Plastics technology you can touch
Plastics engineering students from the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences (THWS) visited the SKZ Plastics Center as part of a field trip. They were able to get an impression of the numerous production processes at SKZ, current and industry-related research topics and the activities of the plastics engineers.
Students from the TH Würzburg-Schweinfurt visit the SKZ Plastics Center. (Photo: SKZ, Luca Hoffmannbeck)
Students of the TH Würzburg-Schweinfurt visit SKZ
The SKZ has been working closely with universities in the region for many years. As excursions and in-depth insights into industrial practice and new technologies are an important part of the training of future plastics specialists, students of the plastics and elastomer technology course at the THWS were given the opportunity to gain an insight into the state of the art and current research trends at the SKZ.
Modern quality assurance procedures on the agenda
As part of the excursion, the participants were given a guided tour of SKZ-Technika and the new model factory to gain a comprehensive insight into the wide range of manufacturing processes available at SKZ - in this case focusing on compounding, extrusion, recycling and injection molding. Modern quality assurance processes and digitalization trends were also on the agenda.
"Major shortage of skilled workers"
"The plastics industry is currently facing a major shortage of skilled workers. We are responding to this by training career changers in our further education programs, and we are also happy to support those who have already decided to study in this industry as part of an excursion or as part of an exciting thesis in all areas of plastics technology. This is how I ended up at SKZ more than ten years ago," says Andreas Büttner, head of the training and technical center groups in the Materials Development, Compounding and Extrusion department at SKZ.
Advantages for students
In all areas, SKZ experts from education and research were on hand to answer the students' questions and talk about their day-to-day work with obvious enthusiasm.
The participants gained interesting knowledge about all facets of plastics processing and, in addition to the obvious benefits for their studies, were able to take away a taste of their future working life, which was perceived as positive throughout.
Versatile career field
The Plastics and Elastomer Technology program at THWS has been successfully training engineers in the field of plastics technology for decades. This opens up a wide range of career opportunities for graduates. In addition to the basics of engineering, the course covers all aspects of plastics technology, from plastic materials and classical processing methods to current trends such as recycling and additive manufacturing. Above all, the hands-on nature of the course, with a wide range of practical units both in the laboratory and on the processing machines, prepares students perfectly for a career in which they can actively shape the challenges facing the industry.
Read more about career opportunities at SKZ
More about the study of plastics and elastomer technology at THWS
