CURRICULUM VITAE
`MARK STRACHAN
`
`PERSONAL INFORMATION
`
`Business Address:
`Global Thermoforming Training Int.
`2926 E Fontanta Court
`Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
`Phone: (754) 224 7513
`E-mail Address: mark@global-tti.com
`
`PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
`
`My career in the Packaging Industry started in 1982 while serving my apprenticeship as an
`Electronics Engineer for Metal Box South Africa. Soon after I started my own plastics blister
`manufacturing business (PacMark Plastic Industries CC) in my garage. The company quickly
`grew to a prominent plastics blister packaging business which later included the production of
`plastic cups for the airline catering business (South African, British, Lufthansa and American
`Airlines)
`
`My hunger to learn more about the plastic industry led me to Europe where I held Engineering
`and Production Management positions at large plastics packaging manufacturing firms with the
`intention to gain valuable hands on experience in both the thermoforming and extrusion
`processes. I later moved to the USA where I worked with numerous thermoforming and
`extrusion machinery OEMS such as Commodore Machine Company, Berlyn Extruders and
`Sencorp Systems in Massachusetts, as their Thermoforming and Extrusion Product Specialist. I
`was responsible for all new developments, commissioning and training of their customers around
`the world.
`
`During the past 36 years, I have gained valuable hands-on experience in the Plastics
`Thermoforming and Extrusion Industry. Increased demand for my hands-on assistance, together
`with my desire to impart this knowledge, led to the formation of my own Training/Consulting
`business, Global Thermoforming Technologies Inc. I have since been presenting hands-on
`“Thermoforming Boot Camp” and advanced Interactive training courses to thermoforming,
`extrusion and resin manufacturing companies worldwide.
`
`EDUCATION
`
`Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
`BSc Electronics Engineering
`December 1986
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`AM 26420404.3
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`EX1043
`Yita v. MacNeil
`IPR2020-01139
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`PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
`
`Global Thermoforming Training International
`Jupiter, FL
`• Director
`o Offering In-House, hands-on training seminar for Extrusion and Thick and Thin
`Gage Thermoforming
`o Plant setup
`o Product Design and development (Solidworks)
`o Legal services – Expert Witness
`o Plant and Machinery Audits
`First Quality Packaging Solutions, LLC
`Riviera Beach, FL
`October 2013 – 2018
`• Sr Technology Director
`o Responsible for new Plant setup and ongoing Product Development
`• Developed state of the art products for high volume Inline extruded thermoforming
`equipment
`
`Paulson Training Programs, Inc.
`Chester, CT
`October 2012 – 2013
`• Developed content for Interactive Digital Thermoforming Training program for CD-
`ROM and on-line courses. Now offered by Paulson Training Programs, Inc. a leading
`plastics industry training provider
`
`uVu Technologies, LLC
`Boca Raton, FL
`November 2011 – 2012
`
`•
`
`President
`• Manage uVu Technologies’ various divisions:
`o ToolVu – Thermoforming process monitoring systems
`o uVu Tech – Thermoforming product development laboratory
`o uVu Digital Solutions – Software development
`Implement Thick and Thin thermoformed product solutions based on specialized
`expertise in thermoformed product development throughout the product
`development lifecycle:
`o 3D design
`o 3D printer prototyping
`o Prototype tooling
`o Final tooling design
`o Implementation
`o Training
`o Ongoing support
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`Mullinix Packages, Inc.
`Miami Lakes, FL
`June 2009 – December 2010
`
`General Manager
`• Successfully turned around a recently acquired, previously unprofitable, plastics food
`packaging facility by improving production efficiencies and increasing product sales
`• Developed new thin-walled thermoformed products wrapped in removable paper sleeves
`for yogurt, soups, puddings and similar food products
`
`Global Thermoforming Technologies, Inc.
`Ft. Lauderdale, FL
`February 2005 – 2009
`
`President
`• Conducted hands on thermoforming training at clients worldwide
`• Assisted client companies with product designs and launches, start-ups and special
`projects; successful product designs/launches including:
`o Fisher & Paykal Refrigerator and home appliances
`o Nestlé Dibs
`o Rich Products whipped topping
`o Kroger Foods cottage cheese
`o Horizon Organic yogurt
`o Kozy Shack rice pudding
`o Neco Foods (Publix) soup cups
`o Braun Ear Temperature Probe
`o Bayer – Medical Devices
`o KAZ – Medical Devices
`o Costco – Packaging
`o Walmart – Packaging
`o Amazon-Packaging
`• Assisted food packaging manufacturer client (Tech II, Springfield, OH) in implementing
`North America’s first in-mold labeling thermoforming facility
`• Trained thermoforming and extrusion operators of several large thermoforming
`companies on ongoing basis, including:
`o Mullinix Packages, Inc. – Ft Wayne, IN
`o Tegrant Corp., Alloyd Brands – DeKalb, IL
`o Tech II, Springfield, OH
`o Precision Plastics Packaging, NY
`o Fabrikal, Kalamazoo, MI
`o Brentwood, PA
`
`• Commissioned and installed extrusion and thermoforming facilities, e.g., yogurt and ice
`cream cup manufacturing plant utilizing extrusion, thermoforming and paper sleeve
`wrapping processes
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`• Consulted clients regarding: manufacturing plant setup, machinery surveying and
`installation, training program development, new product development and production
`efficiency evaluation
`
`Zade Pack
`Miami Lakes, FL
`February 2003 – 2005
`
`Vice President of Engineering
`• Commissioned grade-A/AIB facility for production of polypropylene yogurt cups,
`including:
`o Designed layout of production area to ensure efficient production flow pattern
`o Installed and commissioned sheet extrusion line
`o Installed and commissioned cup thermoforming machinery
`o Installed paper sleeve wrapping machinery
`o Installed all compressed air, electrical, and cooling water systems
`o Oversaw all machinery safety certifications (OSHA/TUV/UL)
`o Trained Zade Pack staff on all aspects of material handling, blending and
`extrusion, thermoforming, safety and quality control
`o Coordinated with customers to ensure successful launch of new products
`o Managed daily production of sheet and cups
`o Planned machinery maintenance and repair
`
`Commodore Machine Company / Automated Plastics Group
`Miami, FL
`2002
`
`Contractor (contracted from Commodore Machine Company)
`• Commissioned expanded polystyrene extrusion line
`• Commissioned thermoforming machinery
`• Trained Automated Plastics Group staff on all aspects of extrusion, thermoforming,
`safety and quality control
`
`Paulson Training Programs, Inc.
`Chester, CT
`2001 – 2002
`
`Thermoforming Training Author
`• Authored new Thick gage and Thin Gage interactive thermoforming training
`program interactive CD-ROM offered by leading plastics industry training provider
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`Berlyn Extruders, Inc.
`Worcester, MA
`December 2001 – February 2002
`
`• Wrote extrusion operating manuals for Berlyn EPS foam extrusion lines
`• Wrote Berlyn Extruder extrusion manual required for CE safety compliance of extruder
`supplied to United Kingdom-based customer
`
`Commodore Machine Company
`Rochester, NY
`August 2000 – June 2002
`
`Machinery Division Engineering Sales Manager
`• Responsible for engineering sales and marketing and representation at trade shows
`• Trained customers on EPS extrusion and thermoforming processes
`• Authored machine manuals for new generation machinery
`• Lead technical sales support, commissioning and training related to extrusion and
`thermoforming machinery
`• Assisted in commissioning foam tray manufacturing plants in Ghana, Africa and Miami,
`Florida
`
`MGA Consulting, SA
`Cape Town, South Africa
`1999 – 2000
`
`Training Consultant
`• Wrote and presented thick gage thermoforming training lectures to Frigidaire and
`Whirlpool
`• Rebuilt VTM thermoforming line for Expanded Polystyrene Trays
`
`Outline Plastic Technologies
`South Africa
`1999 – 2000
`
`Contractor
`• Designed and built prototype mold and thermoformed parts for 8’ sailing dinghy for
`Walker Bay Boats (Canada)
`Installed and commissioned rebuilt thermoformers and new product range
`•
`Installed and commissioned new factory services
`•
`• Trained operators and assisted with new product developments
`• Gained valuable experience in the extrusion and thermoforming of thick gage materials
`(HIPS, HDPE, PP and Acrylic)
`• Designed and vacuum formed large illuminated signs for BP and Shell Gas Station
`• Designed and thermoformed illuminated signs for point of sale displays for Budweizer
`and Coca Cola
`
`•
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`Sencorp Systems
`Hyannis, MA
`1997 – 1999
`
`Project Manager
`• Developed new thermoforming and extrusion products and training
`• Managed largest customer account
`• Managed research and development in rigid sheet forming machinery department
`• Set up and presented machinery to prospective customers at trade shows worldwide
`• Commissioned machinery and train customer operators worldwide
`• Assisted design and development of model HP1000 contact heating machine to form
`polypropylene material
`
`Product Specialist
`• Provided technical assistance to sales teams
`• Recommended and review all machinery and tooling modifications prior to release
`• Responsible for research and development
`• Conduct market research
`• Responsible for special projects at many customers worldwide
`• Redesigned model HP1000 contact heating thermoformer to include radiant heat option
`• Gained extensive experience with heating, forming and trimming of most plastic
`materials, including: PVC, PET, APET, PETG, RPET, PP, HIPS, K-Resin, CPET and
`OPS
`
`Tecpak Industries
`Dunedin, New Zealand
`1996 (3 months)
`
`Consultant
`• Consulted on development of thermoformed lids for injection molded trays
`
`Matrix Industries
`Wales, United Kingdom
`1994 – 1996
`
`Plastics Division Engineer Manager
`• Produced high quality plastic trays for the horticultural industry
`• Produced TV Backs for Telefunken and Sony Television sets
`• Upgraded thermoforming machinery
`• Prepared manuals and conducted personnel training on injection molding and
`thermoforming processes
`Implemented maintenance programs
`•
`• Operated, conducted fault finding and repaired thermoforming machinery, injection
`molding equipment and co-extrusion systems
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`• Gained experience in: co-extrusion of plastic sheet for thermoforming (HIPS), matched
`metal and plug assisted mold design, material handling systems for co-extrusion and
`injection molding processes
`
`Inde Plastik
`Chelmsford, United Kingdom and Aachen, Germany
`1991 – 1994
`
`Engineering Manager
`• Commissioned new thermoforming factory for United Kingdom-based sister company to
`Inde Plastik (Germany):
`o Installed factory services including electric, water, centralized vacuum and
`compressed air systems
`o Rebuilt Kiefel thermoformer for use in facility
`o Manufactured cake domes, sandwich wedges and other confectionary packaging
`products using orientated polystyrene
`• Produced rigid and EPS sheet extrusion
`• Produced food packaging products made out of PVC, HIPS, OPS
`• Reconditioned and modified thermoformers and thermoforming machinery
`• Practiced trim-in-place thermoforming methods and related tool design
`• Designed and built downstream equipment for the handling of cups, tubs and trays
`
`Delpak Packaging
`Cape Town, South Africa
`1989 – 1990
`
`Plastics Division Manager
`• Manage plastics division following sale of PacMark Plastic Industries CC to Delpak
`Packaging
`
`PacMark Plastic Industries CC
`Cape Town, South Africa
`1987 – 1989
`
`Owner
`• Founded and managed vacuum and pressure forming company producing:
`o Thick and thin gage thermoformed and injection molded components for
`Appliances, Marine and Defense and the cosmetics and food industry
`o Precision thermoformed plastic components for South African Defense
`Force
`Implemented prototyping and mold making methods using wood, epoxy and other
`inexpensive materials
`• Designed and built aluminum tools for Home Appliance, medical and food
`packaging
`• Redesigned and rebuilt Illig and Gabler cup machines for use in production facility
`• Reconditioned and sold secondhand thermoforming machinery
`
`•
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`MediLaser SA CC
`Cape Town, South Africa
`1987
`
`Technical Manager
`• Serviced and sold medical industry infrared lasers
`
`Metal Box South Africa, Ltd.
`Cape Town, South Africa
`1983 – 1986
`
`Apprentice Electronics Technician
`• Redesigned, reconditioned and upgraded plastic converting machinery
`
`South African Defense Force
`South Africa
`1981 – 1982
`Officer in Signal Corp
`
`PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & ASSOCIATIONS
`
`Society of Plastics Engineers – Thermoforming Division
`Chairman of the Board , February 2013 – 2016 (Two Terms)
`Member, 2005 – Present
`
`HONORS
`
`Society of Plastics Engineers – Thermoforming Division Awards for:
`• Parts Design Competitions
`• Society of Plastics Engineers Appreciation Awards
`
`PUBLICATIONS
`Paulson Interactive Thermoforming Training Author
`• Developed content for Interactive Digital Thermoforming Training program for CD-
`ROM and on-line courses. Now offered by Paulson Training Programs, Inc. a leading
`plastics industry training provider
`• Numerous Thermoforming Quarterly Magazine Whitepapers
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`PATENTS
`
`Closure lid with identifying means, U.S. Patent No. 8,479,948 (filed Apr. 26, 2012)
`
`A closure lid with identifying means, Int’l Application No. PCT/US2012/035168 (filed Apr. 26,
`2012).
`
`Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product by employing a
`snap action invertible actuator, U.S. Application No. 11/335,111 (filed Jan. 19, 2006).
`
`System for and method of making an arrangement for changing the temperature of a product, U.S.
`Application No. 11/225,320 (filed Sept. 13, 2005).
`
`Arrangement for and method of selectably changing the temperature of a product, U.S. Application
`No. 11/175,818 (filed July 6, 2005)
`
`IN HOUSE SEMINARS & COURSES TAUGHT
`Various in-house thermoforming training courses at clients around the globe, 2000 to present, clients
`including:
`• GE Lighting (USA)
`• Nike (USA)
`• First Quality Packaging Solutions (USA)
`• Bayer (USA)
`• Frigidaire
`• CMT (USA)
`• Oral-B (USA)
`• Whirlpool
`• Tuscarora (USA)
`• Alloyd/SCA (USA and Europe)
`• Universal Protective Packaging Inc. (UPPI) (USA)
`• Buckell Plastics (USA)
`• Mardec Plastics (Malaysia)
`• Blister Pack (South Africa)
`• Bausch & Lomb (USA)
`• Sealed Air Corp. (UK)
`• Dart Container Corp
`• Rohrer (USA)
`• Placon (USA)
`• Brentwood (USA)
`• MTS Medications (USA)
`• Sharp Interpack (UK)
`• TEQ (USA)
`• Tech II (USA)
`• Mullinix Packages (USA) / Sabert
`• DW Finepack (USA)
`• Braskem (USA)
`•
`InLine Plastics (USA)
`• Universal Studios
`• Sonoco Plastics
`• Placon
`• Klockner Pentaplast
`• Kraft Foods
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`Global Thermoforming Technologies, Inc. courses:
`• Now I Know Plastics – Raw Materials for Thermoforming
`• Understanding Plastics Machinery – Why Thermoforming
`• Understanding Thermoforming Machinery-All possible forming and trimming
`configurations
`• Now I Know Thin Gage Forming – Introduction to Thin Gage Thermoforming
`• Now I Know Thick Gage Forming – Introduction to Thick Gage Thermoforming
`• Advanced Forming Techniques
`• Forming beyond the Limits – Using Data Acquisition equipment in Thermoforming
`• Advanced Trimming Techniques
`• Safety in Thermoforming
`• Thermoforming Machinery Maintenance
`• Thermoforming Parts Design
`• Thermoforming Tooling
`• Thermoforming Process Troubleshooting
`• Thermoforming Machinery Troubleshooting
`• Thermoforming Plant Setup
`
`Thin Gage Thermoforming Training Seminars completed
`2018 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2018, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop
`
`2017 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2017, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop
`
`2016 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2016, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop
`
`2016 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Chicago, IL September 2016,
`“Thermoforming: Science or Black Art?”
`
`2015 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2015, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop
`
`2015 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Orlando, FL September 2015,
`“Thermoforming: Science or Black Art?”
`
`2014 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2014, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop
`
`2014 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Chicago, IL September 2013,
`“Thermoforming: Science or Black Art?”
`
`2013 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2013, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop
`
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`2013 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Atlanta, GA, September 2013,
`“Thermoforming: Science or Black Art?”
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`2012 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, September
`2012, “Thin-gauge Thermoforming Workshop”
`
`2012 Pennsylvania College of Technology Plastics Innovation & Resource Center workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, June 2012, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop”
`
`2011 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Schaumburg, IL, September
`
`2011, “Thin-gauge Thermoforming Workshop”
`
`2010 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Milwaukee, WI, September
`2010, “Thin-gauge Thermoforming Workshop”
`
`Pennsylvania College of Technology Thermoforming Center of Excellence workshop,
`Williamsport, PA, April 2010, “National Hands-On Thermoforming Workshop”
`
`2009 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Milwaukee, WI, September
`2009, “Thin-gauge Thermoforming Workshop”
`
`2008 Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Conference, Minneapolis, MN, September
`2008, “Advance Cost Saving Techniques in Thin Gage Thermoforming”
`
`RMIT University Rheology & Materials Processing Centre, Lidcombe and Melbourne, Australia,
`June 2008, “Thermoforming: Basic to Advanced”
`
`University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, July 2008, “Thin-gauge Thermoforming
`Workshop”
`
`THERMOFORMING MANUFACTURING FACILITY AUDITS
`• CMT Materials (Lake Zurich, IL and Cadiz KY plants)
`• Mason Wells – Nelli Pack Sealed Air (Netherlands and Scranton, Rhode Island Plants)
`• MTS Medications (Florida, USA plant)
`• Alloyd Brands (Puerto Rico, North Carolina and Chicago plants)
`• Mullinix Packages, Ft Wayne IN
`• Computer Designs, PR, PA and VA
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