Mark Strachan’s career in the Packaging Industry started in 1982 while serving his apprenticeship as an Electronics Engineer for Metal Box South Africa and soon after started his own plastics blister manufacturing business (PacMark, CC.) 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 for all. His hunger to learn more about the plastic industry led him to Europe where he held Engineering and Production Management positions at large plastics packaging manufacturing firms with the intention to gain valuable hands on experience in both the thermoforming and extrusion processes.  He later moved to the USA where he worked with numerous thermoforming and extrusion machinery OEMS such as Commodore Machine Company, Berlyn Extruders and Sencorp Systems in Massachusetts, USA in the capacity of Thermoforming and Extrusion Product Specialist. For these companies, Mark was responsible for new developments, commissioning and training of their customers around the world. During the past 28 years, Mark has gained valuable experience in the Plastics Thermoforming and Extrusion Industry and due to the increased demand for his hands-on assistance and together with his desire to impart this knowledge led to the formation of his own Training/Consulting business, Global Thermoforming Technologies Inc. and he has since been presenting hands-on “Thermoforming Boot Camp” and advanced Interactive training courses to thermoforming companies worldwide. 

Mark is a Gold sponsor and active supporter of the Penn State College Thermoforming Center of Excellence and assists the school with part design, training and special project. He presented the thin gage thermoforming workshop at the SPE Thermoforming Conference in 2008 and has been a member of SPE since 2005 and is the Thin Gage, Chairman for the 2010 Thermoforming Conference to be held in Milwaukee, WI

Mark is an avid sailor, scuba diver and kayaker and is involved with numerous non-profit organizations such as 4Kids of Florida and Shake a Leg foundation to help the underprivileged.