Auburn, N.Y.-based custom injection and blow molder Currier Plastics Inc. recently hosted 60 local second-graders.
The pupils were learning about manufacturing in their social studies unit, according to “Currier Plastics shows second-graders their future can be both bright and local,” a story in Auburn's The Citizen.
“We were studying a unit in social studies on manufacturing,” teacher Ann Kott told the newspaper. “We thought, ‘What would be a good way to bring this to life for them?'”
The visit to Currier Plastics helped the pupils learn the importance of math and science, gave them a peek at how computers are used in a modern factory, and helped them realize that there are local jobs available in the manufacturing sector.
Currier was founded in 1982 by the late Raymond Currier, an engineer who bought two injection molding machines to form his own business. His son, John Currier, is currently the company's president.
“Herman Avenue second-graders have been visiting Currier Plastics for about 15 years now,” John Currier said in a recent news release, “and my son Tim was in one of the first classes to visit. He now works in our maintenance department.”
When the plastics industry talks about “sustainability,” usually the emphasis is on things like energy efficiency, recycling or carbon footprint. But reaching out to the local community, and getting teachers and students to understand the importance and impact of the industry, is just as important to plastics sustainability in future generations.
