Wittmann Battenfeld Supporting Plastics and Engineering Higher Education Throughout USA
In Massachusetts, a leading global molding firm upgrades its training facilities with new machinery. In Wisconsin, students gather around an operating electric molding machine to learn basic molding principles. In Michigan, students pack a classroom for an automation class to learn how to program a robot. In Southern California, a ‘Plastics Applied Technology Center’ is created to teach students and working professionals injection molding best practices.
The common thread among these programs is they are all being supported with machinery, equipment and training resources supplied by Wittmann Battenfeld USA.
“It’s an important part of who we are as a company,” said David Preusse, President of Wittmann Battenfeld USA. “It allows us to provide valuable assistance to colleges and university programs that specialize in plastics engineering, and helps them train the next generation of our industry’s work force.”
Some examples of Wittmann Battenfeld USA’s support of higher education includes:
Nypro University, Clinton, MA – this fall, Wittmann Battenfeld donated a brand new 45-ton ServoPower Injection Molding Machine integrated with a robot, along with a temperature control unit and dryer,to the Nypro Institute. Nypro will use the Wittmann Battenfeld machinery as part of its RJG Master Molding Class, and to train its staff from around the globe, as well as their customers, OEM’s and other molding professionals.
University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI – on August 10, 2011, The University of Wisconsin-Stout took delivery of a brand new Wittmann Battenfeld EcoPower 55-ton Electric Injection Molding Machine, along with a TEMPRO Plus C Series temperature control unit and a DRYMAX E30 material dryer, at the Jarvis Hall Technical Center. The machine and auxiliary equipment will be used to support the university’s B.S. in Plastics Engineering program. The workcell was demonstrated at the recent RJG Decoupled Molding Workshop, co-sponsored by Norstech Plastics.
Ferris State University, Grand Rapids, MI – what began as a robot donation in 2006 for basic training purposes and an elective course has turned into a full-time molding and automation course as part of the college’s regular curriculum. The course, supported with a W821 robot and complete training materials from Wittmann Battenfeld, has become extremely popular and already has three sold-out classes for next semester. Ferris State has one of the country’s largest plastics engineering programs.
Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA – located in Southern California between Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Cerritos is the only Community College in California that offers specialty certificates and full degrees in plastics. This fall, as part of their development of a ‘Plastics Applied Technology Center’, Cerritos will take delivery of a new Wittmann Battenfeld workcell that includes a ServoMotion 65/210Wittmann Battenfeld Injection Molding Machine, a W811 Wittmann robot, Drymax D30-50 PDC, Tempro Basic 200, 2 ton Coolmax chiller, Granulator MAS1, and S3 stand alone material loader. This workcell will be used by students, faculty and working professionals to advance their studies and skills.
Support for these programs greatly benefits the universities but also helps Wittmann Battenfeld and its customers, according to Preusse. “The additional benefit in these schools is that our customers can take advantage of low cost, local training, on equipment that is not tied up in full production runs or the distractions prevalent on their mold shop floor. We can show customers our latest technology. We have also had customers opt into our webinar sessions at convenient times and we let them program our robots from their plant location.”
“Investment in human capital with training staff is the latest technology that keeps USA-based plastics manufacturing as strong, or stronger than any other country,” he said. “And learning how to use the features is key to enjoying the ROI benefits.”
About Wittmann Battenfeld
With headquarters in Vienna, Austria, WITTMANN BATTENFELD is a global company with 7 production facilities, 31 subsidiaries, and 24 agencies in 52 countries. WITTMANN BATTENFELD is the only manufacturer offering plastic processors worldwide a complete range of innovative robot automation and injection molding machine technology, along with auxiliary equipment for material conveying, blending, drying, granulating, heating and cooling, for individual work cells to fully integrated system solutions. Their worldwide sales and service network provides unmatched local service and support.
For further information please contact:
Greg Hannoosh, President
Next Step Communications Inc.
Tel.: 207-703-0343
Michael Kirschnick, IMM Division Manager
Wittmann Battenfeld
One Technology Park Drive
Torrington, CT 06790 USA
Tel. 860-496-9603, ext. 162
Michael.Kirschnick@wittmann-group.com
Sonny Morneault, National Sales Manager
Wittmann Battenfeld
One Technology Park Drive