´óÏó´«Ã½

Hillenbrand Inc. company Milacron Injection Molding and Extrusion (Batavia, Oh.) has donated a 55-ton MTs injection molding machine with a mold temperature controller, two conveyors and a dryer, and a 110-ton Roboshot Alpha-SiA-g injection molding machine with automation, temperature controller and dryer to Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Plastics Engineering Technology program.

Previously on loan to Shawnee State, the donation is part of an ongoing strategic partnership Milacron has with the school to help satisfy current and future plastics industry workforce needs by supporting hands-on training with real plastics industry equipment and technology.

The Plastics Engineering Technology bachelor’s degree program at Shawnee State includes training in plastics manufacturing, chemistry, physics, advanced mathematics and engineering, including hands-on plastics processing courses. As part of their senior project, students in the program design, build, and produce their own plastic mold for a fully developed part. Shawnee State says its plastics engineering technology program is in the process of qualifying for accreditation by the Engineering Technology Commission of ABET, with a Readiness Review submitted and accreditation is anticipated this year.

Milacron and SSU’s partnership also includes scholarship opportunities, with funding provided by Milacron to the university’s foundation for tuition assistance, including the recruitment and promotion of STEM fields for incoming students.

In addition to Milacron, industry partners to the program include KraussMaffei, DME, iMFLUX, Stanley Electric U.S. and Advanced Composites.