Learn Papermaking with Hands-On Courses
Gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of the papermaking process in our two-day courses at the UW-Stevens Point Paper Science and Chemical Engineering lab. Ideal for professionals looking to enhance their skills, these courses blend classroom instruction with hands-on practice on a pilot paper machine. Organized by UWSP’s Paper Science and Chemical Engineering Department, the courses are taught by experienced faculty and staff. Participants will earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Whether you’re aiming to improve your on-the-job performance or gain valuable insights into the papermaking industry, this program is designed for you.
Who Should Attend
Who Should Attend? These courses are ideal for the following:
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- Newcomers to the paper industry
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- Machine operators and operating managers
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- Financial managers and sales representatives
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- Maintenance staff and training/development professionals
What to Expect
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- Schedule: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes lunch and refreshments.
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- Interactive learning: Mornings in the classroom focus on industry fundamentals.
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- Team exercises: Work in teams to perform tasks on the pilot paper machine and in the control room.
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- Facilitated discussions: Teams rotate and discuss observations, gaining insights for future tasks.
Join us to enhance your expertise in papermaking and take your career in the paper industry to the next level! Explore the course details below
Details
This introductory class features morning classroom sessions followed by afternoon sessions of guided exercises operating the UW-Stevens Point Fourdrinier pilot paper machine. It is designed for anyone who needs the basics, has transferred from another industry, is new to operations, does maintenance, or supervises employees. Topics covered in this course included pulp and papermaking operations, with more information about papermaking processes and equipment. More Information.
Dates
Learning Outcomes
- Safely participate in the operation of a pilot-scale paper machine
- Perform basic tests to monitor paper machine performance
- Expand your knowledge of paper machine operations
- Use what you learn to resolve upsets on the paper machine
- Broaden your awareness of how one part of the process impacts other operations
- Build your knowledge of paper industry vocabulary
Details
This two-day course provides an overview of common paper making additives used in the industry today. Clear descriptions of how and why these additives work are presented in classroom discussions. Attendees will participate in discussions focused on where additives are introduced into the paper making process, potential interactions with both equipment and other additives, and the relationship between additives and enhanced performance of paper. This course features hands-on exercises on the UW-Stevens Point pilot paper machine where attendees will produce paper with different additives. The group will also evaluate the properties of this paper using typical laboratory tests. Class size is limited to 16 for this course to provide ample opportunities for questions and discussion during classroom sessions and hands-on experiences on the paper machine. More Information.
Dates
Learning Outcomes
- Safely participate in the operation of a pilot-scale paper machine
- Recognize the difference between acid and alkaline papermaking
- Explain the difference between process additives and product improving additives
- Product and evaluate paper with rentention aid
- Produce and evaluate paper with filler
- Produce and evaluate paper with dyes
- Describe the difference between wet and dry strength additives
- Explain the purpose and use of foam control, pitch control and biocides
Details
This two-day class features morning classroom sessions followed by afternoon sessions of guided hands-on exercises using the UW-Stevens Point Fourdrinier pilot paper machine and testing the resulting paper. This combination has proven to be a highly effective and enjoyable way to gain fundamental knowledge of the industrial papermaking process. Class size is limited to 16 for this course to provide ample opportunities for questions and discussion during classroom sessions and hands-on experiences on the paper machine. More Information.
Dates
Learning Outcomes
- Safely participate in the operation of a pilot-scale paper machine
- Identify the relationships among sheet structure, formation, and paper properties
- Explain why paper making fibers floc
- Apply manufacturing techniques that minimize fiber floccing
- Perform both visual and instrumental measurement of formation
- Describe the difficulties associated with the correlation of visual formation assessment and instrument measurement
Details
It is designed for those working in paper converting, coatings, printing, plastic films, and packaging, especially in flexible packaging. The content will particularly benefit engineers, technicians, chemists, scientists, sales representatives, and customer service representatives. Representatives of companies that supply papers, paperboards, adhesives, inks, polymers, plastic films, and aluminum foils will also find this curriculum very useful. Participants will spend the morning in lecture and the afternoon in a hands-on lab experience on state-of-the-art equipment. Lunch and morning refreshments will be included on both days. More Information.
Dates
Learning Outcomes
- Understand coating and lamination fundamentals and their applications
- Recognize the various types of coaters and laminators and their applications
- Understand workflow and unit operations
- Recognize the raw materials and their properties and learn their influences on the final products
- Understand test basics
- Apply the knowledge in operation and quality control