Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Notable Leaders in Sustainability
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics Caps + Closures: A Global Online Event
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Bioplastics Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Resin Prices
    • Resin Prices Overview
    • Commodity Thermoplastics
    • High Temperature Thermoplastics
    • Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Thermosets
    • Europe - Virgin
    • Europe - Recycled
    • Europe - Feedstock
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
March 22, 2016 02:00 AM

Polymer training center boosts services with large donation

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Nina Ying Sun
    Joe Malasky, president of Asheville, N.C.-based biotech custom molder PolyLinks Inc., left, and Polymers Centers of Excellence Executive Director Phil Shoemaker.

    Charlotte, N.C. — The largest plastics training center in the Southeast United States is significantly expanding its training offerings with some industry-first innovations, thanks to a major equipment upgrade enabled by a local donor.

    Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE) in Charlotte, a non-profit organization chartered and funded by the state of North Carolina and the federal government, also recently unveiled two new developments to help the plastics industry grow talent and expertise.

    PCE launched an industry-first Manager of Plastics Processing certificate, in conjunction with North Carolina State University. It also has become the first plastics instruction center certified by RJG Inc. of Traverse City, Mich.

    With 26,000 square feet of space dedicated to training, a fleet of five injection molding machines, and five instructors, PCE is the largest training facility in the Southeast.

    This is made possible by Joe Malasky, president of Asheville, N.C.-based biotech custom molder PolyLinks Inc., who recently donated four Arburg injection molding machines and nine screw-and-barrel assemblies.

    The machines include a 270s 27-ton hydraulic press, a 320s 55-ton hydraulic, a 320a 55-ton all-electric, and a 470a 88-ton hybrid electric machine. The screw and barrel assemblies consist of 15mm, 25mm, 30mm for metal injection, and 35mm. “We believed in matching the machine to the tool for precision control,” Malasky said.

    In passionate remarks at the center, he said: “On behalf of those that own businesses in plastics, we really appreciate the knowledge you have, the patience you have for teaching people, your exuberance for making this happen. … We really appreciate that. We are happy to support you, and I'm sure there are other ways to support you in the future, sending people, or possibility even some kind of scholarship.”

    It's not the first time Malasky donated machinery for manufacturing education. He told Plastics News that he donates equipment about once a year to local schools, such as surface grinder, high-speed mill, and lift equipment.

    For the bigger donation, he contacted five schools in the area, and “all of them wanted a piece of this machine, that robot.” So he thought of PCE, where all the machinery can be placed in one spot. “We felt like we would do more good there. This could have the biggest impact.”

    PCE trains on average 650 students per year at its facility in Charlotte, said training manager Todd Bryant. On top of that, PCE instructors travel to companies to conduct in-plant training. PCE also partners with Paulson Training Programs Inc. to teach Paulson courses throughout the country.

    In addition, PCE hosts robot programming and robot automation classes by Wittmann Battenfeld. Its training equipment includes a 3-axis servo Wittmann robot with an all-electric 110-ton EcoPower press with a Unilog B6 controller.

    PCE also hosts Century twin-screw compounding seminars.

    Right now, PCE has a 75 percent booking rate for the year and aims to get fully booked.

    Leveraging the new machines donated by Malasky, PCE is developing a 10-day Capstone class for injection molding that focuses on hands-on problem-solving. It's “a unique course compared to all the other public training facilities,” Bryant said, adding that the course is expected to launch by the beginning of 2017.

    Byrant said the donation has enabled PCE's expansion of services, “that was a linchpin.”

    “We thank you for that. That was a big step for us and really put us to another level,” he said to Malasky.

    PCE Executive Director Phil Shoemaker is excited about the new programs and training products. “I think we are onto something with our training.”

    PCE defines its mission as to support, maintain and encourage the strength and growth of the polymer industry. Beside training, it also provides laboratory testing services as well as toll compounding with two twin-screw extruders and two single-screw extruders.

    Having observed the technical talent deficit in the plastics industry, Malasky has his own thoughts. “People are not thinking that's a job. They think China has all the jobs or somewhere else,” and instead seek non-manufacturing opportunities.

    That has resulted in a talent drain. “We need toolmakers,” Malasky said, “There is a gaping deficit for toolmakers here. We have eight toolmakers with an average age around 57. One of them is 80 years old, fantastic tool maker. … [But] there's no interest in that craft of toolmaking anymore.”

    He believes the root cause is shortsightedness. “The social problem is that we are real shortsighted. How fast can we make the money, and I'll take that shortest route.

    “What happens is kids that are mechanically inclined go to school, learn computer-controlled machinery, then big firms scoop them up and pay them well to run CNC machinery,” he said, “Then they kind of get stuck.” He explains that talented young people could be making more money as a toolmaker in 10 years than a CNC operator. “They are shortsighted a little bit. The industry kind of diverts them into what we call button pushers.”

    And the impact can be detrimental and long lasting. “If people are not interested, nobody is going to fund it,” Malasky said, “The local colleges have closed their [mold making] programs. The only thing we have left are some apprenticeships.”

    He hopes the training programs that he sponsors will make a difference.

    “[The plastics industry] is a great business. It's a backbone here in the United States … to provide services and products — things that people need. Some of those things are very noble. In our business, we work on everything from the detecting of influenza to breast cancer. And we need people to carry on that torch.”

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Auto suppliers plan for uncertainty amid UAW strike, shift to EVs
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Auto suppliers plan for uncertainty amid UAW strike, shift to EVs
    2
    An 8,000-ton dream for Milacron, 20/20 Custom Molded Plastics
    3
    ABB to double injection molding capacity at Quebec plant
    4
    Some resin prices take a hike at the end of summer
    5
    An education in manufacturing as shop returns to a New York school
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Find more newsletters at plasticsnews.com/newsletters.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Notable Leaders in Sustainability
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Videos
      • Podcasts
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics Caps + Closures: A Global Online Event
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Bioplastics Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • PFAS Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Resin Prices
      • Resin Prices Overview
      • Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temperature Thermoplastics
      • Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Recycled Plastics
      • Thermosets
      • Europe - Virgin
      • Europe - Recycled
      • Europe - Feedstock
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified