John P. Beaumont
Beaumont Technologies
Inducted 2015
John P. Beaumont (1952 – ) is recognized for his contributions as an educator and inventor and his pioneering work in multiple start-ups, including four of his own. He earned his B.S. in Plastics Technology from Lowell Technological Institute in 1976 and later his M.S. in Plastics Engineering from U Mass Lowell. Early in his career, Beaumont worked as an injection molding process/project engineer at American Optical’s Safety Product division and later as the Engineering Manager at American Optical/Ciba Vision’s contact lens division. In 1985 he joined Moldflow as Technical Manager, North America. During this time, John was actively involved with the application development of, and industry introduction to, some of the industry’s first FEM mold filling, cooling, part shrinkage, and warpage simulation/analysis programs.
In 1989, Beaumont joined Penn State University, the Behrend College, to help start up a new Plastics Engineering Technology program. While there, he served as Program Chair, founded Penn State’s Plastics CAE Center, achieved the rank of full professor, and then in 1998 founded Beaumont Technologies. Beaumont continued at Penn State while he oversaw the development of his company, which pioneered and became recognized as the world leader of in-mold rheological control for injection molding.
Beaumont received multiple patents related to advancing injection molding through in-mold rheological control. He also developed and patented multiple in-mold melt measurement methods, which enabled the characterization and mapping of a polymer’s behavior within an injection mold.
John founded two additional companies that provide a wide range of services, including custom injection molding, injection molding simulation, and polymer material characterization. His Beaumont Advanced Processing became a global leader in material characterization for injection molding simulation after Autodesk Moldflow discontinued its material characterization services and transferred its multiple lab operations to Beaumont.
Beaumont also founded the American Injection Molding Institute (AIM). AIM’s “Plastics Technology & Engineering” program became the first plastics education/training accredited by ANSI’s ANAB. AIM later established a unique partnership with Penn West University to introduce an AAS Applied Technology degree in Plastics Injection Molding.
Beaumont authored several books published by Hanser Gardner Publications, including “Runner & Gating Design Handbook” and “Successful Injection Molding,” and has contributed to the design chapters of the “Injection Molding Handbook.” His books are recognized worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages. John was a member of the Plastics Pioneers Association, served as Chair of the Injection Molding Division’s Board of Directors, was elected an SPE Fellow, and was a recipient of SPE’s Fred E Schwab Education Award, which recognizes “outstanding researchers and educators in the field of plastics engineering.”