Plastics software company renews commitment to Penn College

A leading polymer engineering software provider has renewed its support of Pennsylvania College of Technology and its students.

Plastic Flow LLC recently provided its updated software package to the college at a substantial discount, valued at $323,725.  The design software allows for three-dimensional simulation of the flow in extrusion dies.

The software package includes main programs polyXtrue and OptiXtrue, as well as two support programs: eXtruemat and PELDOM. Plastic Flow’s commitment is recognized on the College’s Donor Wall.

“Penn College’s polymer engineering technology program plays a vital role in producing the future process engineers of the plastics industry,” said Mahesh Gupta, who founded Plastic Flow and serves as its president and chief executive officer. “Plastic Flow is proud to provide its advanced extrusion simulation technology software as one more component to the students’ professional development. We are pleased to continue the partnership and look forward to supporting the program.”

Kirk M. Cantor, professor of plastics and polymer technology, introduced Gupta to Penn College several years ago. An industry expert, Cantor has written a textbook on extrusion and authored chapters devoted to extrusion in five other books.

“As a result of the generous support over the years of Mahesh Gupta and Plastic Flow, we have been able to develop curriculum that allows our students to graduate with a skill set that almost no other college graduate possesses, one that is highly sought after in industry,” Cantor said. “Billions of pounds of polymer are extruded into valuable products annually, yet the design of the dies used to produce these products is generally subject to trial and error. However, we can teach our students how to utilize the science and engineering built into the polyXtrue software to significantly improve the die design process. This makes our graduates very valuable.”

Adam C. Barilla, assistant professor of plastics and polymer technology and co-department head, added: “Extrusion die design is a very important but difficult skill to master. The polyXtrue software allows students to gain instant feedback on design choices and evaluate how material properties and die geometry will affect the production of the part.”

Penn College is one of seven institutions nationwide offering plastics degrees that are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. Students may seek a bachelor’s degree in plastics & polymer engineering technology or an associate degree in plastics & polymer technology.

For information on majors offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520.

Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.