LS Mtron has donated LS One 55E injection molding machines to Ferris State and Pittsburg State universities for their plastics processing programs.
In July, Ferris State, in Big Rapids, Mich., installed the 55-ton machine that LS Mtron demonstrated at NPE 2024.
“Our students are going to be really excited to see this machine when they get back to campus next month,” said Tom Van Pernis, associate professor and program coordinator for the school’s plastics engineering technology program, said at the time. “Our program would not be able to exist without support from industry. We are very grateful for LS Mtron’s support.”
Plastics education at Ferris began around 1968, with the bachelor’s in science program launching in the mid-1980s. The program has graduated more than 1,200 alumni and has a current enrollment of about 50.
The LS IMM will be used in Ferris’ Introductory Injection Molding and Advanced Injection Molding courses, both of which require individual lab finals.
Because the school’s introductory injection molding course is in the second semester on its checksheet, “students are able to acquire internships and are already quite proficient on machines,” Van Pernis said.
The No. 1 entry-level position that Ferris graduates land is process engineer, he added. “Having support from industry through consignment agreements means that they are able to experience and learn on production-level equipment in school so they can hit the ground running on Day 1.”
LS IMM USA is based in Duluth, Ga.
At Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan., the 55-ton LS One 55E has been installed in its Plastics Process Laboratory.
About 50 students are majoring in PSU’s two plastics programs: the four-year plastics engineering technology bachelor’s program and the two-year plastics technology associate’s program. The plastics degree program started in 1969 and graduates 15-20 students each year.
Pittsburg State also offers polymer chemistry bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is home to the Kansas Polymer Research Center.
The LS 55-tonner joins another 55-ton machine and an 85-ton machine in the 6,000-square-foot Plastics Processing Laboratory. In addition to injection molding capabilities, the lab includes several extrusion processes, blow molding, compression/transfer molding, thermoforming, rotational molding and others.
“All plastics students will gain hands-on experience with the LS Mtron machine as they complete three processing courses,” said Paul Herring, professor in PSU’s plastics engineering technology program. “These experiences build from simple operations for freshmen to more advanced scientific molding activities in their junior and senior years. The fall semester has started, and our advanced students worked with the machine on Day 2. They like the LS controls and seemed to pick up the layout and functions right away.”
With the new LS Mtron 55-ton machine, students can develop a scientific process on one machine and then move their mold to a second machine to attempt to match the process.
In addition to course activities, the new LS machine will be used for applied research by plastics engineering technology and polymer chemistry students, evaluating materials and molding test coupons.
Job placement rates for PSU’s 15 to 20 annual graduates “have been excellent. Because of the broad nature of study, graduates are able to specialize in areas that are of greatest interest to them,” Herring said.
LS Mtron staff also participate in the schools’ programs. For instance, one sales team member is a member of the Pittsburg State Industry Advisory Council. LS leadership also visit the programs regularly during the consignment period.
“We’re proud to give future plastics industry employees every possible advantage to learn the critical skills they will need to succeed in the evolving world of advanced manufacturing,” said Paul Caprio, president of sales for LS Mtron Injection Molding Machine USA.
