Keith Hechtel, DBA

Meet Keith

Curbell Plastics customers often need advice that straddles the intersection of materials technology, business strategy, and hard science — and that’s where Dr. Keith Hechtel lives. With degrees in geology, industrial technology, and business administration, plus more than 30 years of plastics industry experience, Keith leads the Curbell Plastics Business Development team and offers a unique and practical perspective to plastic material selection and application counseling.

Additionally, as a member of the company’s senior management team, Keith plays a leadership role in Curbell Plastics’ strategic direction and nationwide growth.

Keith has helped hundreds of businesses achieve quality improvements and cost savings through the use of performance plastics. He works closely with design and engineering teams to identify plastics that can act as lightweight, cost-effective replacements for metal, glass, and other materials.

While Keith’s knowledge base is broad, he has developed particular expertise in the application of high-performance engineering plastics for use in environments that pose extraordinary challenges such as extreme temperatures, chemical exposure, or severe friction and wear. He often helps companies in the aerospace, oil and gas, semiconductor, and electronics industries through application analysis and selection of Authentic DuPont™ Vespel® polyimide shapes (for which Curbell Plastics is the only authorized distributor in the western U.S.), Victrex® PEEK™, and other high-performance materials.

Keith brings his expansive knowledge and plastic materials expertise to every consultation. Customers appreciate that he speaks the languages of both engineering and business — a talent matched only by his uncanny ability to explain complex topics in a practical, accessible manner. Whether investigating a part failure, providing recommendations for performance improvement, or helping innovators develop new products and services, Keith sees both the big picture and the bottom line. His recommendations take into account the full spectrum of issues a customer may face, from a plastic’s chemical compatibility, impact resistance, or performance under extreme environmental conditions to the potential logistics, supply chain, risk management, and marketing considerations related to its use.

National Leader in Performance Plastics

A nationally recognized authority on performance plastics, Keith is a tireless proponent of these durable, extended-use plastic materials that minimize energy consumption and add value to countless commercial and industrial applications. He has conducted numerous seminars and presentations for engineers, designers, fabricators, business leaders, and policymakers on topics ranging from plastic properties and part design to the state of leadership and the advancement of women in the plastics industry.

In 2016, the International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) honored Keith with its prestigious President’s Award, recognizing him for his extraordinary impact on the industry and the organization.

Keith is passionate about education, mentorship, and professional development, reflecting the high place of learning among Curbell’s core values. He has trained many of his Curbell Plastics colleagues company-wide on material properties and manufacturing processes, and he is a former college adjunct instructor on business communication and organizational leadership.