Mold Your Future in Advanced Processing
Plastics engineering stands at the forefront of shaping the future, both locally and globally. At the University of Wisconsin-Stout, our Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering (PLE) program is designed to immerse you in the dynamic world of plastics. Here, you will gain in-depth knowledge in product and mold design, delve into the complexities of materials science, and master advanced processing techniques.
UW-Stout's Plastics Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, which accredits university STEM programs that meet a high level of quality and whose graduates are effectively meet the outcome criteria to be well prepared for the workforce.
100% of Graduates Are Employed or Continuing Education.
Our program is more than theoretical learning; it's a journey into practical, real-world applications. We emphasize hands-on experiences to equip you with the skills necessary to develop cutting-edge solutions. Your education at UW-Stout will prepare you to innovate in diverse fields such as medical technology, automotive engineering, and beyond.
Career-Defining Curriculum
Our program is more than theoretical learning; it's a journey into practical, real-world applications. We emphasize hands-on experiences to equip you with the skills necessary to develop cutting-edge solutions. Your education at UW-Stout will prepare you to innovate in diverse fields such as medical technology, automotive engineering, and beyond.
Program Overview
The Plastics Engineering program is a calculus-based program that progresses from solid foundations in mathematics through analysis and design. Our industry-experienced faculty has developed a math- and a science-based curriculum grounded in plastics materials science and mechanical engineering principles.
Industry-Experienced Faculty
- Wei Zheng, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Director
- Adam Kramschuster, PhD., Professor
- Alex M. Jordan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Your hands-on preparation to work with plastics will give you a competitive edge, so you can help bring the region's plastics industries to the forefront of the field in the design, development, and manufacture of plastic products.
Plastics engineers are in high demand. Internships or co-op jobs will prepare you to tackle global materials and processing issues as a process/project engineer, manufacturing engineer, or product design engineer. There is almost no aspect of modern life that is not dependent on plastic.You can change the future of plastics.
"I have had many great professors that have always gone the extra mile for me to make sure I understood the material. This is a great school for people who love to learn hands-on, which is what brought me here."
-- Riley WittmannB.S. Plastics Engineering
STEM OPT Extension Advantage for International Students
Learn to lead the way. Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Plastics Engineering.
Request Information
Scholarships Available for First-Year PLE Students
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Student Poster & Capstone Projects
Industry Sponsors & Donors
The following companies have generously donated materials or provided research funding for the B.S. Plastics Engineering program.
- Autodesk: Provided moldflow software
- Arburg: Loaned a 66T electric molding machine and integrated sprue picker (2/2010-9/2011; 6/2016-present)
- Badger Meter: Donated 35T and 55T Van Dorn injection molding machines
- Donatelle: Donated 35T Engel injection molding machine and machined sensors in molds
- Flambeau: Donated a 24T Boy injection molding machine
- GaMra Composites: Machined an extrusion die
- iMark Molding: Machined a mold
- Innovative Injection Technologies (I2Tech): Started plastics engineering scholarship
- Milacron: Loaned a 55T electric molding machine, hopper drier, sprue picker, and hot runner controller (9/2016-present)
- Nolato Contour: Donated a mold
- Nordson EDI: Donated an extrusion die and lent a Haake Rheomix machine
- Phillips Medisize: Machined sensors in molds
- Priamus: Donated multiple sensors, as well as Priamus eDAQ system for process monitoring and control
- RJG: Donated many pressure/temperature sensors and (4x) edarts for process monitoring and control
- RTP Company: Donated thermoplastic resins (PP, LDPE, HDPE, PC, ABS, PC/ABS, PC/PET, PA66)
- SABIC: Donated thermoplastic resins (PC, ABS)
- SMC: Donated (2x) 77T Arburg injection molding machines and machined molds and sensors
- WIScale: Provided a large digital scale to the program with significantly reduced price
- WiSys Technology Foundation: Provided funding for faculty research
Discover More Degrees in 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:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- 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.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- 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.
- 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.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- 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
Advisory Committee Members
| Chris | Bendel | Associate Dean, CSTEMM; Professor | UW-Stout |
| Joel | Beskar | Engineering Manager | SMC Ltd |
| David | Ding | Associate Dean, CSTEMM; Professor; Director, Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering; Program Director, B.S. Automation Leadership | UW-Stout |
| Joseph | Elmquist | Product Development Engineer | Vitrex |
| Erik | Foltz | Senior Managing Engineer | The Madison Group |
| Jeremy | Fossum | Senior Director of Extrusion and Lineal Management | Andersen Corporation |
| Daniel | Freedman | Dean, College of STEMM | UW-Stout |
| Matthew | Hartline | Principal Materials Science Engineer | Intek Plastics |
| Nick | Hietala | Manager, North Branch, MN Plant | Andersen Corporation |
| Karl | Hoppe | Senior Product Development Engineer | RTP Company |
| Chad | Johnson | Principal Process Engineer | Phillips Medisize |
| Dave | Johnson | Engineering Manager | Advanced Molding Technologies |
| Alex | Jordan | Associate Professor; Program Director | UW-Stout |
| Adam | Kramschuster | Professor | UW-Stout |
| Eric | Malmgren | Engineering Services Manager | SMC |
| Todd | Owens | Vice President of Engineering | Donatelle |
| Roger | Pavlis | Retired | 3M |
| Steve | Piltz | Vice President, Rapid Prototyping | Five Star Plastics |
| Heidi | Rabeneck | Outreach Program Manager, Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement | UW-Stout |
| Matt | Ray | Professor; Chair, Chemistry & Physics Department | UW-Stout |
| Dan | Sawyer | Business Development Leader | NatureWorks LLC |
| Brandt | Schrankler | Engineering Manager | Intek Plastics |
| Scott | Smith | Business Unit Director | Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries |
| Nate | Somsen | Business Unit Manager | Nolato Contour |
| Mark | Stephenson | Manufacturing Technology Engineer | Solventum |
| Raghu | Vadlamudi | Chief Research & Technology Director | Donatelle |
| Wei | Zheng | Professor | UW-Stout |
