to knowledge-sharing is perhaps his most enduring legacy. Through more than 650 technical seminars, reaching nearly 30,000 professionals, he made complex concepts in design and processing accessible, practical, and widely adopted. His seminars not only advanced the field—they cultivated a generation of problem solvers.
A lifelong and highly engaged member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) since 1960, Mr. Beall has held numerous leadership roles, including president of the Chicago Chapter in 1967. He was instrumental in founding key divisions and played an active role in guiding SPE’s mission to help plastics professionals succeed through strengthening their skills through networking, events, training, and knowledge sharing. In recognition of his achievements, he was named an SPE Fellow in 1985 and a Distinguished Member in 1990. In 1993, he received SPE’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Plastics Education.
In 2024, Mr. Beall was honored with the Glenn Beall Symposium at ANTEC®, SPE’s annual technical conference. Mr. Beall was featured as keynote speaker at the symposium, which also included speakers focused on various areas of his expertise, such as rotational molding, injection molding, design, additive manufacturing, thermoforming, and more.
Mr. Beall’s influence extended beyond SPE to the broader plastics community. He was an editorial force in publications such as Plastics Design Forum and Injection Molding. He also contributed his expertise to many handbooks and technical papers. He played a pivotal role in promoting rotational molding and was deeply involved with the Association of Rotational Molders.
His passion for preserving the industry’s history was evident in his work with the Plastics Pioneers Association, where he helped safeguard the Plastics Collection at Syracuse University, ensuring future generations can learn from the field’s evolution.
Inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1997, Glenn Beall’s name is synonymous with excellence, mentorship, and the advancement of plastic part design. His work will continue to inspire and guide professionals across the globe—and his impact will be felt for generations to come.
Jim Johnson – Senior Reporter
Glenn Beall, who left an indelible mark on the plastics industry in a career lasting more than six decades, died July 24. He was 91.
“Glenn Beall’s name is synonymous with excellence, mentorship, and the advancement of plastic part design. His work will continue to inspire and guide professionals across the globe—and his impact will be felt for generations to come,” said the Society of Plastics Engineers, which announced his passing.
SPE described Beall as “an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, educator, editor, and historian.”
Beall began his plastics career in 1957 at General Electric Co. after graduating from Bradley University before moving on to Abbott Laboratories for a decade. He then went into business for himself, first in 1968 with Glenn Beall/Engineering Inc., a product design firm he ran for 25 years before selling, and then later Glenn Beall Plastics Ltd. where he focused on teaching design.
“Mr. Beall’s dedication to knowledge-sharing is perhaps his most enduring legacy,” SPE said. “He made complex concepts in design and processing accessible, practical, and widely adopted. His seminars not only advanced the field—they cultivated a generation of problem solvers,” SPE said.
Beall, over the decades, conducted hundreds of seminars for an estimated 30,000 people.
But in a 1997 Plastics News profile for his induction into the Plastics Hall of Fame, Beall admitted he got nervous before presentations. “I have to push myself into these things,” he said at the time.
Nearly three decades later, Beall’s accomplishments were honored at a symposium hosted by SPE in St. Louis as part of the Antec 2024 conference. Following the accolades, Beall did what he did best and conducted a 40-minute presentation.
For those who knew Beall, any talk of his life would not be complete without mention of his wife Patsy, who died in 2014. “I always thought of it as Glenn Beall plus, and the plus was Patsy,” said Len Czuba, a long-time friend and owner of Czuba Enterprises Inc. in Lombard, Ill. The couple were high school sweethearts and married in 1953.
Patsy Beall, herself, was described as a plastics industry activist who worked alongside her husband for 61 years. The couple cofounded Glenn Beall/Engineering after both spent 10 years at Abbott Laboratories.
While at Abbott Laboratories, Beall earned 12 of his 35 career patents, and during that time he helped that company transition from reusable metal to disposable plastic medical devices.
“A lifelong and highly engaged member of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) since 1960, Mr. Beall has held numerous leadership roles, including president of the Chicago Chapter in 1967. He was instrumental in founding key divisions and played an active role in guiding SPE’s mission to help plastics professionals succeed through strengthening their skills through networking, events, training, and knowledge sharing,” SPE said.
Beall had a passion for the plastics industry history that included work with the Plastics Pioneers Association where he helped preserve the Plastics Collection at Syracuse University, SPE said.
https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/plastics-design-icon-glenn-beall-dies-91-after-six-decade-career
Remembering Glenn Beall: A plastics pioneer and a generous spirit
Glenn Beall was more than a plastics pioneer. He was a mentor, a gentleman and a generous spirit who left a lasting mark not only through his technical brilliance but also through his kindness and encouragement.
Beall, who died July 24 at age 91, was a friend and mentor to generations in the plastics industry — including young engineers 70 years his junior. It was a joy to watch him connect with the next generation of plastics talent at events like SPE Antec.
He surprised attendees at Antec 2024 in St. Louis with a 40-minute technical talk during a symposium held in his honor. Rather than simply accept the recognition, he used the moment to keep doing what he loved: sharing knowledge and inspiring others.
Beall’s warmth extended far beyond the podium. At Plastics News, many of us remember the delight of receiving a note on his signature stationery — often handwritten, always personal. A card from Glenn felt like a real gift.
After PN reporter Bill Bregar died in 2020, Beall reached out to our colleague Frank Esposito with a heartfelt phone call, sharing wisdom about grief and reflecting on the loss of his beloved wife, Patsy, who had passed away just a few years earlier. It was a deeply meaningful gesture.
Bill was our resident plastics history buff, and Glenn was arguably the global authority, so of course they got along well. When Glenn was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1997, Bill wrote his profile for PN. For many years, Glenn would send Bill clippings from newspapers and magazines about comic books, too. And after Bill passed, Glenn started sending those items to Frank.
Whether through a letter, a phone call or an unexpected invitation, Glenn Beall made people feel seen and valued. As Frank said, “We need more people like him — in this industry, and in the world.”
https://www.plasticsnews.com/kickstart/glenn-beall-plastics-pioneer-and-generous-spirit
Date & Time / Sep 11, 2025 12:00 PM CT
Color is more than just aesthetics — it’s a critical factor in product success, brand recognition, and user experience. Yet, specifying and achieving the right color in plastics can be challenging, especially when working with multiple converters and materials. In this dynamic, hour-long webinar, you’ll learn how to navigate the complexities of color in product design. We’ll cover essential considerations for specifying the right color for your product, strategies for ensuring color consistency across different manufacturing partners, and introduce an innovative digital tool that bridges the gap between physical samples and digital representations. Whether you’re a designer, engineer, or product manager, you’ll gain actionable insights and practical solutions to elevate your color specification process and deliver products that stand out. Join us to unlock the secrets of designing with color and set your products apart in a crowded marketplace!
Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OmP8COZ6Q5K1AFybBmUmjQ#/registration
Workshops | Practical Lessons for Engineers Who Need Additive to Deliver
From June 23rd to 27th, 2025, the 3Dnatives team, in collaboration with Stratasys, invites you to join the free “Practical Lessons for Engineers Who Need Additive to Deliver” workshop series. These five expert-led sessions are designed to support engineers and manufacturers throughout the entire additive workflow: prototyping, tooling, and production. Each day from 16:30 CEST / 10:30 EDT (30 minutes per session), a different expert will guide you through real-world insights into additive technologies.
Attend all sessions to receive a Certificate of Attendance, recognizing your participation in cutting-edge additive manufacturing strategies. Mark your calendar—you won’t want to miss it!
Workshop #1 – Stop Compromising on Prototypes: 3D Print Across All Product Development Stages
Workshop #2 – Smarter Tooling with 3D Printing: What Works, What Doesn’t, and How to Start
Workshop #3 – Unlocking Production Potential: Materials, Systems, and Certification Advances
Workshop #4 – Specialty Materials for the Most Demanding Applications
Workshop #5 – Turning Waste into Parts and Profit
Speakers
Daniel Princ
Director of Global Sales Enablement
Dave Hayden
Lead Application Engineer
Niccolo Giannelli
Director FDM Enablement
Gulay Bozoklu
Lead Application Engineer
Steven Goodwin
Senior Corporate Application Engineer
By: Albert McGovern
Glenn Beall, known internationally as the ‘Father of Plastics Design Principles’, and a founder of PD3, was recently celebrated as the Division’s first Emeritus Member for his extensive leadership and mentoring. The PD3 Board unanimously and exuberantly approved this long overdue recognition of Glenn’s innumerable contributions to the plastic design community.
A custom trophy, made from a cow horn and gold-toned metal mounted on a walnut plinth, was designed and obtained by Mark Wolverton, PD3 Board Member (and long-time friend of Glenn’s), who presented it to Glenn on March 17th. It recognizes Glenn’s long-term interest in plastics artifacts (see also Plastics Pioneers Reading Room at Bird Library in Syracuse University), particularly those made from horn, as evidenced by the fact that he is the only US member of the The Worshipful Company of Horners (UK). Here’s a brief excerpt from their History page to whet your appetite for learning more about this fascinating group that dates to at least the year 1284:
“Whilst the use of horn continued to decline, the twentieth century saw a considerable rise in the Company’s fortunes. Through a succession of enterprising Clerks and Masters, their numbers were allowed to rise to 100 in 1905 and then to 200 in 1925. Seven Horners have served as Lord Mayor and many others in the office of Sheriff. In 1943, recognising that the working of horn was no longer a viable industry, the Company had the great foresight to adopt its modern equivalent, the Plastics Industry. Since that time the Company has played a role, and kept pace with a significant international technological industry. Similarly, bottle production has progressed to be a major consumer of plastic materials, and bottlemaking once more fits the Horners’ portfolio.”
Glenn is also one of the Master Historians in The Honourable Company of Horners, a much newer US-based version of the UK group. Glenn was extremely appreciative of the Emeritus honor and most especially of the trophy, which he said will surely go to the front of his collection of previous awards—which include being an SPE Distinguished Member (one of only 6 such Members who were not first the SPE President); induction into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1997, and; Member of the Plastics Pioneers of America.
Congratulations, Glenn, on this most worthy award!
Categories
Letter from the Chair
Hello Product Design and Development Division (PD3) Members!
It has been a busy and exciting start to the year. Our flagship event, ANTEC, was held in March where our board was instrumental in helping organize the Mike Sepe Symposium. This symposium highlighted the practical, applied use for the typical material and testing knowledge often presented at ANTEC. Our Past-Chair, Al McGovern, was one of the presenters and organizers of the event. During the symposium each of the speakers took their area of expertise and highlighted how incorporating their data helped companies save money in designing more robust parts. Helping to organize this symposium was a great way to follow through on our goal of bringing our members content that helps them better design sustainable plastic products. If you are interested in seeing the type of content that was shared, I encourage you to watch a small video clip of two of the presentations here. You will also see another example of content at ANTEC through our technical article. The article highlights how you can use multi-point, long-term data to make better material selection decisions for your next application. If you find this type of discussion and content interesting, I encourage you to consider attending ANTEC next year, where it will be held in Pittsburgh, PA.
This year also brought well-earned recognition to some of our amazing board members:
- Glenn Beall, one of our founding members, became PD3’s very first Emeritus Member! Special thanks to Mark Wolverton for designing a beautiful trophy to commemorate Glenn’s decades of guidance and leadership.
- Al McGovern received the Honored Service Member (HSM) award at ANTEC, recognizing his long-standing contributions to PD3 and the SPE Foundation.
These honors are a testament to the incredible talent and dedication within our division—and the amazing peers you can collaborate with as a PD3 member.
After ANTEC, PD3 finalized the merger with the Failure Analysis and Prevention Technical Interest Group (FAPTIG). FAPTIG approached PD3 as a potential partner because of the joint mission of helping the broader community design plastic parts and assemblies that resist failure.
They saw how we were taking an active role in distributing our technical content and felt they could better serve their membership through the merger. There will be no major changes to PD3 with the merger, but we will gain valuable additional content that we can share with our design community. Todd Menna, previous FAPTIG chair, will be joining our board to help with the transition and highlight how we can utilize their core content to further enrich our community. If you just want to keep up on the latest events, make sure to follow us on LinkedIN and on our website.
Finally, this will be my last Chair message to you in our newsletter. In July, Mark MacLean-Blevins will take on the role of Chair. Mark, a product designer himself, has been a long-time board member of PD3, and will continue to help us bring content that is relevant to today’s design community. I’ll be excited to support Mark as I take on the Past-Chair role. As Past-Chair, I’ll be putting more effort into our Design for… webinar series and other technical content. It has been a great pleasure serving as the Chair, and I’m excited to see what we will do next.
Thanks again, and I look forward to our next conversation!
Erik Foltz