For over five decades, Matt Naitove has shaped the voice and vision of the plastics industry through insightful journalism, editorial excellence, and a lifelong commitment to education and innovation. As a cornerstone of Plastics Technology magazine since 1972, he served as its chief editor for 29 years. He played a central role in elevating the publication from an industry also-ran to the leading technical voice in the plastics processing industry.
Naitove’s leadership fostered a collaborative editorial team, many of whom stayed with the magazine for decades. His influence is reflected in the growth and longevity of Plastics Technology, which remains the only in-depth technology publication in print in the United States. His deep editorial involvement included personally copyediting every issue from 1978 to 2023 and spearheading landmark editions such as the 1979 safety and health regulations issue—winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award—and the 50th anniversary “50 Ideas That Changed Plastics” report in 2005.
Early in his career, Naitove distinguished himself with ambitious editorial projects, including a 16-page review of plastics additives and a comprehensive brand-name equipment survey. He later pioneered industry benchmarks with his long-running surveys of custom injection molders’ machine-hour rates—critical market data that served processors across the U.S.
He was also the driving force behind PT’s NPE Show Guides (1982–2006), known for their detailed product listings and floor maps. His editorial foresight brought emerging technologies into focus through the CIM Leaders Awards series (1986–1998) and in-depth examinations of molding, blow molding, and manufacturing innovation.
In addition to his editorial contributions, Naitove appeared as the plastics expert on the History Channel’s Modern Marvels episode, “Plastics,” which aired in 1998. A Harvard and Columbia Journalism School graduate, he remains a contributing editor with PT as of 2024, now in his 52nd year.
Matt Naitove’s enduring dedication, technical accuracy, and editorial integrity—most notably through his decades-long leadership at Plastics Technology magazine—have not only chronicled but also helped shape the evolution of the modern plastics industry.