Contact: Jennifer Dills
(202)974-5282

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW COURSES ADDED TO PLASTICS LEARNING NETWORK

Moldmaker, Machinery Segments to Support Program

Washington (May 23, 2000) — The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) and its partners have added two new courses to its innovative Plastics Learning Network distance learning initiative, enabling plastics processing workers to receive interactive training in preparation for the SPI National Certification in Plastics (NCP) exam.

The new courses, "Preparation for Injection Molding Certification" and "Preparation for Extrusion Certification," are designed for training machine operators, first-line supervisors and production personnel and will be offered beginning this September.

"The new courses are part of SPI's commitment to supporting a coordinated workforce development program that integrates training and certification," said Gary Moore, SPI director of workforce development. "Providing courses that specifically prepare operators to achieve national certification of their skills and knowledge answers a very clear industry need. We are grateful to have such fine partners in this effort."

PLN Gains Support of Moldmaker, Equipment Segments

In a related development, SPI's Machinery and Moldmakers Divisions recently announced they would contribute funding for the PLN.

"Members of these divisions recognize the tremendous value of this kind of educational outreach, not only to our customers, but to the welfare of the entire plastics industry," noted Walt Bishop, executive director for the Moldmakers and Machinery divisions. "We're very pleased to be among the initial supporters of this important industry effort." Each division will provide $20,000 in funding to support the program in its initial stages, Bishop said.

The Plastics Learning Network (PLN) is a cooperative effort of SPI, South Carolina Educational Television and the Polymers Center of Excellence. The program lets employees receive interactive plastics training through their local community college or plant site. Because courses are offered via a live satellite link, participants can ask questions and receive answers in real time, while travel costs and plant downtime are dramatically decreased in comparison with the traditional classroom setting.

Rick Sturgis, director of SPI's Southern Region, said the courses were developed in close coordination with industry experts including experienced plastics educators. "We're building on the success of the initial Plastics Learning Network program to reach a wider range of companies with practical, convenient and relevant training," Sturgis said.

The PLN currently offers courses on principles and practices of successful injection molding and extrusion, geared toward improving the skills of experienced workers in these fields. Three successful pilots of these courses have been given since the spring of 1999, reaching hundreds of plastics industry workers representing a diversity of processing companies and OEMs. SPI is currently seeking to expand the PLN to other partners and other media as well.

The National Certification in Plastics (NCP) exam was developed as part of a major industry-wide effort to identify the skills and knowledge necessary for productive plastics processing employees in injection molding, extrusion, blow molding and thermoforming. The certification is intended to meet the industry's critical workforce development and retention objectives by promoting productivity, job satisfaction and a clear career path for operators.

Programs to be on Display at NPE 2000

Both the Plastics Learning Network and National Certification in Plastics programs will be part of an impressive SPI pavilion at the NPE 2000 exposition June 19-23, 2000 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

Industry experts will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about the PLN, NCP and general workforce development issues affecting plastics. In addition, SPI will offer demos and on-site registration for the NCP exam. The SPI pavilion will be located in the Grand Concourse Lobby of McCormick Place.

The fall course offerings for the PLN include:

Preparation for Injection Molding Certification: September 5,7,12,14,19,21,26,28 and October 3,5,10,12,17,19 from 4-6pm ET

Principles and Practices of Successful Injection Molding: October 24,26,31 and November 2,7,9,14, 16 from 4-6pm ET

Preparation for Extrusion Certification: October 4,9,11,16,18,23,25,30 and November 1,6,8,13,15 from 4-6pm ET

Principles and Practices of Successful Extrusion: September 6,11,13,18,20,25,27 and October 2, 4-6pm ET

Companies wishing to register or learn more may log on to www.plasticslearning.org or contact Rick Sturgis, (864) 239-2939, ext. 2; e-mail rsturgis@socplas.org.

Founded in 1937, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc is the trade association representing one of the fastest-growing manufacturing industries in the United States. SPI's 1,700 members represent the entire plastics industry supply chain, including processors, machinery and equipment manufacturers and raw material suppliers. The U.S. plastics industry employs 1.5 million workers and provides $304 billion in annual shipments.

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