Plastics processing innovator Trexel announced today the appointment of Levi Kishbaugh to the position of CEO. He succeeds Brian Bechard, who passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Aug. 6, 2022, having served as CEO since 2015.

Kishbaugh began his career at Trexel in 1999 as Director of Process Development for injection molding technology. Most recently he was Vice President of Engineering with full responsibility for all technical activities within the company. During his management of design and development activities, Trexel launched a new family of SCF system designs, including a system for fast-cycle packaging applications, another for the footwear industry equipped with critical shot-to-shot dosing capability, and an optimized system for extrusion and accumulator blow molding. 

Kishbaugh’s areas of expertise include the MuCell microcellular foam injection molding technology pioneered by Trexel, injection molding, materials, and application development.  He previously worked in product and application development at Montell Polyolefins and Dow Chemical. He received his bachelor's degree in science from Stevens Institute of Technology.

“It is an exciting time for Trexel, whose technologies are aimed at solving some of the major challenges facing injection molders — making plastic parts lighter, improving dimensional stability, and reducing production costs," said Kishbaugh in a prepared statement. “We offer the most advanced foaming technology in the world, and serve customers in packaging, footwear, blow molding, and electronics as well as the EV market. I look forward to working with the team at Trexel to drive the company through its next phase of growth."