Shell Polymers - Real Stories

March 01, 2024

Partnering to fill the industry skills gap

Skilled manufacturing professionals are in high demand. Shell Polymers and the Pennsylvania College of Technology are teaming up to fill the gap — and shape the future of plastics for the better.

Filling the industry skills gap (PDF, 4MB)

A woman wearing safety glasses writes formulas on a clear screen

(Real)ationships are built on common ground

In 2018, Shell Polymers gave the Pennsylvania College of Technology a gift of $250,000. The purpose? To produce highly skilled graduates interested in pursuing careers in the plastics industry.

Penn College is using the funds to enhance and upgrade its existing plastics academic and research lab — now known as the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence. The college offers both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in plastics and polymer technology, as well as operating a resource center to help plastics companies with R&D and employee training.

A woman pours material into a scientific instrument inside a laboratory

“When I found out that Penn College was partnering with Shell Polymers, I decided that was where I wanted to go,” says Heather Fennell, technical services engineer for Shell Polymers.

Classroom education gets real

Garrett Rogos, a student at Penn College, is part of that talent pool.

A male student works with a plastic mold inside a laboratory

“The future of plastics is very exciting,” he says. “You can really make a difference in how the world interacts with polymers for the better.”

Developing industry-changing innovation means getting hands on, and that’s what updates to the lab are making possible. Rogos estimates that for every one hour he spends in the classroom, he spends three hours in the lab

working on machines. He and other students participate in molding trials, materials testing and product validation.

“Every day is dynamic, being on the leading edge of new materials being developed,” says Chris Gagliana, project manager at Penn College.

Watch the video to see some of the real-world work happening inside the Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence at Penn College.

A man pours plastic powder from a container inside a laboratory

The partnership enables our customers to access the talent pool we’re helping develop here.”

Heather Fennell

Technical Services Engineer

Partnership

Penn College & Shell Polymers

Title:

Partnering to fill the industry skills gap | Shell Polymers

Duration:

1:12 minutes

Transcript:

(DESCRIPTION)

Lights flicker on in a factory. Workers suddenly appear.

(SPEECH)

The future of plastics is very exciting.

(DESCRIPTION)

Text, Garrett Rogos.

(SPEECH)

You can really make a difference how the world interacts with polymers for the better.

(DESCRIPTION)

Student, Penn College. Garrett studies a graph.

(SPEECH)

When I found out that Penn College was partnering with Shell Polymers, I decided that was where I wanted to go.

(DESCRIPTION)

Chris Gagliano, Project Manager.

(SPEECH)

Every day is dynamic.

(DESCRIPTION)

Chris puts on protective glasses.

(SPEECH)

Being on the leading edge of new materials being developed

(DESCRIPTION)

Heather Fennell grabs gear from a locker.

(SPEECH)

The partnership enables our customers to access the talent pool that we're helping develop here.

(DESCRIPTION)

Garrett reads.

(SPEECH)

For every one hour we're in the class, we have three hours in the lab, hands on, with machines.

Moulding trials, materials testing, and product validation

(DESCRIPTION)

A man turns a machine dial.

(SPEECH)

The Shell Polymer Centre of Excellence helps our customers work on state-of-the-art equipment.

(DESCRIPTION)

A heat map appears.

(SPEECH)

Providing efficiencies, speed on their own production lines.

(DESCRIPTION)

A man enters a large machine and grabs a box formed inside.

(SPEECH)

What's really exciting is the amount of improvements the partnership can make.

Innovations that will change the industry.

Helping to shape the future of polymers.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

(DESCRIPTION)

Text, (Real)ationships start here. Shell Polymers making the experience matter.

Logo, Shell.

[AUDIO LOGO]

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Partnering to fill the industry skills gap

(Real)ationships are built on common ground

Classroom education gets real

Partnership

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