Joseph Walker, Global Technology Director of Materials and Laboratories for Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in Plymouth, Mich., has been well-known as a dynamic leader and a wealth of knowledge during his near quarter-century spent with the company. As Walker embarks on a new journey of well-deserved retirement in 2023, his successor, Americas MT Laboratory Operations Manager Ryan Fleming, hopes to hold up the high bar that Joe has set.
Ever since Joe Walker joined Freudenberg in 1998, he has gone above and beyond – for both the company and for the rubber industry at large. During his time at the company, he has overseen application-focused materials development research for multiple market segments, 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.
Outside of Freudenberg, Walker has long been a regular lecturer on the opportunities and challenges associated with the rubber industry, has served as a member of numerous industry organizations, and holds 23 patents in the fields of materials and applications, process, and compositional chemistries.
Regardless of his accomplishments inside the company or out, Walker credits internal support at Freudenberg as a major factor in his efforts.
“Being supported by my senior management team at Freudenberg throughout my endeavors has been nothing short of remarkable,” Walker said. “The amount of freedom provided to me has allowed me to create a real service organization with the Technology & Innovation (T&I) labs here in Plymouth that are best-in-class and best-in-industry.”
“I’ve been allowed to visit locations and work with people that I would have otherwise never seen or met, resulting in some very close, personal friendships which will transcend my retirement,” Walker added. “The impact that I’ve been able to be make, not only with Freudenberg, but in having a part of shaping the industry as a whole, is extremely rewarding.”
A natural choice to lead
Now that he’s preparing to take on a new set of activities and goals in his retirement, Walker is passing the labs torch over to his successor, current Americas MT Laboratory Operations Manager Ryan Fleming, who joined Freudenberg in 2010 as a lab administrator and chemist.
“The labs will be in very capable hands with Ryan at the helm. I’ve watched him grow professionally over the past 12 years, evolving into a group leader, then a team leader, operations manager and now a director,” said Walker. “Over time, I saw him becoming a go-to person when associates had questions and it became apparent he was a natural to take over. He is technically excellent, has forged strong relationships with both our external and internal customers and has a very high level of integrity and is strong in character.”
While taking over for such a prominent figure like Walker could feel like a daunting task, Fleming feels the leadership he experienced under Walker has more than prepared him for the role.
“Joe has been such a great leader and mentor throughout the years. His vast experience and knowledge of the rubber industry and chemistry in general is incredible and getting to absorb that has been a huge advantage for me,” said Fleming. “Whenever I found myself in a difficult situation, Joe was always there and willing to help. I always appreciated his ability to lead, but also to listen and let me grow into different areas.”
“Joe has a true passion for this industry, he literally laid the foundation for the T&I labs when he oversaw their design and construction,” added Fleming. “With that strong foundation, T&I has prospered throughout the years. Joe has truly left his mark in the industry, and I really appreciate the time that I have had with him.”
Looking into the future
Looking ahead to what’s next for the labs and for the industry, Fleming believes that the many challenges in the areas of e-mobility, energy applications, data management, supply chain and an increase in related regulations offer an opportunity to re-examine current processes, see what can be improved and bring new solutions to the table.
“This is an exciting time to come into this role,” said Fleming. “There are many changes going on in the world with regard to new technology and sustainability and Freudenberg is well-positioned to address them. I’m looking forward to collaboration with other divisions to tackle new customer demands and keep Freudenberg at the forefront.”
Walker agrees and believes there’s a lot of potential for the labs as the industry continues to evolve.
“I would like to see Ryan take the lab to the next digital level and continue the expansion of our capabilities through advanced analytics and scope so that as our traditional markets begin to fade and our new e-mobility landscape becomes our primary focus, our materials technologies – not just traditional rubber and plastics – will have evolved as well,” said Walker.
Fleming feels that his colleagues are some of the brightest minds in the industry and that the focus on advancement and support, both within their own division and outside of it, are major strengths.
“Our materials and technical expertise is known and respected not only internally, but by our customers and other companies as well,” said Fleming. “This is reflected by the many people who come to us with questions, requests or problems to solve. Whether it’s the formulation of a new compound, advanced testing, data analytics, troubleshooting, or help with a customer, they know that they will be working with some of the best the industry has to offer.“
Despite his journey into retirement, Walker won’t be slowing down for long. He will not only be instructing at a major university but also for two industry trade associations, including overseeing the Association for Rubber Product Manufacturers’ (APRM) new Training Academy, a dynamic technical training resource that teaches fundamentals and advanced topics for the rubber industry. The Academy will provide both online training that will be accessible to everyone in an organization to improve the knowledge base of the entire workforce, and in-person training that will provide in-depth principles of design not available anywhere else in the rubber industry or academia. Walker previously served on the Association’s Board of Directors.
As for life at home, “I also hope to work on perfecting being Mr. Walker to Mrs. Walker!” he said.
