Mark Strachan’s career in the Packaging Industry started in 1982 while serving his apprenticeship as an Electronics Engineer for Metal Box South Africa. His first project involving the rewiring and programming of a thermoforming machine sparked his interest in the plastics industry.
He started his own plastics blister manufacturing business (PacMark) in the garage of his home which quickly grew to a prominent plastics blister packaging business which later included the production of plastic cups for the airline catering business.
Marks hunger to learn more about the plastic industry led him to Germany where he worked for a large plastics packaging manufacturing firm for 3 years where he gained valuable hands on experience in both the thermoforming and extrusion processes. He then moved to England to help commission a new plastic food tray manufacturing plant for the same German company where he stayed for one year.
Mark then moved to Wales, UK for 3 years where he served as Engineer Manager for a large horticultural tray manufacturing business.During a visit to the K-Show in Germany, he met Mr. Anthony Giovannone and was offered a position at Sencorp Systems in Massachusetts, USA. Mark worked for Sencorp for 4 years in both the Extrusion and Thermoforming departments and was responsible for new developments and training – During his time at Sencorp Mark traveled to many companies around the world where he assisted with the commissioning of new machines and training of their operators (To mention a few; Duracell, Gillette, Loctite, Oral-B, Colgate, PIMA, Mark K, Mardec, Linpac, Dolphin, Huhtamaki etc)An offer to write the machinery and training manuals for a large cut sheet thermoforming machinery manufacturing business (Rigo Machinery) afforded him the opportunity to travel frequently to Italy where he worked extensively with very large vacuum forming machineryHe was then offered a position at Commodore Machine Company in New York where he was responsible for technical sales support, commissioning and training. During his time at Commodore, he traveled worldwide and assisted in the commissioning of foam tray manufacturing plants in Ghana, Africa and Miami, Florida.Due to increased request for assistance, Mark decided to start his own Training/Consulting business and has since been presenting hands on training to thermoforming companies worldwide. He has also taken on long term projects (1 week per month for 1-2 years) to assist companies with start-up’s and special projects. He has just completed the installation and commissioning of a yogurt and ice cream cup manufacturing plant in Miami, Florida (Extrusion, Thermoforming and sleeve wrapping).
During the past 25 years, Mark has gained valuable experience in the Plastics Thermoforming and Extrusion Industry and related machinery and his desire to impart this knowledge has led to the formation of Global Thermoforming Training Technologies Inc. |
