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.