Penn College Workforce Development will host a series of seven polymer workshops that combine classroom lectures with hands-on experience in on-campus labs. The combination is designed to reinforce the lecture and enhance understanding of the material. The college also is co-hosting an eighth workshop at Kiefel Technologies Inc., Dover, New Hampshire.
Participants of the workshops will learn to select plastics materials that enhance product performance, identify factors that increase process profitability, reduce quality errors through better process control and learn effective molding, extrusion and forming techniques.
What began with the Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop in 1999 has evolved with industry demand over the last 27 years. Sixty-nine registrants from 13 states participated in the series last summer.
Participants of last year's Rotational & Advanced Materials Workshop explore multi-layer molding for dual-layer polyethylene foam. Penn College Workforce Development will, once again, host a series of polymer workshops that combine classroom lectures with hands-on experience in on-campus labs.
Beth J. Zielewicz, Penn College Workforce Development program coordinator, said it’s the hands-on lab exercises that are the most attractive component of the series.
“We have received feedback from previous attendees that the workshops helped them by increasing their understanding and ability to apply the concepts in their work,” she said.
Past participant Nicole Rauch said that since her attendance at the 2023 Plastics 101 Workshop, her role as a marketing specialist with Sekisui Kydex has continued to grow in scope and impact.
“I now play a more strategic role in bridging technical teams and customers by translating complex manufacturing processes into clear, compelling stories,” Rauch said. “I collaborate more closely with our technical, production and R&D teams and feel far more confident participating in conversations about thermoforming, extrusion, material performance and end-use applications.”
2024 Hands-On Thermoforming student Corey Johnson, an aftermarket sales manager at MAAC Thermoforming Machinery, said his participation allowed him to understand thermoforming from a different perspective.
“In my career, the seminar has helped me understand plastics processing and also help customers with their problems with the thermoforming process,” he said. “(It) really has helped with discussing thermoforming in general, especially coming from the service side of the industry to the sales side.”
Dirk Baugher, a plastics engineer with McClarin Composites, has seen a steady progression in his own career since attending last year’s Heavy Gauge Thermoforming Workshop. He has experienced a stronger focus on process optimization, troubleshooting and overall understanding of thermoforming operations.
“I’ve become more confident in evaluating tooling, material behavior and forming parameters, which has allowed me to contribute more effectively to both daily operations and longer-term improvement initiatives,” he said.
Although most registrants are already employed and their registration is paid for by their employer, the trainings are open to anyone, and Zielewicz said sole proprietors and entrepreneurs are welcome to attend to learn more about the various processes.
Upcoming workshops, which also include breakfast and lunch each day, as well as an evening networking event and access to copies of the instructional materials, are:
- Color Science & Weathering (May 19-21)
- Plastics 101 (May 19-21)
- Heavy-Gauge Thermoforming (May 27-28)
- Extrusion Seminar & Hands-on Workshop (June 2-4)
- Rotational Molding & Advanced Materials (June 16-17)
- Injection Molding Processing Fundamentals (June 23-25)
- Extrusion Die Design Workshop (June 24-25)
- Thin Gauge Thermoforming – co-hosted at Kiefel Technologies Inc. (Oct. 7-8)
Details can be explored at www.pct.edu/polymer-workshops.
The Penn College Workforce Development Polymers Lab is a leading resource for education, training and technical support across the plastics industry. Serving manufacturers, resin suppliers, mold builders and equipment providers, the lab offers access to advanced material-testing capabilities, industrial-scale processing equipment and world-class training facilities. In addition to training, the lab provides technical assistance and consulting services to help companies improve operations and innovate. To learn more, call 570-327-4775 or email the lab.
Penn College offers a bachelor’s degree in polymer engineering technology and an associate degree in polymer technology. Both boast 100% overall job placement.
For information about those and other majors in the School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Email Admissions or call toll-free 800-367-9222.