PIRC – PCToday

Alumni College Relations Events Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer President STEM Workforce Development

Dedication held for Shell-funded plastics facility at Penn College

Pennsylvania College of Technology President Davie Jane Gilmour (right) presents a timeline of the college’s plastics program – capped with Shell Polymers’ funding of the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence – to Hilary Mercer, vice president, Pennsylvania Chemicals, for Shell. The center was dedicated in ceremonies taking place Sept. 24.

The Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence was unveiled Sept. 24, and Shell was honored for its generous support for facilities that aid in the instruction of aspiring plastics professionals at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

In a dedication ceremony attended by representatives of the college and Shell and a host of industry partners and stakeholders, participants celebrated the enhanced and upgraded academic and research lab, located in the Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center at Penn College.

The Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence will boost the college’s efforts to produce highly skilled graduates for the plastics industry while helping to ease the skills gap in plastics manufacturing. It also enables the college – which operates the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center – to assist plastics companies with research and development and the training of incumbent workers.

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Workforce Development

College offers injection molding processing workshops

Plastics professionals from seven states and Puerto Rico participated in a recent Injection Molding Processing Workshop offered by the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Two weeks of the Injection Molding Processing Workshop offered by Pennsylvania College of Technology and its acclaimed Plastics Innovation & Resource Center attracted a variety of industry professionals to campus.

Twenty-eight individuals representing seven states and Puerto Rico attended the workshops that were delivered in separate five-day sessions. The sessions consisted of two sections: Decoupled Molding Setup and Operation and the Science of Injection Molding With Troubleshooting.

Timothy E. Weston, associate professor of plastics and polymer technology, taught the sessions with assistance from Spencer L. Cotner, of Muncy, a plastics and polymer engineering technology major and a PIRC research assistant.

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Workforce Development

Extrusion workshop attracts plastics pros

Brennan B. Wodrig, PIRC program manager, (third from left) works with workshop participants on generating coextruded sheets during the recent Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop at Penn College.

The expertise offered by Pennsylvania College of Technology and its acclaimed Plastics Innovation & Resource Center attracted an array of plastics professionals to campus for the recent Extrusion Seminar and Hands-On Workshop.

Individuals representing 22 companies from 10 states, Canada and Italy attended the 21st annual event that featured extrusion experts Chris Rauwendaal, president of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Inc., and Kirk M. Cantor, professor of plastics and polymer technology.

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Workforce Development

Season of well-regarded plastics workshops continues

Patrick White, of Thermo Fisher Scientific in Millersburg, performs a hands-on exercise during a Plastics Materials, Processing and Testing workshop at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Nearly two dozen registrants from eight companies in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania attended the recent Plastics Materials, Processing and Testing workshop hosted by Pennsylvania College of Technology’s world-renowned Plastics Innovation & Resource Center.

The May 20-22 workshop, one of many that attract industry professionals to campus each summer, provided participants with a fundamental knowledge of polymers and how they are processed, tested and characterized.

Events Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Workforce Development

Rotational molding workshop attracts appreciative professionals

A Rotational Molding and Advanced Materials Workshop hosted by Penn College and its Plastics Innovation & Resource Center featured participation by 17 companies from 12 states and Canada. Brennan B. Wodrig, PIRC program manager (at the controls) demonstrates equipment in the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence.

Plastics professionals representing 17 companies, 12 states and Canada gave rave reviews for the recent Rotational Molding & Advanced Materials Workshop hosted by Pennsylvania College of Technology and its acclaimed Plastics Innovation & Resource Center.

“I feel like I am at Disneyland. I loved it that much,” said David Sharp of Acrylon Plastics in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

“A great course. The presenters took complex subject matter and broke it down to an elementary level that was practical and easy to understand,” said Mark Eberhardt of The Metal Ware Corp. in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

College Relations Faculty & Staff General Information Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students Workforce Development

PPL grant to support Penn College Plastics Mobile Lab

Guided by Brennan B. Wodrig, program manager for Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center, fifth-graders visiting a recent Science Festival at the college examine a part produced by a tabletop rotational molder, which was funded by a PPL Foundation grant.

A $9,500 sustaining grant from PPL Foundation will allow Pennsylvania College of Technology to purchase instructional equipment for a Penn College Plastics Mobile Lab, a resource for educating groups about career opportunities and the ongoing demand for qualified workers in the plastics industry.

The PPL grant will fund the college’s purchase of tabletop rotational molder and thermoforming units for the mobile lab. The lab will offer a hands-on experience in various plastics operations for the participants, who will include students and educators attending events at area schools.

The Penn College Plastics Mobile Lab may also work in conjunction with SPE’s PlastiVan program, which travels to schools and companies throughout North America, educating people of all ages about plastics chemistry, history, processing, manufacturing, sustainability and applications.

College Relations Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students Workforce Development

SEKISUI SPI strengthens bond with Penn College

Representatives of SEKISUI SPI hosted a thermoforming station for area elementary and middle school children during an annual Science Festival at Pennsylvania College of Technology, which was sponsored by Penn College, Lycoming College and the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. From left are Lucas Allen, a 2001 Penn College graduate, William Kitchen, Joshua Andress and Kahla Manning.

A worldwide leader in thermoplastics has strengthened its bond with Pennsylvania College of Technology by committing additional funding for a scholarship benefiting students seeking a degree in plastics.

SEKISUI SPI recently contributed $14,000 to its namesake Student Workforce Development Scholarship at the college. Two first-year students enrolled in the plastics and polymer engineering technology baccalaureate major, who ranked in the top third of their high school graduating class and reside in Pennsylvania or Michigan, will each receive $7,000 scholarships.

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State Senate Appropriations Committee chair tours campus

Always engaged and advocating for the college, Yaw (right) converses with Browne in the atrium of the Breuder Advanced Technology & Health Sciences Center.

State Sen. Patrick M. Browne, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Pennsylvania College of Technology on Thursday.

Browne, who represents the 16th District – which includes Allentown and other municipalities within Lehigh County – came to campus after presenting an election and legislative update at a breakfast sponsored by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.

He was invited by fellow Appropriations Committee member Sen. Gene Yaw, who also serves as chairman of the Penn College Board of Directors. Yaw also hosted the Chamber legislative update event, held at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students

Penn College plastics students network, compete at conference

Wagner prepares to race the college’s entry during the RC Car Competition at the 26th Annual SPE Thermoforming Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Networking with industry leaders and participating in a remote-controlled car contest highlighted the activities of a trio of Pennsylvania College of Technology plastics students at the 26th Annual SPE Thermoforming Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Conducted by the Thermoforming Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers, the conference attracted over 70 exhibitors and offered several technical workshops. Thermoforming refers to the practice of heating a thermoplastic sheet until pliable and – by use of a vacuum – forming the sheet into a three-dimensional shape.

Alumni Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Workforce Development

Dream Matches Real-World Need Addressed by Penn College

The dreams of many 9-year-olds transform them into adult superstars. What kid hasn’t dreamed of making the pivotal play to win the big game, belting out a tune to adoring fans or basking under the bright lights of Hollywood?

Trevin Allen.

No disrespect to athletes, rock stars and actors, but the fourth-grader’s dream – described for a class assignment – actually matches reality’s need: a need addressed by Pennsylvania College of Technology.

Trevin’s aspirations connect applied technology education to rewarding careers in the skilled workforce, which is grappling with a shortage of qualified professionals. His words are timely and impactful beyond his classroom at Bloomsburg Memorial Elementary School.

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Be Smart, Rule the World

A group from New Covenant Academy in Mansfield makes final adjustments to its wearable back massager during a STEM Design Challenge hosted by BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 in the college’s Field House.

From the Fall 2018 Penn College Magazine: To prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future, make them curious about how things work, faculty experts say. Read “Be Smart, Rule the World.”

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students Workforce Development

Attendees Add to Toolkit at Heavy-Gauge Thermoforming Workshop

Program manager Christopher J. Gagliano (left) conducts a laboratory session in the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center's Thermoforming Center of Excellence.

The Plastics Innovation & Resource Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology recently hosted 11 industry professionals from six states for its Ninth Annual National Hands-On Heavy-Gauge/Sheet-Fed Thermoforming Workshop.

The three-day program featured presentations from renowned experts and hands-on instruction in forming, trimming, assembly, techniques, materials, tooling, diagnostics, and machine maintenance and safety.

“The PIRC provides a unique opportunity to present both theory and practice in heavy-gauge thermoforming by allowing the participants to use their classroom instruction on a state-of-the-art former,” said keynoter James “Jay” M. Waddell, from Plastics Concepts & Innovations LLC. “Participants were able to use multiple forming techniques and learned how to adjust the equipment to achieve the best results.”

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students Workforce Development

Plastics Professionals Sharpen Skills at Penn College

The Ninth Annual National Hands-On Thin-Gauge/Roll-Fed Thermoforming Workshop at Penn College offered a mix of classroom and lab sessions for 33 participants, who learned from keynote instructor Mark Strachan, college faculty and staff, and guest speakers.

The latest training initiative offered by the Plastics Innovation & Resource Center at Pennsylvania College of Technology advanced the skills of plastics professionals representing a dozen companies, eight states and Canada.

The Ninth Annual National Hands-On Thin-Gauge/Roll-Fed Thermoforming Workshop offered a mix of classroom and lab sessions for the 33 participants, who learned from keynote instructor Mark Strachan, Penn College faculty and staff, and guest speakers.

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students Workforce Development

Plastics Professionals Converge on Penn College Campus

The 20th Annual Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop at Penn College’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center attracted a group of industry professionals representing 28 companies in 11 states and Kuwait.

Plastics industry professionals representing 28 companies, 11 states and Kuwait enhanced their knowledge at the 20th Annual Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center.

Forty participants attended the three-day session led by extrusion experts Chris Rauwendaal and Kirk M. Cantor. President of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Inc. in Auburn, California, Rauwendaal has more than 40 years of industry experience. Cantor, a professor of plastics and polymer technology at Penn College, has taught extrusion for 30-plus years.

Faculty & Staff Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies PIRC Plastics & Polymer Students Workforce Development

Rotomolding Pros Share Perspective at Hands-On Workshop

Participants in the 10th annual Hands-On Rotational Molding and Advanced Materials Workshop take turns in Penn College’s polymer testing lab with Noah L. Martin (in checked shirt), of South Williamsport, a student and Plastics Innovation & Resource Center research assistant.

Marking a decade of intensive staff development for rotational-molding professionals, Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Plastics Innovation & Resource Center recently hosted more than two dozen employees in another of its renowned industry conferences.

A total of 27 people from 15 companies – representing eight states and Alberta, Canada – attended the 10th annual Hands-On Rotational Molding and Advanced Materials Workshop on the college’s main campus on May 22-23.

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