PHOTO PROVIDED Penn College Workforce Development staff members recently assisted industry leaders — including two Penn College alumni — at a two-day workshop focused on thin gauge thermoforming. The manufacturing process is designed to create lightweight, durable plastic parts commonly used for packaging, medical trays and consumer goods.

WILLIAMSPORT — Penn College Workforce Development staff members recently assisted industry leaders — including two Penn College alumni — at a two-day class focusing on the essential elements of thermoforming.

The course, which attracted 23 professionals from 13 companies, was held in conjunction with Kiefel Technologies Inc. and took place at the company’s Dover, New Hampshire, facility.

The Thin Guage Thermoforming Workshop covered materials and finished product as it applies to thin gauge (roll-fed) thermoforming applications. Thin gauge thermoforming is a manufacturing process designed to create lightweight, durable plastic parts commonly used for packaging, medical trays and consumer goods.

“Learning this skill is important because it helps in creating high-quality uniform products, reduces waste by using thin sheets of plastic effectively and enables design flexibility for complex shapes and custom packaging solutions,” said Beth J. Zielewicz, Penn College Workforce Development program coordinator. “It is a versatile process used among multiple manufacturing sectors.”

The primary instructor for the workshop was Brandon B. Zechman, a process engineer for Kiefel Technologies Inc. and a 2022 graduate of the Penn College plastics & polymer engineering technology program. He was assisted by 2024 alumnus Andrew B. Folk, who is a tooling and process engineer at Kiefel Technologies Inc. Additional support was provided by Jimmy Shah, Impact Plastics; John Moy, CMT Materials; Julie Griswold, Sharples; Paul Czerepuszko, Optris Infrared Sensing LLC; Reagan G. McCoy, Penn College Workforce Development program manager, polymers; and Zielewicz.

Sponsored by host Keifel Technologies Inc., the location drew registrants from eight states.

“This class has given me an understanding of why we do things in specific ways,” said John Hubbard, a maintenance manager at Plastics Ingenuity in Cross Plains, Wis. “I can take the knowledge to further improve our process, as well as troubleshoot issues that arise from running new or different jobs.”

Thermoforming trainings, which are beneficial for packaging and process engineers, manufacturing technicians, setup technicians and quality assurance specialists, are created to help industry leaders reduce costs by using less materials and facilitating faster production cycles, Zielewicz said.

“It is designed to upskill new and seasoned set-up operators and technicians to improve efficiency in the setup and safe operation of thermoforming equipment,” she said. “This also helps companies develop and offer lightweight, durable products for packaging goods. Training can help reduce scrap waste. Therefore, it reduces production costs and environmental impact.”

The Penn College Workforce Development Polymers Lab is a leading resource for education, training and technical support across the plastics industry. Serving manufacturers, resin suppliers, mold builders and equipment providers, the lab offers access to advanced material-testing capabilities, industrial-scale processing equipment and world-class training facilities.

Programs range from hands-on workshops and customized training to apprenticeships and online learning, all designed to strengthen skills in areas such as extrusion, injection molding, rotational molding, thermoforming and related processes. In addition to training, the lab provides technical assistance and consulting services to help companies improve operations and innovate. To learn more, call 570-327-4775 or email wdpolymers@pct.edu.

Penn College offers a bachelor’s degree in polymer engineering technology and an associate degree in polymer technology. Both boast 100% overall job placement.

Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.