In our latest speaker interview, we spoke to  Christian Herrild, Director of Growth Strategies at Teel Plastics. 

Christian Herrild has a diverse background in the plastics and chemical fields.  He is Teel’s Director of Growth Strategies.  He researches and evaluates markets and technologies, manages Teel’s project management department, and helps set Teel’s strategic plan.  Christian works closely with Teel’s technical team, including new product launches, regulatory, and material selection efforts.  In addition, he oversees branding and marketing efforts.  Previously, Christian was Teel’s Director of Sales and Marketing and managed sales and customer service.  Christian also serves as in-house counsel for Teel.  He was a Plastics News Rising Star in 2020 and was Member of the Year for the Plastic Pipe Institutes Building and Construction Division in 2018.

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What are the biggest challenges facing the market today and how can this be overcome?

It varies a bit based on end use, but in many markets plastics are suffering from a perception problem.  This is effecting all markets to some degree, and even markets currently insulted, like medical, will eventually need to address the perception.  This needs to be overcome by education of the public on all of the good things plastics do and also dealing with waste through both infrastructure investment and education on handling and uses of plastic waste. 

 

In your opinion, what do you consider to be the greatest development in your industry in the last decade?

The growth in connected devices has been very interesting to see.  I have seen it effecting both ends of the industry.  Our machines now have more sensors getting data and doing analysis than ever before and all that information is more accessible.  Meanwhile, our customers are working on new products that need to be able to work with electronic components and smartphone aps to provide better patient care in ways unheard of ten years ago. 

 

How do you see the sector developing in the next five to ten years?

I think medical is going to see big growth in diagnostics.  The pandemic made people more interested in and more aware of the importance of rapid and accurate diagnosis of disease.  I also think reduction in waste, either through design changes or allowance for recycle or reuse, are going to be more important in medical than they are today.  Use of “greener” materials are going to be important in new generation products. 

 

You will be speaking at the Injection Molding and Design Expo in Detroit this May, could you give us a preview on what you will be talking about?

I am on a panel discussing the trends and market direction for medical molding applications.  It has some great panellists and should be an interesting discussion.  

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Hear from Christian on the 'Design and material trends for medical and healthcare applications' panel at the Injection Molding and Design Expo.