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AIM and PennWest Partner to Launch Plastics Injection Molding Degree ProgramAIM and PennWest Partner to Launch Plastics Injection Molding Degree Program

The partnership will address increasing demand for skilled workers in the injection molding industry by providing students with a fast-track path to education and career success.

David Hutton

January 15, 2025

2 Min Read
AIM and PennWest officials sign agreement
Dr. James D. Fisher (left), provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest); Dr. Jonathan Anderson, President of PennWest; John Beaumont, CEO/CTO of Beaumont/American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute; and David Hoffman, Director of AIM, sign a partnership agreement for a concentration in Plastics Injection Molding under the PennWest Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology degree.American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute

The American Injection Molding Institute (AIM) is partnering with Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) to develop a new concentration in plastics injection molding under the university’s Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology (AAS-AT) degree. 

According to the partners, this collaboration will address the increasing demand for skilled workers in the injection molding industry by providing students with a fast-track path to education and career success in the field. 

A partnership for success

Dr. James D. Fisher, provost and vice president for academic affairs at PennWest, expressed excitement about the new partnership. 

“We are thrilled to partner with AIM to provide students with an accelerated path to academic success,” he said. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to recognizing real-world skills and enhancing career opportunities for learners.”

The program offered will give students an industry-focused curriculum designed to prepare them for a variety of roles in the injection molding field. Graduates of AIM’s ANSI/ASTM-accredited programs will also be able to apply up to 25 Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credits toward their degree.

Program highlights

The curriculum combines AIM’s hands-on training with PennWest’s academic coursework, offering students a well-rounded education in both the theory and practice of plastics injection molding. 

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AIM’s coursework will cover topics such as plastics materials, mold design, injection molding processing, part design, and Autodesk Moldflow simulation. PennWest’s coursework will complement this by preparing students for careers in roles like process engineer, product designer, project engineer, tooling engineer, and more.

A key feature of the program is the use of AIM’s state-of-the-art injection molding lab, where students will receive practical, hands-on experience while attending courses either in-person or online at one of PennWest’s multiple campuses.

The program’s instructors include experienced plastics engineers with backgrounds in design and manufacturing, ensuring students receive world-class training. AIM’s programs are the first in the plastics injection molding industry to be accredited to the ANSI/ASTM E2659 education standard.

Career advancement opportunities

Graduates of the program will not only earn their AAS-AT degree but will also receive multiple certifications that will help them stand out in the job market. 

These include:

  • ANSI Accredited Plastics Technology & Engineering (PTE) certificate

  • ANSI Accredited Molding 1 certificate

  • ANSI Accredited Molding 2 certificate

  • Autodesk Moldflow Associate certification

  • OSHA-30 certification

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“The unique structure of this degree improves workforce readiness and the ability to drive innovation by combining rigorous academic instruction with practical hands-on experience,” said David Hoffman, director of the AIM Institute.

The program is set to launch in the fall of 2025, although students can begin completing AIM coursework immediately.

With this new program, AIM and PennWest are positioning themselves to help bridge the skills gap in the plastics injection molding industry and support the next generation of manufacturing professionals.

Headquartered in Erie, PA, the AIM Institute provides education and training to the plastic injection molding industry. 

PennWest provides accessible education that cultivates career-ready, life-long learners and leaders who enrich and engage each other, their communities, the region, and beyond through innovation, academic excellence, and empowering environments.

Those interested in this opportunity may contact Dr. Peter Kuvshinikov at [email protected]

About the Author

David Hutton

David Hutton is a journalist with more than 25 years of experience as an editor and writer with daily newspapers and trade publications. 

A Kent State University graduate, he was born in Canton, Ohio, and is a lifelong writer. David started his professional career as a reporter and page designer with the Parkersburg Sentinel in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He returned to his hometown, taking a role with the Massillon Independent, where he rose to the position of managing editor.

David’s career next took him to October Research Corp., where he worked for trade publications in the real estate settlement services industry before returning to daily newspapers as news editor for The Times-Reporter in Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio. While there, he oversaw design of the newspaper and won an Associated Press award for Best Page 1 Design. 

In 2012, David joined the staff of Plastics News as research analyst. He was responsible for the production of data research reports providing analysis of various segments and end markets of the plastics industry. He also produced content for the publication. 

In 2019, David joined Ophthalmology Times, serving as managing editor of the publication covering the latest advancements in the ophthalmology industry for physicians and clinicians. 

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