Robert Speirs III, professor emeritus and former chairman of the Ferris State University Plastic Program, is the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award winner of the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers.
His roles have included assistant professor, associate professor, and professor and coordinator of the plastics, rubber and CAD programs. For almost 40 years, Speirs educated plastics professionals. He taught and mentored 1,500 graduates, including 75 children of plastic program graduates, and inspired 250 students to obtain Master of Science degrees and 50 to obtain Ph.D.s. A number of his graduates are in leadership positions in the industry advancing automotive plastics.
Prior to his tenure at Ferris State University, Speirs worked as a senior application development engineer at Dow Chemical in Midland, Mich., principal engineer at Baxter Travenol Labs in Round Lake, Ill. and market development engineer at Kay Fries Chemical in Fairlawn, N.J.
First given in 2001, the SPE Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the technical achievements of individuals whose work in research, design and/or engineering has led to significant integration of polymers in passenger vehicles.
Speirs will receive the award at the 54th annual SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala Nov. 5 at Laurel Manor in Livonia, Mich.
