Student Project Sponsorship
The
Student Project Sponsorship program, launched in Fall 2024, aims to engage university students (enrolled in a plastics-related program with exposure to blow molding) in real-world blow molding projects. Industry professionals from the SPE Blow Molding Board of Directors design projects that align with academic curricula.
These projects typically span two to three semesters. Students meet bi-weekly with board members to share progress, address challenges, and receive feedback, creating valuable networking opportunities with experts from machine OEMs, tooling, resin suppliers, converters, and brand owners.
At the conclusion, students present their work to the SPE BM Board during its spring meeting, held at the host university, and later showcase their project at the upcoming Annual Blow Molding Conference.
2024 Student Project:
University: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Students: Luke Adams, Brady Dore, Sarah Ross
Project Title: New Product Development: Concept to Reality
2025 Student Project:
University: Pittsburgh State University
Students: Tyler Glass, Hayden Sprague, Emily Welch
Project Title: Effect of PCR Content on Blow Molded HDPE Bottles
Project Summary:
Members of the SPE BM BOD kicked off another student project sponsorship in September, this time working with three students from Pittsburg State University; Tyler Glass, Hayden Sprague, and Emily Welch. The project investigates how varying levels of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) affect blow molding performance and material properties for high-viscosity lubricant bottles. It aims to identify optimal let-down ratios (up to 50%) that maintain critical mechanical requirements—such as drop impact, top load, creep resistance, and ESCR—while meeting new e-commerce durability standards and traditional distribution constraints.
Through systematic testing of processing parameters and physical properties, the study will compare virgin and PCR-modified HDPE to quantify trade-offs between sustainability and performance, ultimately providing recommendations for formulations that enable efficient, high-quality, and environmentally responsible packaging solutions."
