The Plastics Training Academy at Penn State Behrend, located in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of hands-on, industry-recognized training for plastics professionals. For more than 30 years, the academy has delivered short-term workshops and seminars designed to strengthen technical knowledge, improve manufacturing processes, and support measurable workplace results.
Backed by the expertise of the School of Engineering, the Plastics Training Academy combines academic rigor with real-world application to meet the evolving needs of the plastics industry. Participants have traveled from across Pennsylvania and from other states, including New York, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina, to attend training programs.
Industry-Recognized, Hands-On Training
The Plastics Training Academy offers face-to-face instruction led by industry-experienced instructors, with an emphasis on practical, applied learning. Programs are designed to help participants immediately apply new skills and strategies in their own operations.
Training topics range from foundational plastics processes to advanced technologies, including:
- Injection molding principles and scientific molding
- Design of experiments (DOE)
- Injection-molded part and mold design
- Polymer science and materials selection
- Troubleshooting and failure analysis
- Tooling, quality, and process optimization
Courses are available as short-term workshops and seminars, with both in-person and select online options.
Who Should Attend
Plastics Training Academy programs are designed for a range of professionals involved in plastics manufacturing, including:
- Project, process, tooling, quality, and manufacturing engineers
- Technicians, operators, and set-up and maintenance personnel
- Designers and team leaders
- Supervisors, managers, and human resources professionals
- Materials, marketing, and sales personnel
Whether participants are new to plastics processing or seeking advanced technical training, programs are structured to support learning at multiple experience levels.
Accredited Engineering Expertise
Penn State Behrend is home to one of only four accredited Plastics Engineering Technology programs in the United States, accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). This academic foundation ensures Plastics Training Academy programs are grounded in proven methodologies, current research, and industry best practices.
Highly Qualified Instructors
Courses are taught by industry-seasoned faculty and professionals with decades of combined experience in research, engineering, and manufacturing. Instructors focus on current design and processing techniques while adapting instruction to participants’ training needs.
State-of-the-Art Plastics Training Laboratory
Hands-on workshops are conducted in Penn State Behrend’s 10,500-square-foot plastics processing laboratory, the largest and most comprehensive plastics training lab in the country. The facility provides participants with direct access to modern equipment and real manufacturing environments, reinforcing learning through experience.
On-Site and Customized Training Options
In addition to scheduled courses, Plastics Training Academy offers on-site training at company facilities for private group instruction. With as few as eight participants, organizations can reduce travel costs while tailoring training to their specific processes, equipment, and challenges.
Customized programs allow instructors to focus on the issues most relevant to an organization’s operations and provide targeted guidance to staff.
Plastics Training Academy is offered through Penn State Behrend’s Community and Workforce Programs, which also provides a broad range of professional development and continuing education programs, from project management to AutoCAD and technical skills training.
Plan Your Visit or Contact Us
Participants traveling from outside of northwest Pennsylvania can find information on accommodations and directions to campus.
For questions about courses, scheduling, or customized training, please contact Plastics Training Academy at 814-898-6103 or email [email protected].