Real-World Manufacturing Experience For Peninsula College Composites Students

PORT ANGELES, Washington (February 09, 2018) – Over 50 million pounds of carbon fiber scrap goes into landfill globally each year.  The Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) in Port Angeles, WA is working to find unique and creative ways to keep carbon fiber scrap out of landfill and to create jobs in an economically distressed area.  With several new carbon-fiber products ready for rollout, the CRTC needs to add at least 12 more production team members in 2018.

Fortunately, on the other side of the building, Peninsula College is training a workforce that is already getting hands-on experience with these aerospace-grade materials. The college’s Advanced Manufacturing and Composites Program shares a location with the CRTC and this close proximity is proving beneficial to both parties.

As a part of the CRTC’s rapid expansion efforts, the CRTC and the Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) have selected Adam Jordan from Peninsula College for an IACMI Internship with the CRTC.  “This is an exciting honor and having the internship at the same location as the college program is incredibly convenient as it allows me to better balance my school schedule with valuable workplace experience,” said Jordan. In its third year, the IACMI internship program provides students with hands-on industry project experiences and the opportunity to learn from our nation’s top advanced composite manufacturing experts in academia and industry.  “The coupling of academic knowledge with field experiences in innovative, impactful projects such as composite recycling are an important part of our workforce strategy. Collaborating with the CRTC and Peninsula College to provide these experiences provides unique opportunities to students and significant value to the partners who often look at the program as a long term recruitment tool for high caliber employee talent.”, said Joannie Harmon Heath, IACMI Workforce Manager.

Jordan is new to the Peninsula, having relocated from North Carolina recently with his family. After serving as a stay-at-home dad for the last five years, he is now following his dream of building an airplane.  A substantial background in information technology has given him an attention to detail that he feels transfers well into working with composites.

“We are delighted to see Adam Jordan selected for the IACMI Internship and know that he will do a great job to help advance the fine work that is being done by the CRTC to repurpose carbon fiber scrap, and enable low-cost and lower energy materials to help achieve IACMI’s goals.”, said Kelly Visconti, Technology Manager – Advanced Manufacturing Office at U.S. Department of Energy.

“Adam has been a great addition to the CRTC team and really solidifies the value of having the Peninsula College Advanced Manufacturing program on site,” said Emily Dexter, people operations and communications manager for the CRTC. “Both organizations win in this situation. The students get real-world experience in a state-of-the-art educational facility, and the CRTC gets a well-educated and trained workforce.”

For more information, contact Emily Dexter at edexter@compositerecycling.org