B.S. Plastics Engineering

• Plastics only consume a fraction of the energy it takes to process metals/glasses/papers. Plastics actually help protect the earth.
• Plastic grocery bags use less energy, fewer fossil fuels, less water, and produce less waste than paper grocery bags. Plastic bags are also recyclable at most grocery stores.
• All plasticware (cups, spoons, forks, knives) used at the Terrace Restaurant and the Pawn Cafe in UW-Stout's Memorial Student Center are made from plastic derived from corn starch. These plastics derived from corn are also compostable!
• Plastics researchers are working with plastics that degrade in the human body (breaking down into natural substances that your body already produces and excretes) in order to repair or replace diseased or damaged human tissue.

UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Plastics Engineering (PLE) will prepare you for career opportunities in:

• Materials science
• Product design
• Research and development
• Mold and/or tool design
• Failure analysis
• Process simulation
• Quality sciences
• Experimental design
• Manufacturing

You must have an aptitude for science and mathematics as a foundation for success in this program. We encourage you to take as many upper-level math and science courses in high school as possible, including mathematics through algebra and trigonometry, physics and chemistry. Early development of computer skills is also very helpful.

Starting Out

The first two years of the program include English composition, communication and other general education offerings, as well as mathematics, physics and engineering fundamentals.

At the end of your sophomore and/or junior year you will complete a paid, off-campus plastics industry co-op opportunity. The average hourly wage for Plastics Engineering co-ops during the 2013-2014 academic year was $16.15/hour. Toward the end of your program, you'll integrate all your previous coursework into capstone courses involving advanced product design or independent research.

Program Educational Objectives 

The Plastics Engineering program develops plastics engineers who are: 

• In demand by plastics industry employers.
• Recognized for their ability to apply engineering expertise in the plastics industry.
• Recognized for their leadership and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrating continued career growth and professional development. 

Student Outcomes

UW-Stout Plastics Engineering program graduates who have:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

UW-Stout's Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) student chapter is part of the leading technical society for the global plastics industry. It is a community of individuals involved in the technical and commercial aspects of the plastics and polymer industry. It is a place where individuals can interact, learn and develop skills to meet their personal and professional goals. This community fosters technical innovation and industry competitiveness through scientific development and commercialization.

SPE student chapter meets in the Jarvis Hall Tech Wing, Room 170 (plastics lab), one or two times a month. The SPE 2016-2017 Constitution outlines the organization's purpose and membership qualifications.

For more information email SPE@uwstout.edu.

The following companies want to hire our graduates today. We have a waiting list of companies interested in hiring UW-Stout B.S. Plastics Engineering graduates.

• 3M
• Andersen Corporation
• Arburg
• Bobcat
• Boston-Scientific
• Donatelle
• Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries
• EirMed
• Five-Star Plastics
• Flambeau
• Imark Molding
• Innovative Injection Technologies
• Loparex
• Medtronic
• Moldcraft Tool & Design
• Molex
• Nolato Contour
• Phillips-Medisize
• Polaris
• Priamus System Technologies
• RTP Company
• Scientific Molding Corporation
• Trelleborg Healthcare & Medical
• Team Vantage
• The Madison Group

The following companies have donated materials or provided research funding for the B.S. Plastics Engineering program.

• Autodesk – provided moldflow software
• RTP Company – donated thermoplastic resins (PP, LDPE, HDPE, PC, ABS, PC/ABS, PC/PET, PA66)
• SABIC – donated thermoplastic resins (PC, ABS)
• Priamus – donated multiple sensors as well as Priamus eDAQ system for process monitoring and control
• RJG – donated many pressure/temperature sensors and 4 edarts for process monitoring and control
• Arburg – loaned a 66T electric molding machine and integrated sprue picker from 2/2010-9/2011 and from 6/2016-present
• Milacron – loaned a 55T electric molding machine, hopper drier, sprue picker, and hot runner controller from 9/2016-present
• SMC – donated 2 77T Arburg injection molding machines and machined molds and sensors
• Donatelle – donated 35T Engel injection molding machine and machined sensors in molds
• Innovative Injection Technologies (I2Tech) – started plastics engineering scholarship
• Badger Meter – donated 35T and 55T Van Dorn injection molding machines
• Flambeau – donated a 24T Boy injection molding machine
• Phillips Medisize – machined sensors in molds
• Nolato Contour – donated a mold
• Nordson EDI – donated an extrusion die and lent a Haake Rheomix machine
• iMark molding – machined a mold
• GaMra Composites – machined an extrusion die
• WIScale – provided a large digital scale to the program with significantly reduced price
• WiSys Technology Foundation – provided funding for faculty research

Society of Plastics Engineers