Next up in our Speaker Interview series is Christian Herrild, Director of Growth Strategies at Teel Plastics.

Teel Plastics Inc. is the premiere manufacturer of custom extruded plastic tubing and profiles. Injection molding and extruding custom components for a variety of end markets.  Focusing on highly engineered applications in highly regulated end markets.  

What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors? 

Our people have a great, can-do attitude and deep technical knowledge.  We also serve some very diverse markets, and we can take knowledge and capability from one and apply it in another.  

Are there any new technology developments that your company is working on at the moment? 

We are spending more time on sustainability requests from customers.  This includes everything from finding ways to engineer parts with more sustainable materials, to adding in natural fiber, to incorporating regrind in highly regulated products.  All of this work requires investment in process technologies.  

What are the biggest challenges facing the injection molding industry today, and how can this be overcome? 

We are facing a tight labor market, and it will take time to improve.  For a long time manufacturing was not seen as a good career choice, and combined with being in plastics, it is hard to attract younger workers.  Part of overcoming it is a shift in thinking of the labor market as local for much of your workforce and making a plan to affect your local market, then building a strong culture to attract the professional segment.  

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

Use of automation is going to continue to increase, specifically additional work cell setups doing more complex activities.  There are going to be shifts in materials being processed as well.  More sustainable materials are going to come into the mix, whether that is recycled or different polymers or natural fillers, that segment is likely to grow.  

You are speaking at the Injection Molding and Design Expo, what are you most looking forward to? 

I am really looking forward to the panels and educational segments.  There are a lot of great speakers and great content.  I am sure there will be a few things that can be taken back and immediately put into action.