Key Plastics launches Transition Year Training Program.

The ongoing shortage of trained and qualified engineers is nothing new to the Irish manufacturing sector and Key Plastics like many other SMEs have found it difficult to recruit these trained personnel in previous years.

With this in mind, Key Plastics felt it would be important for potential future engineers to get a taste of what their industry is all about before leaving school and having to select a university or career.

The team at Key have put together a simple “hands-on” five-day training module designed around transition year students who would like to understand more about the entire plastics manufacturing process.

The program exposes the students to some of the basic principles of the manufacturing process such as:

1. Health, Safety & First Aid
2. The Injection Moulding Process
3. Mould Manufacturing & Precision Engineering
4. Quality Control & Metrology
5. 3d Printing

Each module is overseen by a qualified person who explains their own pathway into their career and the students can discuss details around each of these careers with their instructor.

The final day of the course provides the student with the opportunity of manufacturing either a 3d printed or machined part for them to bring home.

“I really enjoy being a part of the TY program because I get the opportunity to show young men and women the careers and opportunities they could have in their futures. I make it a point to discuss the Leaving Certificate with them and my experiences in college and my apprenticeship to, in a way, ease the anxiety that I know many young students have when coming into the last two years of school…” Shannon Kearney (Metrology Engineer)

Key have offered the TY program to a small number of local students from local schools and the feedback from the students and their parents has been very positive.

Contact Katie Delaney for available dates in 2024: [email protected]

*Please note that there are limited places available per year.