UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE ENGINEERING STUDENTS DESIGN MACHINERY FOR DELAWARE-BASED MANUFACTURER

Precision AirConvey (PAC) Provides Real World Experience For Senior Design Project

Proud of their achievement, University of Delaware engineering students Mac Cushing, Jeff Errickson, Dan Fitzpatrick and Rich Slack, show off an industrial roll of plastic that was split by a machine they helped develop with Precision AirConvey Corp. (PAC), Newark, Del. The collaboration is part of a university program designed to involve students in the scenario a young engineer is likely to experience as part of a team working in the industry.

Newark, DE: A team of engineering students from the University of Delaware designed an industrial machine for Precision AirConvey, Newark, Del., a manufacturer of waste handling systems and equipment for the plastics, converting, label, paper, recycling and other industries. A Senior Design Project for undergraduate mechanical engineers, the four students teamed with Precision AirConvey’s engineers and the company’s customer to simulate the scenario a young engineer is likely to experience as part of a design team working in industry. The result of this collaboration is the PAC Roll Splitter, which automatically removes waste paper, plastic, foil and other materials from defective and/or out-of-spec rolls. Until the PAC Roll Splitter’s introduction, these cumbersome rolls were manually cut with razors and the material was thrown away. Now the material can be easily reclaimed and reused while eliminating a personnel safety hazard.

"Industry leaders who complain about American engineering talent can have a greater impact on higher education and workforce preparation by getting personally involved with their local engineering schools and providing opportunities to earn real world experience,” says Tom Embley, CEO of Precision AirConvey and a University of Delaware alumnus who credits his own Senior Design Project experience with sparking his interest in a career in industry. “I couldn’t be more proud of these students and this program gives me great confidence in the future of industrial engineering in America.” PAC became involved in the program through Nate Cloud, the Projects Coordinator for the Senior Design course and University of Delaware alumnus who is also principle at Cirrus Engineering, Inc. in Wilmington, Del. “We look for companies with in-house engineers who care about working directly with the students,” says Mr. Cloud. “PAC has demonstrated a commitment to this program that we consider a model for a successful partnership."

For technical information and sales inquiries, contact Chris Lavelle, Precision AirConvey, 210 Executive Drive #6, Pencader Corporate Center, Newark, DE 19702; 302.999.8000; Fax 302.266.7559; www.precisionairconvey.com; get-facts@airconvey.com.