Manufacturing Day is a national event dedicated to education about manufacturing career opportunities and to improve public perceptions of manufacturing.
“Roughly two million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by 2025 due to the skills gap of the next generation of workers. This event is a way for us to help students understand and consider the variety of positions available in plastics manufacturing and become skilled in STEM careers. Career opportunities at SEKISUI KYDEX can include inspector/packer, extrusion operators, quality technicians, color technicians, production engineers, automation engineers, appLab™ engineers, graphic designers, and more such as traditional business support positions,” said Heather Coyle, Strategic Communications Manager for SEKISUI KYDEX.
This year, SEKISUI KYDEX hosted students from Bloomsburg Area High School, Central Columbia Area High School, Millville Area School District, and the Columbia Montour Vo-Tech.
Students spent their day exploring “A Career in Manufacturing." The event features a walk-through of multiple areas of manufacturing to understand the vast opportunities available to them. The program included a company and careers overview, followed by a manufacturing campus tour to see how KYDEX® Thermoplastics are made, and workshops to understand the thermoplastics industry.
In the appLab™ students learned about and used state-of-the-art innovation and testing equipment. In the designLab® they explored color science by creating their own colors and testing their vision with a color acuity activity. Students were hands on with safety by using a simulator to put out fires, also identified safety risks to learn about hazard awareness. At the manufacturing station, they learned how to keep production running smoothly with extrusion parts, maintenance equipment, and an automation demonstration. Circular design rounded out the workshops, here KYDEX® thermoplastics sustainability and using pattern, colour, and texture work in design were explained.
For a more in-depth look at careers at SEKISUI KYDEX, visit kydex.com/careers.
About SEKISUI KYDEX
SEKISUI KYDEX innovates and creates sustainable thermoplastic material solutions for the next generation of product design. SEKISUI Chemical’s corporate commitment to Speed, Service, and Superiority is realized through the KYDEX® Thermoplastics’ business model of manufacturing bespoke materials with short lead times in small quantities. This Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) model at three manufacturing campuses expands beyond thermoplastic sheet. The KYDEX® portfolio also includes injection molding resins, proprietary Infused Imaging™ technology, integral special effects, unique textures, and custom products and design. The SEKISUI KYDEX appLab™ and designLab® Innovation Centers are collaborative spaces for clients and customers to bring the supply chain together for rapid prototyping and design development. These spaces are the bridge between engineering and art. More than 300 dedicated professionals in Bloomsburg, PA, and Holland, MI, working with a global network of sales and distribution partners, are committed to delivering more than their customers can imagine. Visit www.kydex.com for more information.
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