Extrusion International 2-2024-USA

28 Extrusion International 2/2024 28 INDUSTRY NEWS Winner of 2024 William R. Carteaux Leadership Award Announced The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has announced Tad Mc- Gwire, President of Industrial Heater Corp., as the winner of the William R. Carteaux Leadership Award. This award, named after the late CEO of PLASTICS, Bill Carteaux, recognizes unity, dedication, perseverance, and selflessness, and is intended for an industry professional who has achieved distinction working for the betterment of the plastics industry. “I want to thank the Plastics In- dustry Association and its members for recognizing me with the William R. Carteaux Leadership award,” said Tad McGwire. “This award came as a very pleasant surprise, and I am honored to accept it. I love work- ing in and supporting our indus- try and treasure the relationships I have built along the way, which is why this award is deeply meaning- ful to me on both professional and personal levels. I also loved work- ing with Bill Carteaux who was my friend and mentor and am grateful for the role he played in my career.” “I congratulate Tad on winning the William R. Carteaux Leadership Award,” said PLASTICS President and CEO Matt Seaholm. “Tad’s his- tory of dedication to our industry, our organization, and his strong leadership values make it easy to see why he was chosen for this honor by his peers. I look forward to present- ing Tad this very well-deserved Car- teaux Award as we kick off NPE2024 in Orlando this May.” The award will be presented as part of the Plastics Hall of Fame Cer- emony in Orlando, Florida on May 5, 2024. Tad McGwire has been an active member of PLASTICS for over 40 years and has served on multiple committees and boards since 2005 including as Chair of the Board of Directors and Chairman of NPE. Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) www.plasticsindustry.org Tad McGwire Ground-Breaking Ceremony on Battery Materials Plant in Texas Orion, a global specialty chemi- cals company, broke ground on a plant in Texas that will be the only facility in the U.S. producing acet- ylene-based conductive additives for lithium-ion batteries and other applications vital for the global shift to electrification. The site in the city of La Porte, southeast of Houston, will create many high-skilled jobs – both in construction and technical fields – and bring innovative technology to the American economy. The bat- tery additives produced by Orion’s plant will be super clean, with only one-tenth of the carbon footprint of other commonly used materials. “Orion is already the sole produc- er of acetylene-based conductive additives in Europe,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said at the ground- breaking ceremony. “Our plant in La Porte will be a pivotal step to- ward strengthening the regional supply of conductive additives in the rapidly growing U.S. battery market.” Every battery requires conductive additives. They enable a more effi - cient flow of electricity and extend the lifetime of lithium-ion batter- ies – the most valuable components of electric vehicles. The material also plays an essential role in high-volt- age cables used for wind and solar farms.