Zachary Potter
Colin Ryan
Joe Greene
Student Design - Second Place Winners
Monday, October 23, 2023
Plastic 101's - Session 3
4:00 - 4:55 p.m.
(see full conference schedule)
Presentation: Marking Buoy
Our team has designed an ocean buoy for fishing and or crabbing made from recycled high density polyethylene. We believe our design will provide additional rigidity when compared to other buoys in the same application due to other buoys in the space being made of inflatable vinyl materials. We plan for our design to be rigid with a thicker inner wall which would allow it to be able to withstand harsher conditions and forces. We plan to use extrusion blow molding to form the base of the buoy, while we will injection mold the cap due to the complex design with the two sets of threads.
Speaker Biography:
Zachary Potter is a dedicated senior at Penn State Behrend, specializing in Plastics Engineering Technology. He played a fundamental role in the conceptualization and design of an innovative ocean buoy for fishing and crabbing applications. Utilizing recycled high-density polyethylene, the team created a buoy with exceptional rigidity, surpassing traditional inflatable vinyl buoys. Employing expertise in extrusion blow molding and injection molding techniques, Zachary's team successfully developed a durable buoy equipped with GPS tracking capabilities, facilitating easy location, and reducing plastic waste. With a profound passion for sustainability and inventive design, Zachary aspires to contribute significantly to the fields of Blow Molding or Quality Engineering, while aiming for leadership roles to drive positive change and foster expertise within the industry.
Colin Ryan is a senior in the Plastics Engineering and Technology program at Penn State Behrend. Sustainability and making a positive impact on the plastics industry are his driving passions. Colin passionately believes that reducing waste and promoting sustainability can pave the way for a greener future. His goal is to embark on a career focused on sustainability in the plastics industry upon his graduation in May 2024.
Joe Greene is a Plastics Engineering student at Penn State Behrend with a growing passion for design. From Lego sets to designing structures and machines on video games like Minecraft, a passion to create and innovate has always been at the root of everything he has done and seeks to do in the future. Born in Warren Pennsylvania, Joe has a long family history in this small town with his ancestors designing and producing many products under the company G. G. Greene Enterprises since 1904. Joe looks forward to bringing his knowledge of Plastic Design and creativity to a local company or to a company in his favorite home away from home, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
