Educational Resources For Wisconsin's Plastics Industry
Wisconsin's educational programs and research facilities have set the pace for establishing engineering, professional, technical, and science programs that rank among the highest in the nation. University of Wisconsin-Madison
Undergraduate engineering, professional, technical, and science programs are among the highest ranked in the nation in multiple industrial related disciplines. University of Wisconsin-Platteville
The University of Wisconsin-Plattville, one of four engineering and technical schools within the University of Wisconsin System, emphasizes plastics education in their curriculum. The University offers a master of science in industrial technology management as well as a number of traditional baccalaureate degrees including a minor in plastics processing technology. This allows the industrial technology management (ITM) students as well as engineering students to specialize in plastics manufacturing and technology areas. The degrees offered with a minor or emphasis in plastics processing are. Master of Science in: -Industrial Technology Management (with options in)
Manufacturing Technology Management
Occupational Safety Management -Mechanical Engineering
-Industrial Engineering The University is home to the Center for Plastics Processing Technology (CFPPT), an institute for training, industrial problem solving, and transfer of technology. This unique center was established as the result of cooperation between the Society of Plastics Engineers, (SPE) Milwaukee Section, and the University of Wisconsin-Plattville. The Center's services include: -Customized Employee Training
-Parts Design
-Material Selection
-Process Selection
-Product Evaluation
-Test Marketing
-Transfer of Technology
For more information about the Center, go to www.uwplatt.edu or call (608)342-1115. University of Wisconsin-Stout
This national award winning university prepares students for productive careers in business, industry, and technology with a combination of coursework, lab, and work in the field. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The College of Engineering and Applied Science offers a full compliment of undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering and computer science. These programs are complimented by world class research laboratories and facilities. Milwaukee School of Engineering
MSOE offers a full compliment of undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering. These programs are complemented by research laboratories and facilities. The Applied Technology Center™ is MSOE's research arm, serving as a technology transfer catalyst among the academia, business and governmental agencies (www.msoe.edu/research). - Rapid Prototyping Center
Integrates research with the five leading rapid prototyping technologies: stereolithography, selective laser sintering, laminated object manufacturing, fused deposition modeling and 3-D printing. - Rapid Protyping Consortium
Member benefits in a non-competitive environment include: development assistance; seminars and in-plant training; problem-focused subcommittees on issues of finishing, tooling, new product development and CAD; networking sessions and workshops; priority access to pattern creation, tooling and custom mold capabilities; advisory board. - Rapid Tooling R&D
MSOE is a leader in integrating hybrid manufacturing processes to achieve high performance mold tooling. By combining additive, subtractive, and net-cast processes, advancements in mold wear resistance, thermal management (cycle time reduction via conformal cooling) and mold feature density are being realized. - Center for BioMolecular Modeling
Uses rapid prototyping technology to produce 3-D physical models of biomolecules useful in research laboratories and secondary and post-secondary science classrooms.
Wisconsin Technical College System
An Associate Arts program in Plastic Technician is in place at the Milwaukee campus and a one-year technical diploma in plastics manufacturing is available at the Gateway Technical College. Courses offered at the colleges of interest to the plastics industry include blueprint reading, CAD, CAM, computer training, continuous process improvement, extrusion and related processes, fundamentals of plastics processes, geometric tolerancing, injection molding and related processes, ISO 9000, laser technology, mold and part design, plastics machine processes, plastics processing methods, plastics properties and testing, plastics tooling and part design, introduction to polymer science, thermoforming and thermoset materials and processes. For a more detailed curriculum offered at each technical college, click on the following: Other State and National Educational Resources - Great Lakes Composites Consortium, Kenosha
A national center for transferring composites technology into production utilizing an 80,000 square foot teaching factory. - National Technological University, Eau Claire, (715)836-5637 www.ntu.edu
NTU is a private, nonprofit consortium of 48 leading universities that cooperate to offer masters level and noncredit short courses via satellite communication. - National Certification in Plastics - sponsored by the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., Washington DC 1-888-627-3660 www.certifyme.org
The NCP Certified Operator exam tests the knowledge and skill level of operators in one major process of their choosing - injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming or blow molding - and measures seven key areas:
- safety
- quality assurance
- preventive and corrective action
- general knowledge
- material handling/storage/delivery
- tools and equipment
- basic process control - Manufacturing Youth Apprenticeship Program
The program consists of 90 educational hours of course work complimented with 1,100 hours of industry mentor training at a plastics manufacturing facility. - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Youth Options
- School to Work
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