One highlight of the conference was recognizing Len Czuba with the prestigious Glenn Beall Founders Award, honoring a career defined by technical excellence, industry leadership, and unwavering service to the medical device community.
Congratulations to the SPE MPD MiniTec organizing team for a great event. It was great to connect with so many industry peers dedicated to improving healthcare.
The Society of Plastics Engineers’ Medical Plastics Division (SPE MPD) recently recognized Len Czuba with its prestigious Glenn Beall Founders Award, honoring a career defined by technical excellence, industry leadership, and unwavering service to the medical device community.
This award, named in honor of Glenn Beall, celebrates individuals whose contributions have helped shape and strengthen SPE MPD and the broader medical plastics field. Len’s selection reflects decades of impact as an engineer, educator, innovator, and mentor.
For more than four decades, Len Czuba has been a leading voice in medical device materials and manufacturing. As President of Czuba Enterprises, he has guided hundreds of companies from early concept through commercialization, helping teams navigate material selection, processing challenges, regulatory requirements, and risk management.
His work spans:
Medical-grade polymers and biomaterials
Injection molding and extrusion optimization
Design-for-manufacturing in regulated environments
Failure analysis and expert witness services
Patent development and intellectual property strategy
Through this work, Len has helped transform promising ideas into safe, reliable, and scalable medical products.
Leadership Within SPE MPD
Beyond his technical achievements, Len’s long-standing commitment to SPE has been central to his legacy.
Over the years, he has served in multiple leadership roles, including Medical Plastics Division Chair and SPE International President. He has also been a consistent presence at conferences, workshops, and training programs—sharing practical insights grounded in real-world experience.
His contributions include:
Organizing and supporting educational programs
Mentoring early-career engineers
Promoting ethical and professional standards
Strengthening collaboration across industry, academia, and consulting
For many members, Len has been both a trusted resource and a steady advocate for excellence.
Advancing Education and Knowledge
Len is widely recognized as one of the field’s most effective educators. Through seminars, articles, courses, and conference presentations, he has helped thousands of professionals deepen their understanding of medical plastics.
His teaching style combines:
Clear technical fundamentals
Real-world case studies
Regulatory and risk-awareness
Practical problem-solving frameworks
This blend has made his sessions invaluable to engineers, product managers, quality leaders, and executives alike.
Why the Glenn Beall Founders Award Matters
Glenn Beall was more than a founding member—he was a mentor, innovator, and tireless advocate for the advancement of medical plastics. This award ensures that his legacy continues to inspire excellence and service within our community. The Glenn Beall Founders Award is one of SPE MPD’s highest honors. It recognizes individuals who:
Demonstrate sustained leadership
Advance the medical plastics profession
Support the growth of the SPE community
Inspire future generations
Len’s career embodies each of these values. His influence extends far beyond individual projects—shaping how medical devices are designed, built, validated, and improved across the industry.
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Len Czuba’s career reflects what is possible when deep technical mastery is combined with generosity, integrity, and commitment to community. Whether advising startups, supporting global manufacturers, or mentoring young engineers, he has consistently raised the standard for the profession.
On behalf of the medical plastics community, SPE MPD proudly congratulates Len on receiving the Glenn Beall Founders Award.
His work continues to inspire—and his legacy will benefit our field for generations to come.
One of the highlights of our recent event was the poster sessions. These presentations showcased the curiosity, creativity, and commitment that drive innovation in medical plastics and biomaterials. We are grateful to all of our presenters for sharing their work and engaging in thoughtful discussions with attendees
Our academic researchers brought forward impressive and impactful projects.
Block CoPolymer-Directed Self-Assembly of Optically Active Nanoparticles by Jayme Chow from UC Irvine
Influence of Carbon Fiber Reinforcement on the Shape Memory Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of PETG by Viswanath Aditham and Yanika Schneider from San Jose State University
We were equally pleased to feature strong industry-focused research and real-world perspectives.
Materials Testing to Support Root Cause Analysis for Manufacturing and Quality Issues at AtriCure by Cameron Sawyer, AtriCure, Inc.
IGS GeboJagema and SPE Medical Plastics Division are proud to announce the Awardees of the Student Scholarship in the topic of Molding of Medical Plastics and Polymers. The winners are:
OVERALL WINNER:
Dakota Antcliff
Plastics Engineering student at Ferris State
FINALIST:
Molly Garber
Plastics Engineering student at UW Stout
FINALIST:
Ethan Graetz
Plastics Engineering student at UW Stout
We were incredibly impressed with the quality of the student candidates – and can’t wait to see the impact they have on the world!
Are you working on a project related to medical polymer science, polymer engineering, or medical innovation?
We invite you to share your research with industry leaders by participating in the SPE Poster Session at our upcoming industry event!
This is a fantastic opportunity to:
Present your work to academics and professionals
Gain visibility and recognition within the medical polymer and medical device community
Build your network and explore career opportunities
We are pleased to offer complimentary registration and a monetary stipend to students presenting posters, to support their participation. We encourage two presenters per poster, and both co-authors should be included in the online input form. A Best Poster Award will be presented. Poster size should be 3’ x 4’.
Submit your poster abstract today and take part in one of the most exciting technical showcases for emerging talent.
“Last year I attended the MiniTec with two masters students who presented their research. We had a wonderful experience. Students gained exposure to the latest polymer science in the biomedical field and received quality feedback on their posters from industry professionals. All of us left the meeting energized by the connections we made during the experience, and we look forward to attending next year. ” – Yanika Schneider, SJSU – Chemical Engineering department
“I thoroughly enjoyed attending the MiniTec Conference, which truly serves as a bridge between academia and industry. The conference provided an excellent platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and exploring emerging trends in the field. One of my research students, Mirnesa Delic, presented our work through a poster on the synthesis of a biohydrogel using Atmospheric Pressure Plasma technology. She was highly engaged with attendees, gaining valuable insights, constructive feedback, and meaningful connections that will significantly benefit her academic and professional growth.
Beyond our presentation, I attended several cutting-edge sessions that deepened my understanding of emerging techniques, innovative methodologies, and collaborative opportunities. These insights will directly enhance my teaching at Hamline University and further advance the research conducted in the Hamline Plasma Laboratory.” – Urvashi Sandhir, Chemistry Department at Hamline University
Topics include the following:
1. Advanced Medical Polymers
Smart, self-healing, bioinspired, and antimicrobial medical plastics
Material biocompatibility
Materials & technologies critical for next generation medicines & therapeutic delivery systems
2. Next-Generation Medical Devices & Therapeutic Delivery
Next generation medical devices and therapeutic delivery systems
Personalization in materials, manufacturing, devices, and measurements
Development of hybrid devices to reduce single-use plastic waste and OEM end-of-life responsibilities
3. Manufacturing Innovations & Process Control
Additive manufacturing in medical devices (3D and “4D” printing)
Innovations in polymer processing and device manufacturing
AI and machine learning-driven tools for medical plastics manufacturing
4. Regulatory Compliance & Testing
Testing and validation of medical plastics (evolving standards and regulations: ISO 10993 updates, MDR, PFAS)
Interactions between medical plastics and sterilization methods (e.g., ethylene oxide limitations)
5. Sustainability & Lifecycle Considerations
Sustainability in healthcare materials and manufacturing
Design considerations for balancing safety, convenience, and lifecycle impact
If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out. We’re here to support your success!
