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Plastics Innovation & Resource Center
Applying world-class training and Research & Development to help plastics companies close skills gaps, increase efficiencies, and overcome process and compounding challenges.
Contact
- Plastics Innovation & Resource Center
- Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center, Rm. E128
570.321.5533 - pirc@pct.edu
The Plastics Innovation & Resource Center (PIRC) provides technology resources to facilitate the growth and success of the plastics industry in the United States and throughout the world. The Center, dedicated to excellence, serves the education, training, and research & development needs of plastic processors, resin suppliers, mold builders, and equipment manufacturers, offering access to extensive material testing laboratories, industrial scale process equipment, world-class training facilities, and a highly skilled training and consulting staff.
Explore our program areas
Plastic Workshops
(In Person & Remote)
Training and networking opportunities abound in our nationally acclaimed seminars and hands-on workshops, benefitting plastics professionals of all skill levels.
Plastics Mobile Lab
The Plastics Mobile Lab provides a user-friendly hands-on STEM educational opportunity for students.
Applied Research & Development
The PIRC is the complete solution for process improvement, applied R&D, product development, and prototyping.
Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence
Supports applied research and development in the rotomolding industry.
Thermoforming Center of Excellence
The facility is dedicated to serve the education, training, and research and development needs of thermoformers, sheet extruders, resin suppliers, mold builders, and equipment manufacturers.
Benefits
Increase profitability
- Improve manufacturing productivity
- Better utilize and manage materials
- Use new technology and materials
- Benefit from energy reduction programs
- Decrease operation costs
Decrease development costs
- Reduce production down time for trials on new materials or products
- Handle analysis, testing, mold trials, product development, and research needs
- Reduce capital costs – no need to invest in your own R & D facilities
Develop and train your workforce
- Participate in national hands-on workshops
- Employee Certification of skills and knowledge
- Provide customized workshops at your site or at Penn College
Student Experience
“The PIRC did a terrific job analyzing and solving this complex problem. I highly recommend them.”
PIRC Student
Our People
Here for you every step of the way
News
11.09.2022
Penn College student project ‘manufactures’ benefits
Jake C. Beatty volunteered for the class project because it sounded “cool.” Turns out, he was right. The result was an invaluable experience for the manufacturing student at Pennsylvania College of Technology and will benefit those who follow his path.
06.27.2022
Penn College offers injection molding processing series
A dozen plastics professionals representing five companies benefited from a recent weeklong workshop hosted by Pennsylvania College of Technology and its renowned Plastics Innovation & Resource Center. The Injection Molding Processing Series combined lecture and hands-on experience in covering decoupled molding setup and operation and the injection molding process.
03.01.2022
Plastics News honors alumnus as industry 'Rising Star'
Jacob W. Fry, who earned a bachelor’s degree in plastics and polymer engineering technology from Penn College in 2016, has been profiled as a “Rising Star” in Plastics News. The industry publication this week posted a Q&A with Fry, who is employed as a business development manager with Currier Plastics Inc. in Auburn, New York.