Joe Walker set to retire from Freudenberg-NOK

PLYMOUTH, Mich.—One of the rubber industry's biggest advocates is calling it a career effective March 30 after more than four decades in the rubber and plastics business.

Francis Joseph Walker—known as Joe to those in the business—is stepping down after working the past 24 years at Plymouth-based Freudenberg-NOK, retiring as the firm's director of materials and laboratories. Prior to joining Freudenberg-NOK, he also had stints at Honeywell/Alliant Techsystems and Wacker Silicones Corp.

Of course, Walker will remain busy in his retirement, as he will oversee the new training academy at the Association for Rubber Product Manufacturers (ARPM).

And that will be important for the industry's future.

"Joe Walker knows more about our industry than most of us will ever dream of knowing, even if we were to live and work until the age of 150," said Charlie Braun, ARPM board member and president of Custom Rubber Corp. "His willingness to answer a call or any question from anyone, and offer knowledge, opinions and assistance has always been refreshing."

Walker was known in the North American rubber industry as a materials expert, and one who pushed for the rubber sector to change its perception from a business with outdated technology to one that is innovative and features high-tech solutions. Walker, who served as the chair of the ACS Rubber Division in 2012, also was vocal about the need for rubber firms to step up their recruiting efforts to younger prospects, touting these efforts in a variety of talks over the years.

"The influx of new talent is crucial for this industry to continue in America," Walker said as the keynote speaker at the 2018 International Silicone Conference. "Since what we do and how we do it is not taught in our schools and universities, but learned and acquired, it's critical that the incoming freshmen into our community are obtained while we still have senior members in our work community to teach them."

Chad Bauer, senior vice president of technology and innovation at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, said under Walker's leadership, the material laboratories in Plymouth expanded and were modernized with new equipment and machinery.

"He has successfully led teams of specialized chemists, scientists and research engineers in expanding our materials portfolio to include plastics, silicones, and adhesives," Bauer said in a Freudenberg-NOK news release. "With the company's transition to e-mobility and other alternate fuel technologies, Joe has been instrumental in the development of a plan to support the transition with new equipment, materials, and collaboration."

During his tenure at Freudenberg, the firm said Walker has overseen application-focused materials research for such varied markets as automotive, aerospace, agriculture, construction, appliance, recreational, oil and gas, medical and fluid power. He also designed a new work-tracking system for the laboratories and managed a forensic services group specializing in rubber analysis, state-of-cure testing and surface chemistry.

Walker also has been active in a variety of industry initiatives, being honored with numerous service awards from professional industry associations, academic institutions and trade groups where he has served in leadership roles. Besides his tenure as chair of the Rubber Division, he has served on the ARPM Board of Directors.

Teaching and training also have been a passion for Walker during his career, conducting internal and external materials workshops. He will continue this practice after he retires by overseeing the new ARPM Training Academy. It will teach fundamentals and advanced topics for the rubber industry, providing instruction both online and in-person.

"Joe is a long-time member of the ARPM Board of Directors and has been a consistent advocate for creating training standards that drive continuous improvement in the rubber industry," said Kirk Bowman, ARPM board member and general manager of belts engineering and product development for Timken Group. "His driving motivation is not complex—he simply cares about the state of our industry and ensuring that we are developing the next round of leaders who have the knowledge and skills to continue to compete globally."

When Walker's retirement becomes effective March 30, Ryan Fleming, current operations manager MT-Americas, in Plymouth, will become Freudenberg-NOK's director of laboratory operations at technology and innovation.