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John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, faculty

giffeyt — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

John Deere will benefit from sustainable plastic research conducted by �� students, facultygiffeyt April 9, 2026

Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process

John Deere machinery has been recognizable for its distinctive green color for more than a century. Student and faculty researchers at �� are working to ensure that John Deere is also known for a different kind of green: sustainability.

Led by Professor Wei Zheng, student research assistants in the B.S. plastics engineering program have been working over the past two academic years to study how John Deere might be able to use recycled plastic polymers to manufacture vehicles.

Zheng is an active member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and it was through that organization that she formed connections with engineers from John Deere, which is based in Moline, Illinois. The relationship led to a research contract between the Fortune 500 company and ��, which was facilitated by the university ��. Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement.

Beginning in August 2024, students and faculty have tested and molded batches of different types of recycled plastic to see if they meet the manufacturer ��. needs.

“John Deere is asking two key questions,” Zheng said. “Can recycled polymers be used to manufacture these parts? And can those parts meet performance requirements?”

The research is part of the company ��. commitment to incorporating more recyclable and renewable materials into its products so it can be ahead of the curve in its industry, she said.

Student research assistant Ryan Xu measures plastic samples.

Students create, test samples

This semester, two student research assistants have worked on the project. One of them, junior Stephanie Kuhn, explained that the process begins with pellets of different types of recycled plastic polymer that are fed into a massive injection molding machine in the Plastics Engineering Lab inside Jarvis Hall Technology Wing.

Heat and friction melt the pellets, which are forced into a mold where they take the desired shape. Once completed, these pieces are cut precisely into various testing specimens by Instrument Shop Supervisor John Buss, who also assists with machine-related issues.

Next, students subject the specimens to a range of tests, including evaluating their short- and long-term mechanical behavior under stress, as well as their thermal and physical properties to assess overall performance.

Kuhn, who is pursuing a double major in B.S. plastics engineering and B.S. mechanical engineering, said having an opportunity to do this kind of work as an undergraduate is what attracted her to ��.

“I just love being able to use all the machines hands-on. It helps being able to see and use the equipment,” Kuhn said. While already familiar with the injection units and testing equipment from her coursework, taking part in the research helped Kuhn better understand how the equipment operates, reinforcing what she learned.

Likewise, the importance of the research has been highlighted by Kuhn ��. classwork, which has emphasized the need for increasing the use of recyclable plastics. “It has definitely opened my eyes that we need to learn to be more sustainable,” she said. “If John Deere begins to use this, hopefully other manufacturers will, too.”

Sabbatical recap: Wei Zheng, Plastics Engineering, 2024-25

Building biodegradable, sustainable plastics

This semester ��. other research assistant, Ryan Xu, a Menomonie High School senior who is already taking classes at ��, said he appreciates the applied nature of the project, including being able to use advanced equipment and analyze data.

Professor Adam Kramschuster has also helped with the John Deere research project by setting up, optimizing and troubleshooting the injection molding process for manufacturing the samples. This work has involved training the student research assistants and helping with the machine during the molding trials.

“I love working with students. It ��. why I am here, and I enjoy it when they learn and take responsibility as their knowledge base grows,” Kramschuster said.

“Our labs are exceptional,” he continued, “and the opportunity to use them for industry projects is ideal in that the students get even more real-world training during their undergraduate experience.”

Student research assistants Ryan Xu, left, and Stephanie Kuhn work with an injection molding machine in ��'s Plastics Engineering Lab.

Sustainability key to professor ��. research

The kind of research happening in the Plastics Engineering Lab isn’t uncommon at ��. In fact, applied learning and research are among the pillars of the university ��. polytechnic identity, which also include business and industry collaboration and career-focused experience – all three of which are part of the John Deere project.

Zheng noted that two of her prior research assistants leveraged their experience on the project to find jobs in the plastics industry at EVCO and Phillips Medisize. “This project helped them to solidify their injection molding and material testing skills, giving them a clear advantage in the job market,” she said.

The research, she added, will continue through at least this August. “John Deere is quite pleased with the results we have generated so far,” she said. “John Deere has been very supportive throughout the process, including providing Stout the plaque mold and materials, as well as sharing their technical expertise. They even connected us with material suppliers and molders.”

Zheng ��. work on behalf of John Deere complements her ongoing research focus on sustainability. During the 2024-25 academic year, Zheng conducted sabbatical research in advancing sustainability in the field of plastics, focusing on the biodegradation of plastic materials and the recycling of thermosetting materials. Typically, thermoset plastics have undergone a curing process that prevents them from being remelted or reshaped, posing a challenge in the recycling process. However, plastics engineers and chemists researching the reverse crosslinking process are developing ways to break the chemical bonds, allowing thermosetting plastics to be recycled. Part of Zheng ��. research focused on finding ways to reverse the process, increasing the recyclability of this kind of plastic.

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Two-year project seeks to identify recycled polymers that can be used in manufacturing process Plastics engineering students pose with injection molding machine

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Hero Caption: Student research assistants Stephanie Kuhn, left, and Ryan Xu hold samples in front of an injection molding machine in ��'s Plastics Engineering Lab.

Wei Zheng

Dr. Zheng is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Plastics Engineering Program at University of Wisconsin-Stout. Prior to joining ��, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She received a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2008. She is the recipient of several state-funded grants including the WiSys Applied Research Grant and the G. A. Taft Professorship of ��.

Her current research focuses on the bio- and/or biodegradable polymers including rheology of polymer melts and glasses, physics of crystallization and glass transition, curing kinetics of reversible thermosets, and structure-property-processing relationship. She has published 32 refereed articles with more than 700 citations. Dr. Zheng has also been active in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) including serving as the Councilor of the Applied Rheology Division of SPE and the President of Chinese American Society of Plastics Engineers.

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Inspiring Graduate: Isaac Harnack, B.S. Plastics Engineering

goersab — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Inspiring Graduate: Isaac Harnack, B.S. Plastics Engineeringgoersab December 23, 2025

Hired before graduation as a GaMra Composites engineer

Inspiring Graduate: Isaac Harnack (’25)

Hometown: Crystal, Minnesota
Degree: B.S. Plastics Engineering

In high school, Isaac Harnack, of Crystal, Minnesota, wanted to follow in his grandfather ��. footsteps and be a mechanic for tractors and large farm equipment. “I have always had a mechanically inclined mind, and machines just make sense to me,” he said.

However, after looking at different career prospects, Harnack ��. mom encouraged him to apply to ��, as one of her friend ��. sons had graduated from the packaging program.

“I took one look at the School of Engineering majors and stumbled upon the plastics engineering program. After seeing an injection molding machine for the first time, I knew that this was the path forward. I had never seen anything like it before and wanted to know its every function.

Isaac Harnack earned his plastics engineering degree from �� on Dec. 20, 2025.

“On top of this, Stout ��. polytechnic spirit drew me closer to the school, as every class is hands-on constantly, you aren’t just learning theory. Here, using industry-standard equipment is just another Tuesday. The fact that making mistakes is encouraged as a point of learning is what kept me here,” he said.

Harnack completed two internships: one at Graco, in Rogers, Minnesota, and one at RTP Company, in Winona, Minnesota. He earned his plastics engineering degree and crossed the commencement stage on Dec. 20 as one of 527 �� graduates. He is starting a new position as an engineer at GaMra Composites.

Harnack is fascinated by injection molding, which really boils down to two subcategories: making and designing the tools that run in the machines or processing the tools that run in the machines, he explained.

“I want to be a processing engineer, as the ‘thinking on your feet’ aspect is where I thrive. This would mean taking a tool and setting up machine parameters to run parts for my company or dealing with processing issues as they occur,” he said.

How do you hope to make an impact in your field?

Plastic is often given a bad rap, as most people only think about plastic as waste. However, it is a good alternative for making things cheaper and better for consumers if it is properly executed. If I can apply the skills I’ve learned in waste-saving measures to my company, it could have a global impact on our no-waste initiatives.

Because I am environmentally conscious, most of the projects that I undertook during my internships were about reducing waste in the injection molding or post-consumer recycling aspect of the process. This was achieved by putting waste product back into the injection molding cycle, which allowed the parts to be made more cheaply and with greater environmental consciousness.

Isaac Harnack in the Plastics Engineering Lab.

Most people may not realize that plastic isn’t infinitely recyclable like aluminum, and it will break down over periods of time, so another project I got to work on was sourcing new additives to restore plastic ��. strength in the post-consumer recycling business. The main goal was to revitalize old plastic and help cut down on waste with new additives to restore chemical bonds.

How has �� prepared you to work in your field?

Stout helped make my internships possible by having job fairs with applicable job sites for my major. The Midwest is a plastic manufacturing hub, and companies are constantly looking for students with plastic engineering experience under their belts. I was lucky enough to have two internship experiences.

Not all schools require an internship experience to graduate, which makes Stout students and graduates that much more desirable to companies.

For my Graco internship, the hands-on machining classes, the understanding of plastic polymers, and how the injection molding machines work really helped highlight my knowledge of these processes to my boss and fellow interns. However, because this was not a plastic-focused internship, I did a lot more manufacturing-style tasks, which opened my eyes to the other side of the engineering world and helped me better understand how that industry works. Instead of working on the processes, I was making tools to automatically remove parts from the machines and cut back on labor. This experience allowed me to understand what I can do to help other engineers have an easier time collaborating on projects with me. I have been in their position, and I know what I want to hear to solve the problem at hand.

Isaac Harnack interned at RTP Company at Winona, Minnesota. / Isaac Harnack

At RTP, the global compounder, I showed my technical knowledge and skills that I gained at Stout. Out of the five interns at the company, I had the most hands-on knowledge of the processing aspects of plastic. This was highlighted by my ability to run extruders and injection molding machines with little to no training besides the mandatory safe operating training.

This really showed Stout ��. education compared to other schools’ education in terms of the hands-on knowledge that I brought to the table.

Because of my background, training time was shortened and allowed me to be more autonomous more quickly than other interns, to the benefit of my supervisors. I was the intern to five engineers, while the other interns only had one. Getting on my feet quickly and showing that I could handle a large number of tasks and complete them all within their deadlines really showed my skills effectively. Most plastic-related companies use RTP ��. custom-engineered polymer products. The fact that I had an internship with them has opened a lot more doors.

What stands out about your �� experience?

The biggest thing that stands out is the plastics engineering professors: Alex Jordan, Wei Zheng and Adam Kramschuster. They are all extremely knowledgeable and have different backgrounds in testing and analysis in plastic processing techniques.

I feel this is best highlighted in our capstone projects, which are the final experience as a Stout student. Plastics engineering typically has the best-researched and executed capstone projects, whose subjects range from a heavy testing and analysis focus to a processing focus. Each project is unique, and with it comes unique challenges and questions that, as a student, seem impossible for anyone to know anything about. Every time I talked with my professors about any issues I was having with my project, they would have the answers for me, or, once researched, show me how to properly execute the information I found. Their input on my project has been crucial to furthering my understanding of even the most niche topics.

Another standout experience is the community developed by professors and students, as having such a small and specialized major means that from freshman to senior year, all the people you graduate with are there with you every step of the way.

In terms of my favorite lab experiences, I really enjoyed our Injection Molding II class, where we got to work with manufacturing engineering students to design and machine our own injection molds. My partner and I engineered a golf tee for a simulator, and we had great success with molding our parts. Not many students get to have an experience like this, which really makes you stand out to potential employers.

How did your involvement on campus impact your experience?

As the program ambassador for the plastics engineering program, I am the lead lab assistant. My main goal is to keep the lab running and help with advanced research tasks put forth by the professors or help with lab improvements.

Isaac Harnack served as the plastics engineering program student ambassador. / Isaac Harnack

Just recently, we got the green light for four new 3D printers, which I had a major hand in helping acquire.

This was extremely beneficial to experience firsthand, as most companies have a lengthy process for equipment purchasing, and this experience was no different. Research, planning and ensuring we have enough space and resources available to support new equipment are all factors that play a part, and I had to prove that we could handle them.

I have received scholarships from regional plastic processing companies, which helped relieve some of the financial strain that college puts on a person. There are many internal and third-party scholarships available to plastics engineering students, even as freshmen. We are associated with the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE), which has hundreds of national student scholarships available to any student who applies and meets the requirements.

What challenges did you face in earning your degree and how did you overcome them?

One of the hardest decisions I had to make was to take University Physics 2 over the summer because it did not fit into my class schedule. This is typically a five-credit class, and over a two-month period, you were expected to complete 40 hours a week of homework. On top of this large amount of homework, I was also working full-time, so for two months straight, I would come home from my eight-hour shift and open up homework for another four to six hours.

What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?

I am most proud of the fact that, in terms of my immediate family, I am the only one to have ever gone to an engineering school. On top of this, I have been able to maintain a consistent 3.7 grade-point average and have been placed on the Dean ��. List every semester.

Earning my plastics engineering degree is undoubtedly one of the hardest things that I have done in my life and seeing it through is what makes this whole journey worth it. It gives me great pride that I stuck with this path and saw it through.

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Sabbatical recap: Wei Zheng, Plastics Engineering, 2024-25

goersab — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:30:00 +0000

Sabbatical recap: Wei Zheng, Plastics Engineering, 2024-25goersab September 16, 2025

Building biodegradable, sustainable plastics

Abbey Goers

As Wisconsin ��. ��, �� emphasizes lifelong applied learning for its students and faculty alike, including promoting excellence in teaching and research through sabbaticals.

Sabbaticals enable recipients to engage in intensive study to become more effective teachers and scholars and to enhance their services to the university.

During the 2024-25 academic year, plastics engineering Professor Wei Zheng conducted sabbatical research to advance sustainability in the field of plastics, focusing on the biodegradation of plastic materials and the recycling of thermosetting materials.

Zheng successfully designed and built a biodegradation system, calibrated it using cellulose, and tested a biodegradable polymer, working with mechanical engineering and plastics engineering double major Molly Garber, of Blaine, Minnesota, and chemistry major Madeline Candline, of Pooler, Georgia. They also scaled up the synthesis and produced sufficient “green” thermosetting resin material for reverse crosslinking experiments.

Mechanical engineering and plastics engineering double major Molly Garber assisted Professor Wei Zheng in her sabbatical research / Wei Zheng

“The project aims to benefit not only �� students but also to positively influence the general public ��. perception of plastics,” Zheng said. “I hope this work will have a multi-level impact on the field of plastics engineering, quantifying the biodegradation of environmentally friendly materials and developing viable methods for reverse crosslinking to address the critical needs in today ��. plastics industry.”

Many biodegradable plastics are made from renewable resources. Biodegradable plastics help to reduce waste in landfills, resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions and fewer microplastics, leading to a cleaner environment.

Thermosetting plastics are polymers that undergo a chemical reaction when heated. Once cured, they cannot be remelted or reshaped, posing a challenge in the recycling process. However, plastics engineers and chemists researching the reverse crosslinking process are developing ways to break the chemical bonds, allowing thermosetting plastics to be recycled.

Zheng plans to integrate the accumulated knowledge into the plastics engineering program curriculum and design a pamphlet to promote sustainability within the community.

Professor Wei Zheng and plastics engineering students research sustainable materials in a plastics lab

A setback Zheng encountered involved difficulties in removing the water byproduct during synthesis, which caused a few failed attempts and delayed progress. “In the meantime, I had the opportunity to supervise a capstone project, which involved the characterization and molding of a common plastic material. The group investigated the pressure dependence of viscosity and its impact on molding and simulation,” she said. “The project was highly successful and received enthusiastic praise from our advisory board.”

The importance of a polytechnic education

Garber and Candline think it was incredibly rewarding to work with Zheng and to have an interdisciplinary research experience across their fields of plastics engineering and chemistry.

“Working with Wei and Madeline was one of the most transformative parts of my college experience,” Garber said. “The research challenged me to think critically, collaborate effectively, and approach problems with curiosity. What made it especially valuable was the hands-on nature of the work. Being able to identify issues in real time, make adjustments, and witness the results firsthand gave me a deeper understanding of the process and a stronger sense of ownership. I not only deepened my understanding of the subject but also grew personally and gained skills that I know will carry me far beyond the classroom.”

“This experience truly shows the importance of a polytechnic education,” Candline added. “Most of my chemistry classes have focused on how different substances interact with each other and their applications within the confines of chemistry. With this project, I was given the opportunity to apply my knowledge of chemistry to real-world problems outside of my own field of study. It was really interesting to see the connection between plastics and chemistry. This experience helped me learn more about potential directions my degree can take me.”

Professor Wei Zheng advises students on their plastics engineering capstone

Candline has also assisted Chemistry Professor Ana Magdalena Vande Linde with research, providing her with opportunities to attend national presentations and conferences alongside undergraduate researchers and professionals from across the country.

“Working on research with faculty has been beneficial to my college career. Research gives students hands-on learning opportunities and helps build lasting connections with fellow undergraduate researchers, faculty and professionals in the field,” she said. “If anyone is ever debating if they should join a faculty member for research, I always say to do it. You never know where the opportunity will take you, and no matter what, you will learn something from the experience.”

Candline presented her own research, “Changes in Chemical Properties of Surface Waters in Dunn County,” under the advisement of Vande Linde, at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research, in Pittsburgh last April. She was one of several �� students to present at NCUR, the largest symposium of its kind in the U.S.

Candline will graduate in spring 2027 and is interested in materials chemistry, pharmacology and nuclear chemistry. Garber will graduate in spring 2028 and plans to work in the plastics medical industry.

�� . Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering is home to five ABET-accredited programs, including computer and electrical engineering, engineering technology, plastics engineering, and a bachelor ��. program in packaging. A master ��. in manufacturing engineering is available on campus or online.

Plastics engineering graduates report an average starting salary of $70,000 with 100% employment, according to Career Services’ First Destination Report.

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Hired before graduation as a GaMra Composites engineer

December 23, 2025

Sabbatical recap: Wei Zheng, Plastics Engineering, 2024-25

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September 16, 2025

Building biodegradable, sustainable plastics Wei Zheng sabbatical story

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Wei Zheng

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Curriculum Vitae: Curriculum Vitae (134.14 KB)

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Degree: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University: Texas Tech University

Degree: B.S. Chemical Engineering

University: East China University of Science and Technology

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How single-stream recycling works − your choices can make it better

hugginsm — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:32:39 +0000

How single-stream recycling works − your choices can make it betterhugginsm April 16, 2025

Professor Alex Jordan demystifies the plastics recycling process.

Alex Jordan

This article appeared in Nice News, Scientific American, Fast Company and others and originated from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

Every week, millions of Americans toss their recyclables into a single bin, trusting that their plastic bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes will be given a new life.

But what really happens after the truck picks them up?

Single-stream recycling makes participating in recycling easy, but behind the scenes, complex sorting systems and contamination mean a large percentage of that material never gets a second life. Reports in recent years have found 15% to 25% of all the materials picked up from recycle bins ends up in landfills instead.

Plastics are among the biggest challenges. Only about 9% of the plastic generated in the U.S. actually gets recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Some plastic is incinerated to produce energy, but most of the rest ends up in landfills instead.

Breakdown of U.S. recycling by millions of tons: 66% of paper/cardboard; 33% of metal, 25% of glass, and less than 10% of plastic get a second life. / Alex Jordan/University of Wisconsin-Stout

So, what makes plastic recycling so difficult? As an engineer whose work focuses on reprocessing plastics, I have been exploring potential solutions.

How does single-stream recycling work?

In cities that use single-stream recycling, consumers put all of their recyclable materials − paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal − into a single bin. Once collected, the mixed recyclables are taken to a materials recovery facility, where they are sorted.

First, the mixed recyclables are shredded and crushed into smaller fragments, enabling more effective separation. The mixed fragments pass over rotating screens that remove cardboard and paper, allowing heavier materials, including plastics, metals and glass, to continue along the sorting line.

The basics of a single-stream recycling system in Pennsylvania. / Van Dyk Recycling Solutions

Magnets are used to pick out ferrous metals, such as steel. A magnetic field that produces an electrical current with eddies sends nonferrous metals, such as aluminum, into a separate stream, leaving behind plastics and glass.

The glass fragments are removed from the remaining mix using gravity or vibrating screens.

That leaves plastics as the primary remaining material.

While single-stream recycling is convenient, it has downsides. Contamination, such as food residue, plastic bags and items that can’t be recycled, can degrade the quality of the remaining material, making it more difficult to reuse. That lowers its value.

Having to remove that contamination raises processing costs and can force recovery centers to reject entire batches.

Plastic bags, food residue and items that can’t be recycled can contaminate a recycling stream. / City of Greenville, N.C./Flickr

Which plastics typically can’t be recycled?

Each recycling program has rules for which items it will and won’t take. You can check which items can and cannot be recycled for your specific program on your municipal page. Often, that means checking the recycling code stamped on the plastic next to the recycling icon.

These are the toughest plastics to recycle and most likely to be excluded in your local recycling program:

Symbol 3 – Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, found in pipes, shower curtains and some food packaging. It may contain harmful additives such as phthalates and heavy metals. PVC also degrades easily, and melting can release toxic fumes during recycling, contaminating other materials and making it unsafe to process in standard recycling facilities.
Symbol 4 – Low-density polyethylene, or LDPE, is often used in plastic bags and shrink-wrap. Because it ��. flexible and lightweight, it ��. prone to getting tangled in sorting machinery at recycling plants.
Symbol 6 – Polystyrene, often used in foam cups, takeout containers and packing peanuts. Because it ��. lightweight and brittle, it ��. difficult to collect and process and easily contaminates recycling streams.

Which plastics to include

That leaves three plastics that can be recycled in many facilities:

Symbol 1 – Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, widely used in soda bottles.
Symbol 2 – High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, commonly used in milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles.
Symbol 5 – Polypropylene, PP, used in products such as pill bottles, yogurt cups and plastic utensils.

However, these aren’t accepted in some facilities for reasons I’ll explain.

Taking apart plastics, bead by bead

Some plastics can be chemically recycled or ground up for reprocessing, but not all plastics play well together.

Simple separation methods, such as placing ground-up plastics in water, can easily remove your soda bottle plastic (PET) from the mixture. The ground-up PET sinks in water due to the plastic ��. density. However, HDPE, used in milk jugs, and PP, found in yogurt cups, both float, and they can’t be recycled together. So, more advanced and expensive technology, such as infrared spectroscopy, is often required to separate those two materials.

Once separated, the plastic from your soda bottle can be chemically recycled through a process called solvolysis.

It works like this: Plastic materials are formed from polymers. A polymer is a molecule with many repeating units, called monomers. Picture a pearl necklace. The individual pearls are the repeating monomer units. The string that runs through the pearls is the chemical bond that joins the monomer units together. The entire necklace can then be thought of as a single molecule.

Monomers can be combined to create polymers, the foundation of plastics. During chemical recycling, these bonds are broken apart. / Alex Jordan/University of Wisconsin-Stout

During solvolysis, chemists break down that necklace by cutting the string holding the pearls together until they are individual pearls. Then, they string those pearls together again to create new necklaces.

Other chemical recycling methods, such as pyrolysis and gasification, have drawn environmental and health concerns because the plastic is heated, which can release toxic fumes. But chemical recycling also holds the potential to reduce both plastic waste and the need for new plastics, while generating energy.

The problem of yogurt cups and milk jugs

The other two common types of recycled plastics − items such as yogurt cups (PP) and milk jugs (HDPE) − are like oil and water: Each can be recycled through reprocessing, but they don’t mix.

If polyethylene and polypropylene aren’t completely separated during recycling, the resulting mix can be brittle and generally unusable for creating new products.

Chemists are working on solutions that could increase the quality of recycled plastics through mechanical reprocessing, typically done at separate facilities.

One promising mechanical method for recycling mixed plastics is to incorporate a chemical called a compatibilizer. Compatibilizers contain the chemical structure of multiple different polymers in the same molecule. It ��. like how lecithin, commonly found in egg yolks, can help mix oil and water to make mayonnaise − part of the lecithin molecule is in the oil phase and part is in the water phase.

In the case of yogurt cups and milk jugs, recently developed block copolymers are able to produce recycled plastic materials with the flexibility of polyethylene and the strength of polypropylene.

Improving recycling

Research like this can make recycled materials more versatile and valuable and move products closer to a goal of a circular economy without waste.

However, improving recycling also requires better recycling habits.

You can help the recycling process by taking a few minutes to wash off food waste, avoiding putting plastic bags in your recycling bin and, importantly, paying attention to what can and cannot be recycled in your area.

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Alex Jordan

Alex Jordan earned his doctoral degree for his dissertation titled "Fiber-Composite in situ Fabrication: Multilayer Coextrusion as an Enabling Technology". During his dissertation he studied crystalline-structure evolution during hot drawing of extruded composites and developed a technique to manufacture fiber-reinforced hydrogels to be used as mechanically tunable tissue engineering scaffolds.

Prior to joining the faculty at ��, Alex completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota studying the role of interfacial crystallization during processing of polyolefin blends. He is currently the plastics engineering program director and an associate professor of plastics engineering at ��.

Full Name: Alex Jordan

Job Title: Associate Professor / Program Director

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Polymer Processing Rheology Process-Structure-Property Relationships

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering Engineering & Technology Department

Program

All Degree Programs

B.S. Plastics Engineering

Curriculum Vitae: Alex Jordan CV (262.11 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Macromolecular Science & Engineering

University: Case Western Reserve University

Degree: B.S.E. Chemical Engineering

University: Case Western Reserve University

CSTEMM

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Windows to education: $7.4M labs renovation project sheds light on mechanical, plastics engineering

polingj — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:09:44 +0000

Windows to education: $7.4M labs renovation project sheds light on mechanical, plastics engineeringpolingj September 16, 2024

Changes also open up busy Jarvis Tech Wing corridor; two more labs to be updated in 2025

Two large engineering labs and one of the busiest building corridors at �� have fresh, new looks this fall with students back on campus.

Phase one of a two-year $7.4 million lab renovation project was completed this summer in Jarvis Hall Technology Wing. The Engineering Technology Research and Development Lab, and Plastics Engineering Lab were completely revamped, along with the hallway between the labs.

The hallway is a direct route for students, faculty, staff and campus visitors between Jarvis Tech, Jarvis Science, Micheels and the Applied Arts academic buildings. The labs have new windows and overhead doors with windows to give passers-by a glimpse of the hands-on learning taking place daily in the large spaces.

Mechanical engineering students work on an engine project in the renovated Engineering Technology Research and Development Lab. / ��

“The spaces better highlight what it is to be a polytechnic. They showcase the applied learning that is happening, and passers-by can see our students in action,” said Glendalí Rodríguez, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Phase two of the project will take place in summer 2025. Adjacent and to the north of the engineering labs, the Construction Lab for construction management majors and interdisciplinary Research and Development Prototyping Lab will be renovated.

Phase 1, which began in mid-May, covered 17,000 square feet while phase two will encompass nearly 24,000 feet. Overall, the project is 40,915 square feet, including 30,103 square feet of lab space.

The lab renovations are part of a $7.4 million project in Jarvis Hall Tech Wing. / ��

As Wisconsin ��. ��, �� emphasizes applied learning with three times more labs than classrooms. In some majors, like in the two renovated labs, classroom and lab space are next to each other so that lectures and hands-on applications are seamlessly intertwined.

The mechanical and plastics engineering programs are part of �� . Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering. In the 2024 First Destination Report from Career Services, recent graduates from the four undergraduate engineering majors reported 100% employment within six months of graduating and an average starting salary of more than $70,000.

The Integrated Technology Lab, mainly for mechanical engineering, and engineering and technology majors, previously had a closed classroom space within the lab. With the renovation, an open classroom will be next to the lab equipment students use daily.

A wall was removed in the plastics lab to turn it into a larger, open space.

The renovation includes new, overhead garage doors in the labs, which are across the hallway from each other. / ��

Jarvis Technology Wing was built in 1969, said Zenon Smolarek, associate director of Facilities Management. This is the first major renovation of the lab spaces. The concept of labs with windows matches that of Jarvis Hall Science Wing, which opened in 2009.

For both renovations, industrial equipment had to be moved from the labs but is back in place for the fall semester. Renovations included new flooring, dust collection and exhaust systems, energy saving LED lights and paint. The original parquet flooring contained asbestos.

Lab and building infrastructure also was updated. Both labs now have air conditioning for the first time and a new sprinkler system. The Tech Wing has its own water system instead of sharing it with the Science Wing, solving water pressure issues, said Chad Schlough, project manager for Facilities Management.

From left, staff members Zenon Smolarek, John Buss and Chad Schlough, standing in the plastics lab, were instrumental in the renovation project. / ��

Also:

A storage area was created for high-tech GPS and surveying equipment used by students.
Restrooms in the area were updated, and a single occupant restroom was added.
Second-floor mechanical rooms and equipment were updated.

“It ��. a win-win for facilities and the departments. It ��. great to have fresh labs,” said John Buss, instrument shop coordinator in the engineering and technology department.

The overhead doors from the labs to the hallway will make it easier down the road to add new and bigger equipment, Rodríguez said, and for students and professors to collaborate.

The general contractor is R.J. Jurowski of Whitehall. Bill Jurowski, a �� alum, is project manager. Ethan Wiersgalla, site manager for R.J. Jurowski, said the project has employed 20 to 25 people.

###

Two large engineering labs and one of the busiest building corridors at �� have fresh, new looks this fall with students back on camp Jarvis Tech engineering labs 2

University Marketing

Dialed in: Engineering projects hum as students present prototypes to industry sponsors

It was the moment of truth for a team of �� engineering majors, as peers, professors and industry representatives gathered around.

Hero Caption: New hallway windows allow passers-by to view what students are working on in the new Plastics Engineering Lab.

Glendalí Rodríguez

I joined the �� community in August 2005. Prior to that, I worked in a variety of professional positions related to architecture (city planning, neighborhood planning, residential and commercial design). At Stout, I have navigated roles including faculty (from assistant to full professor), instructor of program and general education courses (both on-campus and online), student organization advisor (Latinos Unidos and Sigma Lambda Chi Honor Society), governance representative on a myriad of campus committees, department chair, and associate provost.

I look forward to working with you to foster student success.

Full Name: Glendali Rodriguez

Job Title: Provost / Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Teaching Interests: Architecture, Sustainability, Building Information Modeling, Design.Research Interests: Universal Design for Learning, Building Information Management, Assessment of Student Learning, Strategic Planning.

Department: Provost's Office

Curriculum Vitae: Glendali Rodriguez CV (538.4 KB)

Education:

Degree: MARCH Architecture

University: Georgia Institute of Technology

Degree: B.A. Architecture Concentration

University: Yale University

Degree: PLW, Civil Engineering and Architecture

Degree: Human Subjects Training Certification

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Degree: Wisconsin Registered Architect

Provost Office

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Include in Directory: Off

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PHOTO ESSAY: How Do You Solve a Problem Like …

hugginsm — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:30:01 +0000

PHOTO ESSAY: How Do You Solve a Problem Like … hugginsm September 22, 2023

Stout Students Do More on Day One in Manufacturing, Mechanical and Plastics Engineering

Abbey Goers Zach Porter Rachel Hallgrimson

Manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering and plastics engineering juniors and seniors in the Jarvis Hall Tech Wing prepare for their first lab experiment in Professor Vince Wheeler ��. Fluid Mechanics class.

“The labs here at Stout are as close to what you’ll see in the real world. The skills I’ve acquired prepare me for real world challenges in engineering,” said Aidan Hafner, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student from Deerbrook.

Challenges like the one that Wheeler is about to present to his students: How do you use a handful of common laboratory items and a little engineering know-how to find the density and viscosity of an unnamed bright blue, thick and sticky liquid?

What exactly is that liquid? Keep reading...

“Fluid Mechanics is the study of liquids and solids in motion. It gives engineers the tools to quantitatively understand how everyday and future technologies work, such as hydroelectric dams, irrigation systems and aircraft wings,” Wheeler said.

“We look at what fundamental properties define how a fluid behaves; here, density and viscosity. The lab they undertake not only reinforces what these properties are and how they are important, but also how to design an experiment and handle experimental uncertainty,” he added.

Wheeler introduces his students to the experiment station, a fluid properties apparatus. He shows them the tools available for their experiment—a scale, a weighted vial and beaker of the blue liquid, a long glass cylinder, stainless steel ball bearings and a caliper.

They’re meant to find the density of the mysterious fluid by weighing then measuring how deep the vial floats in the fluid. They find the viscosity by measuring how long it takes the ball bearing to fall through the fluid. He ��. hoping they remember lab lessons and theoretical concepts from previous courses, especially consequences of Newton ��. second law of motion: Acceleration times the mass of an object must equal the net force on the object.

He intentionally left that out of the instructions. Instead, he reminds them of topics they covered in previous courses and introduces them to the idea of uncertainty and how to quantify it as an engineer.

Then, working in small groups, the students are left to their own devices to figure out each tools’ function in the experiment and problem-solve to find a solution.

Wheeler checks in on the teams’ progress occasionally, knowing that while failure leads to new methods and discoveries, communication is essential when working in a team.

“I’m interested in numbers and the way things work,” said Tucker Haakonson, a mechanical engineering junior from St. Cloud, Minn. “At Stout, you get a lot of experiences that you wouldn’t have anywhere else. Our labs set you up for success in your internships and career without skipping a beat.”

“The labs and courses, like Machine Component Design, are realistic to what you see in industry and prepared me for my two internships as a design engineer with Bobcat and an engineering intern at Oxbo,” added Caleb Hickey, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student from Appleton.

The small groups attempt different methods, weighing the beaker of blue liquid, weighing the ball bearings, measuring the cylinder with the caliper. Will they remember the equation from previous courses? Will they remember to communicate their failures and successes to help each other through the process?

All that we know for certain (with a little hint from Wheeler) is that the blue liquid is dyed corn syrup. Not that this is helpful for finding the solution. But it ��. science so sweet, you can eat it.

Applied Learning

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Discover what Manufacturing, Mechanical and Plastics Engineering students do on day one of their Fluid Mechanics class. Fluid Mechanics, Day One

University Marketing

B.S. Manufacturing Engineering

Our B.S. Manufacturing Engineering program trains you in engineering design, robotics, artificial intelligence, automation systems, and industrial management.

Learn More

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Our B.S. Mechanical Engineering program covers mechanics, kinematics, thermal/fluid sciences, materials sciences, and more.

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B.S. Plastics Engineering

Our B.S. Plastics Engineering program will prepare you for a career leading innovation in medical, automotive, and other industries.

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Jarvis Hall Technology Wing

Jarvis Hall Technology Wing houses laboratories and classrooms for construction, technology and plastics engineering courses.

Plastics students research, prototype sustainable industry solutions using recycled materials

polingj — Fri, 19 May 2023 16:22:50 +0000

Plastics students research, prototype sustainable industry solutions using recycled materials polingj May 19, 2023

Eleven seniors present findings at Wisconsin ��. EVCO Plastics, which funded the lab-based projects

How can the plastics manufacturing industry be more sustainable? Seniors in �� . plastics engineering program tackled that big question this spring.

As they researched possible answers, they realized multiple ways the industry can move forward using recycled materials and that their generation of engineers can be part of the solution.

The 11 students, eight of whom graduated May 6, presented five projects recently at the headquarters of Wisconsin-based EVCO Plastics of DeForest. EVCO provided $100,000 last fall for the research to support the new engineers advancing sustainability in the industry.

Plastics engineering students and faculty gather with EVCO officials, including chairman and CEO Dale Evans, second from right, at EVCO headquarters in DeForest. / ��

“The research will help us incorporate more sustainability into our curriculum to educate the next-generation workforce. Together, we hope to make a difference in today ��. world,” Professor Wei Zheng said.

The research included:

Designing a modular highway sound barrier from recycled plastic
Studying the scientific properties and processing of a recycled material, compared to its virgin counterpart
Examining the possibilities of adding recycled materials to multilayer plastic sheeting, or films, which are used in shopping bags and packaging.

Students on the sound barrier project successfully designed and manufactured a small-scale version of their product, for which they also did market research.

“Today there are 51 million tons of plastic consumed in a year and only 5% of this is being repurposed. Millions of tons of plastic are not being reused, and we wanted to find a way to put this to use,” said senior Bradley Sarauer, of Bloomer.

EVCO CEO Dale Evans, a �� alum, speaks during students’ research presentations. / ��

Olivia Hile, of Rice Lake, said her team examined how processing affects a recycled material compared to its virgin counterpart, such as its dimensional stability, mechanical strength and even appearance. “Many manufacturers are reluctant to use post-consumer recycled materials because it is more difficult to reliably process them, so providing more information to these manufacturers will help them better design and produce plastics parts from these recycled materials,” Hile said.

Zheng is “really proud of our students’ perseverance in embracing new challenges every day and solving them throughout the process. The students not only learned the latest research and development in plastics recycling but also solidified their knowledge in plastics ranging from polymer synthesis, material characterization and theoretical modeling/simulations to various processing including injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming and 3D printing.”

Anna Bartz, a director at EVCO, said the partnership with �� is an example of how innovation is driven by collaboration with academia. "Advancements in plastics processing happen when industry and higher education collaborate. We were incredibly impressed with every capstone project that was presented by �� plastics engineering students and were grateful to support these projects throughout the school year," she said.

B.S. Plastics Engineering

Our B.S. Plastics Engineering program will prepare you for a career leading innovation in medical, automotive, and other industries.

Learn More

Promoting sustainability is one of the goals of �� . plastics engineering program. EVCO, founded in 1964 and now owned and operated by �� alum Dale Evans, CEO, recently formed a Sustainability Council.

Zheng said the research improved students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Hile ��. team, for example, learned the importance of studying their problem more deeply before conducting tests and the challenges of sourcing recycled material. Sarauer ��. team overcame issues with ordering a mold and receiving it on time and working with government transportation regulations.

Students improved their communication skills, oral and written, while presenting to industry professionals. “By the end of capstone I was able to present confidently without being nervous,” Sarauer said.

Graduates Sarauer and Reis Stingle, of Shiocton, have been hired full time by EVCO.

EVCO Plastics, based in DeForest, has 12 facilities around the world. / EVCO Plastics

“Students who graduate from ��'s program are prepared to jump into critical roles in plastics manufacturing upon completion of their degree,” Bartz said. “We are thrilled to have two of these students join our EVCO Plastics team as process engineers this summer."

Hile was hired by ITW Deltar Fasteners of Chippewa Falls. The company makes automotive fasteners with injection molding.

Graduates from the program report an average starting salary of $66,000 with 100% employment.

�� has four undergraduate engineering programs and a graduate program in the Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering.

About EVCO Plastics

EVCO Plastics is a leading plastics manufacturing company with 12 manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the world. With an emphasis on design for manufacturability, strategic engineering and innovative technology, EVCO is recognized as a global leader in custom plastic injection molding.

EVCO was founded in 1964, employs more than 2,000 people and operates 270 injection molding machines, ranging from 28 to 4,400 tons. For more information about EVCO, visit LinkedIn, or YouTube.

###

How can the plastics manufacturing industry be more sustainable? Seniors in �� . plastics engineering program tackled that big question. Plastics lab

University Marketing

Plastics engineering ranked as one of top U.S. public colleges programs

University of Wisconsin-Stout has been named one of the top U.S. public colleges offering plastics engineering programs by Plastics Today, a publication and sit

Hero Caption: Plastics engineering students work in a �� lab.

Wei Zheng

Full Name: Wei Zheng

Job Title: Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering Engineering & Technology Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Curriculum Vitae (134.14 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University: Texas Tech University

Degree: B.S. Chemical Engineering

University: East China University of Science and Technology

CSTEMM

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EVCO donation boosts sustainability research in plastics engineering program

polingj — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:59:22 +0000

EVCO donation boosts sustainability research in plastics engineering programpolingj October 27, 2022

Wisconsin-based company providing $100,000, plus expertise to support student innovation

National and worldwide efforts to improve sustainability in the plastics industry are receiving a boost from ��, thanks to a major donation by EVCO Plastics.

The Wisconsin-based company, which has 12 facilities in two states and two foreign countries, has given $100,000 to the university ��. plastics engineering program. The money will be used to help students conduct sustainability research, including providing materials for their projects.

EVCO Chairman and CEO Dale Evans told students to “change the world” recently when he visited campus to make the donation and learn about their research in the Plastics Engineering Labs.

Dale Evans and Anna Evans Bartz, front row center, of EVCO meet with students and professors in the plastics lab after donating $100,000 to support sustainability projects. / ��

“We’re happy to give back. Too many different materials go into the waste stream. We’re trying to fix that and further the success of engineering students and the plastics industry as a whole,” said Evans, a 1973 �� graduate in industrial technology.

The company, with headquarters in DeForest, has supported the �� program for more than a decade. It also is providing students access to EVCO experts during the research process to help answer technical questions and “to deepen and support their knowledge and understanding. Our goal is to catalyze more processor industry investment in this space,” Evans said.

Promoting sustainability is one of the goals of �� . plastics engineering program, said Professor Wei Zheng.

“We are grateful for the continuous support from EVCO. In fact, this is the first donation we have received that specifically focuses on the plastics recycling. The funding will surely propel us to investigate the challenges and opportunities of various recycling technologies,” said Zheng, program director.

Evans and Bartz, front right, talk with plastics engineering students in a classroom. / ��

“More importantly, the research will help us incorporate more sustainability into our curriculum to educate the next generation workforce. Together, we hope to make a difference in today ��. world,” she added.

Graduates from the program report an average starting salary of $66,000 with 100% employment. It ��. one of four undergraduate engineering programs and a graduate program in �� . Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering.

The donation was announced recently at K 2022, a worldwide plastics conference held in Dusseldorf, Germany. An opening keynote address by German government minister Christiane Rohleder urged the industry to significantly increase its use of recycled plastic in products to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, Plastics News reported. “We need to move from a still relatively linear economy to a truly circular economy of plastics,” she said.

Anna Evans Bartz, EVCO director of communications, agreed.

“As processors, we believe that our involvement in developing and nurturing a circular economy is paramount to future sustainability success. EVCO also recently launched its Sustainability Council, which focuses on both internal sustainability initiatives and providing actionable green solutions to customers. The results and output of the funded research at �� will inform the solutions and recommendations we pass along to customers.”

The funding will help support five senior capstone projects by �� students that research the viability of using recycled materials in plastics products.

EVCO hopes the projects have commercial value to help provide solutions for new, more sustainable product options for their customers. “Sustainability efforts often are dictated by the customer,” Bartz said.

Read more about the donation in Plastics News.

The �� student projects include:

Development of Novel Highway Sound Barriers Using Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Material

Objective: Design and develop a highway sound barrier with a PCR composition that can be easily assembled and manufactured, while adhering to any codes or construction requirements. Initial works will focus on the product design for manufacturability and the development of 3D printed prototypes.

After molding the scaled models, the products will be tested for effective sound reduction, mechanical integrity, weathering ability and other properties.

The project will showcase a direct application of recycled materials into consumer products and highlight the sustainability efforts.

Reverse Crosslinking of a Green Thermosetting Resin

Objective: Investigate the reverse cross-linking modes of a thermoset polyester.

If suitable means of reverse cross-linking can be identified, the same chemical cross-linking group can be used to modify other types of polymers, making it possible to develop materials with new properties but maintaining the same reverse cross-linking ability afterward.

The research results would transform the science and technology of plastics recycling, making previously nonrecyclable polymers recyclable.

Characterization and Processing of Virgin and PCR Materials

Objective: Study various properties of PCR and virgin materials and examine their molding process.

Physical, thermal, mechanical and rheological behavior of the PCR material will be fully characterized and compared with the virgin counterpart. The collected material parameters will be incorporated into a simulation software to simulate the process, providing guidelines to the molding operations.

The products made of the PCR and virgin materials will be evaluated in terms of the thermal and mechanical performance. This project aims to broaden the knowledge base of PCR materials in the industry and provide insights to plastics processors to better handle the recycled materials.

About EVCO Plastics

EVCO was founded in 1964, employs more than 2,000 people and operates 270 injection molding machines, ranging from 28 to 4,400 tons. For more information about EVCO, visit LinkedIn, or YouTube.

###

National and worldwide efforts to improve sustainability in the plastics industry are receiving a boost from ��, thanks to a major donation. EVCO 3

University Marketing

Eight scholarships established for first-year plastics engineering students

Eight $1,500 scholarships will be available to incoming first-year University of Wisconsin-Stout plastics engineering students next fall.

Hero Caption: Plastics engineering students Olivia Hile and Mitchell Maier work in the lab. / ��

Wei Zheng

Full Name: Wei Zheng

Job Title: Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering Engineering & Technology Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Curriculum Vitae (134.14 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University: Texas Tech University

Degree: B.S. Chemical Engineering

University: East China University of Science and Technology

CSTEMM

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State ��. economic development leader impressed with university ��. industry focus

polingj — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:19:54 +0000

State ��. economic development leader impressed with university ��. industry focuspolingj February 8, 2022

Hughes, CEO of WEDC, learns about connections, programs during tour of labs

The secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation recently saw and heard how the University of Wisconsin-Stout is helping the state move forward.

Missy Hughes toured four labs with Chancellor Katherine Frank, Menomonie Mayor Randy Knaack and other school and city officials. She learned how �� thinks beyond the classroom as it helps meet Wisconsin ��. needs and prepares students for impactful careers.

“�� is doing a great job of facilitating a connection between employers and students while working with businesses to ensure those students are set up for success after graduation,” Hughes said following the visit.

She heard, for example, how the university ��. Manufacturing Outreach Center is collaborating with students in the graduate and undergraduate game design and development programs to create a high-tech multiplayer simulation that provides industry-standard Lean training. The game-like experience will greatly streamline the process for workers in manufacturing and other industries in Wisconsin.

Plastics engineering major Jared Pavlis demonstrates for Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO, how to make an injection molded part for a catheter. / ��

While visiting several labs for the packaging major, Hughes learned that a course was added recently to the major to address the demand for graduates in the growing medical products field. The change was in response to advice from professionals who serve on the program ��. advisory committee.

“It ��. neat to see the amount of collaboration between the university and industries to ensure that educational programs are up-to-date and meeting the current workforce demands while also proactively preparing for the future,” Hughes said.

Each academic program at �� works with an advisory committee made up of professionals in that field to keep the program current with industry needs and trends.

“As Wisconsin ��. ��, we connect with business and industry to solve real world problems, and as a result, we create meaningful applied learning experiences our students translate into success in their careers. I am pleased we had the opportunity to demonstrate Stout ��. distinctiveness during Secretary Hughes’ visit,” Frank said.

Hughes also visited the university ��. Discovery Center Fab Lab, a high-tech prototyping space open to students across all majors and open to business and industry; the plastics engineering lab, where students train on industry-standard machines thanks to close ties with manufacturers; and the motion capture studio in the School of Art and Design.

Plastics, art and design, packaging

In the plastics engineering lab, Hughes watched student Jared Pavlis, a senior from Lino Lakes, Minn., operate a nearly new injection molding machine the size of a pickup truck. The machine, on loan from industry partner Engel, applied 32 tons of pressure to produce parts for a catheter in the medical industry.

Professor Wei Zheng talks about the plastics engineering program during a tour for Missy Hughes, right. Listening are Randy Hulke and Chancellor Katherine Frank. / ��

Professor Wei Zheng explained how the program, ranked one of the best in the U.S., works closely with industry, such as Phillips-Medisize which has a plant in the Stout Technology and Business Park in Menomonie. Graduates have an average starting salary of $66,000 with 100% employment.

“The plastics engineering program is extremely responsive to industry,” said Randy Hulke, Discovery Center executive director.

Associate Professor Andrew Williams noted that art and design students use the motion capture studio to work with industry partners on projects, including Wisconsin-based companies Trek and Kohler, as well as with university athletes and the university ��. health, wellness and fitness majors.

“This is the most advanced motion capture system in this region of the country,” Williams said.

In the packaging labs, Associate Professor Robert Meisner explained the high demand for graduates, noting that every product needs a package and often at several stages. Testing facilities allow students to replicate challenges within the industry, such as how much weight a package can bear and the properties of various materials.

Packaging students also work directly with companies. “We’re solving real problems with industry, such as with Milwaukee Tool,” Meisner said.

Recent donations to improve packaging lab and course offerings have come from Boston Scientific, Great Northern Corp., and Prent Corp.

Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO / ��

Opportunities in Wisconsin

Hughes was pleased to see the university programs addressing workforce needs and industry solutions, one of the goals of the UW System.

�� . FOCUS2030 strategic plan includes providing students access to cutting edge technology, innovative programs and collaborative partnerships. In 2021, CollegeValuesOnline ranked �� No. 26 in the U.S. for its ties to business and industry and how those ties benefit students.

“Higher education and economic development are inextricably related and have been throughout Wisconsin ��. history,” Hughes said. “The University of Wisconsin is one of the economic engines of our state: it educates our workforce, undertakes research that benefits our industries from biohealth and technology to advanced manufacturing and food and beverage production.”

Now is a great time to be working toward a college degree in Wisconsin, Hughes said.

“The career opportunities in Wisconsin are immense. It ��. really a seller ��. market for workers. In every corner of the state, we’re seeing new businesses starting up and adding new vitality to communities, whether they’re rural or urban. Many of these jobs require the kind of skills and knowledge that the UW provides, so there ��. often a seamless transition from college into careers,” Hughes said.

“Wisconsin ��. economy is on the right track because of the strategic investments we’ve made in education, infrastructure and our communities over the past few years. We’re seeing those investments pay off, and it ��. a great time for young people to be entering the job market,” Hughes added.

��, which takes pride in a long-standing employment rate above 97% for recent graduates, will hold its Spring Career Conference, one of the largest in the Midwest, beginning Feb. 28.

###

The secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation recently saw and heard how �� is helping the state move forward. WEDC 1

University Marketing

Industry partnerships put plastics engineering lab at forefront

When students step into the plastics engineering lab at University of Wisconsin-Stout, they are working with state-of-the-art equipment.

First-year packaging student already making industry connections, starting journey

Meyer benefiting from new scholarship created by program advisory committee

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As challenges piled up, graduate didn’t back down

polingj — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 18:30:27 +0000

As challenges piled up, graduate didn’t back downpolingj December 22, 2021

Plastics engineering major fought through variety of issues to earn degree, begin new career

If there was a meter for measuring joy, it likely would have gone to the highest level in Heather Dietsche ��. family when she crossed the commencement stage Dec. 18 at University of Wisconsin-Stout to receive her diploma.

Joy swelled up in her cheering section — son, Ariston Schneider, and her parents, in addition to husband, Aaron Dietsche, watching the livestream — as Heather took the final steps in what at times was a whirlwind journey. And joy filled her heart as she realized that she had changed the course of her life.

In 2018, she was a 27-year-old single mom working two jobs without a set career path and returning to school for the first time in five years. After completing a degree in plastics engineering, Heather, from Bloomer, will start a full-time job in January as an engineer at Phillips-Medisize in Menomonie.

Not only was she the first in her family to earn a college degree, she succeeded while helping her young son through virtual learning during the pandemic. Plus, getting married soon after enrolling at ��, she has helped her husband get through a major health challenge.

Heather found the strength to persevere, maybe because along the way she began to see a bigger picture.

�� graduate Heather Dietsche, with her son, Ariston Schneider, and husband, Aaron Dietsche. / Sam Berlin Photography

“I am most proud of being the first person in my family to earn a bachelor's degree and that my son was able to see what I have accomplished,” she said. “It only takes one generation to change the trajectory of the generations that come after, and I hope my son is encouraged by my accomplishments.”

He has noticed. When she crossed the stage, she heard a proud Ariston yell, “That ��. my mommy!”

Plastics Professor Adam Kramschuster witnessed a student the past 3½ years who was determined to learn and succeed.

“Heather ��. work background and work ethic made her a pleasure to have in class, and she was eager to learn and a very active participant in every aspect of class,” he said. “I suspect this was due to her working in the field (with co-ops) while going to school and understanding the need to learn as much as possible so she could directly apply it to her career.”

Meeting challenges head on

Heather faced four distinct challenges and conquered each one.

The first was deciding to go back to school. She had studied business management at UW-Eau Claire but decided it wasn’t what she wanted. While working two jobs to meet expenses, a friend one day challenged her to run a half-marathon, which she did and completed.

“I didn't have very much confidence in myself. That accomplishment gave me a huge boost in confidence, and I realized that I had a higher potential,” she said, adding that Aaron, her fiancé at the time, also encouraged her to return to school.

The second challenge was getting back into the classroom and taking a rigorous science- and math-based program.

Heather Dietsche works in the plastics lab at ��, where she returned to college at age 27. / ��

“I had about nine years between calculus 1 and calculus 2, so I made sure to get a tutor to help me get back on track. While this was challenging, I began to feel more comfortable with my coursework as time went on,” Heather said.

The third challenge was the pandemic.

Heather suddenly had to help her son, in elementary school, learn virtually and had to take some of her own classes online. “My son got to sit in on meetings with my classmates, who (became) very used to seeing him on Microsoft Teams,” she said.

At the same time, Heather had a cooperative education experience, the first of several. “I was teacher, parent, student and employee all at once,” she said. “There were many nights when I studied until 1 a.m. and woke up by 5 a.m. to study more and get my son to day care before going to class.”

A fourth challenge arose when Aaron, a farmer, suddenly became ill. He was diagnosed in 2020 with a rare muscle disease that left him unable to walk more than 10 feet. He was hospitalized for a time, and when he returned home he needed help with a feeding tube for four months. Heather was working a co-op position at the time at Nolato Contour in Baldwin.

“Every morning I spent about an hour feeding him, drove an hour to work, worked my eight-hour shift, returned home to work on schoolwork and then spent about another hour and a half feeding him and giving him his medication,” she said. “This time in my college career was a blur. I didn't have time to even think about how dire the situation was, which was the only good thing about having that much on my plate.”

About 1½ years since the diagnosis, Aaron continues to make progress but was unable to attend the commencement ceremony, Heather said.

�� quickly became her home away from home as she got to know those who surrounded her. “I’m so thankful to my classmates and professors who I shared my situation with. They supported me in any way they could,” she said.

Everything, somehow, came together despite the expected and unexpected challenges.

“Stout has been a positive and supportive environment for me to earn an engineering degree. I was usually one of about three women in my engineering classes, if not the only one. This can be intimidating at first, but I quickly learned that I was not going to be treated differently for that.

“I was comfortable raising my hand in class and working with my classmates out of class. I was surprised to find many older students like me attending Stout, which was encouraging. Being a nontraditional student is more common than most people think, especially at Stout. My education from Stout has changed my career outlook, which already has a promising start,” Heather said.

“I feel 100% prepared to work in a manufacturing environment,” she said, citing the co-op program that gave her 2½ years of experience in the field and courses that have given her a “solid foundation to transfer my knowledge and skills to a professional position.”

�� . Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering has five engineering programs.

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If there was a meter for measuring joy, it likely would have gone to the highest level in Heather Dietsche ��. family when she crossed the commencement stage. Heather Dietsche 2

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Plastics engineering ranked as one of top U.S. public colleges programs

University of Wisconsin-Stout has been named one of the top U.S. public colleges offering plastics engineering programs by Plastics Today, a publication and sit

Hero Caption: Heather Dietsche, of Bloomer, crosses the commencement stage Dec. 18 at �� to receive her bachelor ��. degree in plastics engineering. / ��

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