Passion + Experience

Thermoforming Industry Leader

James M. (Jay) Waddell, founder of Plastic Concepts & Innovations, has extensive experience in the thermoforming industry.  In 1982, he  joined Curd Enterprises DBA Multiplastics. Under his leadership the company became one of the leading formers for the medical industry and talc-filled polyethylene for the trucking refrigeration industry. At Multiplastics, he was instrumental in the development of twin-sheet forming of materials that had never before been twin-sheet formed. He was responsible for transforming the company into the first US ISO 9000 certified heavy-gauge thermoformer. In 1999, he established Plastic Concepts & Innovations (PCI) and quickly lead the development of new extrusion and forming technologies for TPOS. In addition, PCI became an industry leader for developing processes for forming paint films with various substrates, including TPOs.

Jay has been instrumental in  developing a comprehensive training program for the heavy-gauge forming industry. The training program includes both basic and advanced forming techniques, as well as tooling and material training. This program is an industry standard in training all levels of personnel in heavy-gauge and cut-sheet forming. Jay has chaired, moderated and presented at numerous technical conferences and international forums. 

Areas of Expertise

Mr. Waddell has presented numerous seminars for major automobile manufacturers and their Tier One suppliers, resin companies, and private enterprises on thermoforming. He has done extensive work in the development of Class A thermoformed interior and exterior products for many major automobile manufacturers and their Tier One suppliers. He has been active in the development of forming technology for PVF and PVDF film technology in heavy-gauge thermoforming, and the use of TPOs in exterior and interior applications. Besides automotive applications, Jay has worked extensively in development of new products in the refrigeration, marine and RV industries. He has consulted on and completed numerous process evaluations for companies to improve their thermoforming capabilities, both in the United States and worldwide. From one of the largest forming companies in the UK, to the largest refrigerator manufacturer in South America, his expertise has guided companies to improve their performance and profitability, positively influencing their bottom line.

Industry Experience

Mr. Waddell is respected as an expert in materials and manufacturing techniques in the heavy-gauge industry. He is experienced in developing products for industries as diverse as circuit board handling packages to critical-care patient life-support systems. He developed processes for thermoforming difficult materials such as paint films, TPO’s and twin sheet forming of talc-filled olefins. 

He is a Senior Member of Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) and has been a member of the SPE national Board of Directors for the Thermoforming Division for the past 26 years. He was the chairman of the 2002 Thermoforming Conference held in Nashville, TN, and he has served as technical chair, moderator, treasurer and presenter for a number of other annual Thermoforming Conferences. He is currently a member of the Materials Technical Committee and Senior Councilor for the Thermoforming Division.