Lorne Berggren, Canadian plastics pioneer and entrepreneur, passes away

Lorne Berggren.

Berggren, founder of Mould-tek Industries Inc. and Berg Chilling Systems, passed away on April 27 in Toronto. He was 83.

Berggren founded Toronto-based plastics processing equipment supplier Mould-tek in the early 1960s; he founded Mould-tek’s sister company, Berg Chilling Systems, in Toronto in the early 1970s. Under his direction, these companies became national and world-wide leaders in plastics materials handling equipment and industrial process cooling systems.

In 2007, Berggren sold Mould-tek’s bulk handling manufacturing division to Wittmann Canada. He retired from the industry that same year. Berg Chilling Systems is now owned and operated by his son Don as president; Berggren had remained as chairman of that company.

In recognition of his accomplishments, Berggren received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 from the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, as well as the Canada Export Award in 1998.

In 2010, Berggren contributed $100,000 to establish a scholarship at his alma mater, the University of New Brunswick. Designed to support students in the mechanical engineering program who have an interest in entrepreneurship, the Lorne Berggren Scholarship provides $10,000 to campus students.