John Kidd Award Winners
Since 2017, The John Kidd award has been presented annually to the individual whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence and integrity in the field of Dual Laminates. The individual can be a fabricator, material supplier, inventor, consultant, end user, welder, or anyone else who has been instrumental in the development fabrication, or promotion of Dual Laminates.
Recent Award Winners
2023 John Kidd Award Winner – Greg O'Brien
2020 John Kidd Award Winner – Arek Blazejewski
2019 John Kidd Award Winner – L. Ted Hutton
2018 John Kidd Award Winner – Hardin Wells
2017 John Kidd Award Winner – Steve Linnemann
Who Was John Kidd?
John A. Kidd studied Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. After serving in the British Army, stationed in India, he emigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1953. There he joined forces with Ivar Jams, a German-trained plastic welder, and Tom Cunane, an accountant, to create Canadian Plastic Fabricators (CPF) in 1956. After much experimentation, trial and error, they pioneered the use of plastic-lined FRP structures, and were soon recognized industry leaders in dual laminates for the corrosion market. John Kidd himself was awarded several patents for his innovative manufacturing and design methods. (CPF was later renamed CPF Dualam.)
Throughout his career, John Kidd manufactured a broad range of chemical process equipment using dual-laminate construction for a wide variety of customers in North America and Europe. His meticulous standards established the benchmark for the entire industry. Recognized as an industry pioneer, he worked closely with academic institutions and key industry stakeholders to help ensure that chemical process equipment met, and in many cases exceeded, rigorous safety and industry standards. Even after almost four decades, he remained committed to advancing design practices and manufacturing techniques, contributing to the improved performance, reliability, and safety of chemical process equipment.
John sold his company in 1990, and passed away shortly after than in a car accident. But his foundational legacy—built on innovation, quality, even the Dualam name—lives on.
Nominate someone for the John Kidd Award
The John Kidd award is presented annually to the individual whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence and integrity in the field of Dual Laminates. The individual can be a fabricator, material supplier, inventor, consultant, end user, welder, or anyone else who has been instrumental in the development fabrication, or promotion of Dual Laminates.
Nominations for Award
Nominations for the award will be accepted until December 31st. The award will be presented by the Dual Laminate Fabrication Association at the spring meeting.
Award Criteria
Minimum 5 years experience in Dual Laminates. A person that has designed, engineered, fabricated, specified, presented technical papers on, used, and/or inspected Dual Laminates.