Plastics Product Design Specialty

Origin of Plastics Product Design at Kettering University
In the early 1960’s when Kettering University was known as GMI, the Process Engineering Department purchased its first plastic processing machinery. At that time Don Paulson and William Frizelle were our plastics faculty. Don developed a cavity-pressure sensor and went on to found Control Processes, which still serves the industry. Bill chose an academic career and is now a distinguished faculty member at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. Within this same time period, Dr. G. Reginald Bell developed a course in Polymer Science, which he continues to teach here at Kettering. Dr. Bell is a member of the Chemistry Department and a recipient of multiple distinguished teaching awards.
Evolution & Growth
When the Mechanical Engineering Department was formally constituted in the late 1970’s, the exiting Polymer Processing course and the Polymer Science course were integrated into a manufacturing concentration, which also included courses in more traditional manufacturing. About that time Prof. Dave Harry, Emeritus, created a design/properties course offering, which further broadened our program.
The strength and growth of the plastics industry allowed the M.E. Department to create a stand-alone concentration in Plastics.
About 30 Mechanical Engineering students elect and complete this concentration each year. In addition to the courses noted above, there are two other courses that include “Introduction to Finite Elements” and a concentration elective. The program, like all specialties, makes up 10% of the Mechanical Engineering program. It is not a degree in Plastics Engineering. It is, however, a unique course of study and a guaranteed entry into a dynamic and growing industry.
What courses will I take?
Regardless of the chosen concentration, every student pursuing an M.E. degree at Kettering takes 39 courses and a thesis. Four of the 39 courses define a specialty.
| IME-507 Polymer Processing MECH-580 Properties of Polymers MECH-584 Plastics Product Design Two Specialty Related M.E. Electives approved by a Plastics Design faculty advisor |
The Faculty of the Plastics Product Design Specialty
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