WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Plastics industry professionals from throughout the country converged at Pennsylvania College of Technology’s renowned Plastics Innovation & Resource Center for the 18th Annual Extrusion Seminar & Hands-On Workshop.
Forty-four participants, representing 25 companies and 13 states, attended the three-day event led by extrusion experts Chris Rauwendaal and Kirk M. Cantor. Rauwendaal, president of Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering Inc. in Auburn, California, has nearly 40 years of industry experience. Cantor, a professor of plastics and polymer technology at Penn College, has taught extrusion for more than 29 years.
The instructors mixed classroom work with hands-on activities for the students, many of whom were new to the industry. Course topics ranged from extruder hardware to screw design, and the labs featured extruders, molders and test equipment.
Rauwendaal and Cantor were assisted by Penn College plastics and polymer engineering technology majors Logan A. Tate, of Williamsport; Noah L. Martin, of South Williamsport; Wilson R. Michael, of Hughesville; and Omar Aljallal and Abdulaziz S. Alomani, both from Saudi Arabia.
Testimonials from attendees reflected a positive experience with the material presented by Rauwendaal, Cantor and the students.
“Great class for beginners! It really helped to jump start my career in the extrusion business,” said Elizabeth Miller, operations manager for O’Neil Color & Compounding in Garfield, New Jersey.
“I went from little experience and knowledge of extrusion techniques and tools to feeling confident that I will be able to excel in my new position in film extrusion. I have the background I need now to begin learning all about my company’s specific production lines and begin developing new technologies,” said Amber Rumple, senior design scientist for Sealed Air in Duncan, South Carolina.
“Excellent illustration of plastic makeup and processes. Loved the labs,” added James George, extrusion production manager for Pak-Sher in Kilgore, Texas.
The Plastics Innovation & Resource Center is a globally recognized leader in plastics education and training. The PIRC supports industry growth by providing companies with customized training and access to resources available through Penn College’s academic programs and facilities. To learn more about the PIRC, call 570-321-5533 or visit www.pct.edu/pirc.
Penn College is among just a handful of institutions nationwide offering plastics degree programs that are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. For more about the plastics majors and other programs offered by Penn College’s School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520 or visit www.pct.edu/icet.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.