SIGMA donates US$3.7 million in polymer software to Pennsylvania college

Polymer simulation software provider SIGMA Plastic Services Inc. has donated US$3.7 million of software to Behrend College, at Penn State Erie’s School of Engineering, in Pennsylvania.

According to SIGMA, its SigmaSoft polymer process simulation software will help provide technical capabilities for the College’s soon-to-open Medical Plastics Center of Excellence and current Medical Plastics certificate program, two initiatives designed to address the emerging medical plastics market. The U.S. market is growing at a rate of five per cent to 10 per cent annually, and sales are projected to reach US$6.55 billion in 2012.

Penn State Behrend’s Medical Plastics Center of Excellence is an applied research and outreach center that supports companies in the development of new medical devices and packaging, technologies that could not exist without advanced plastics materials. SigmaSoft software, designed for the molding of advanced elastomer, silicone and thermoplastic materials, supports these technologies.

Students enrolled in the Plastics Engineering Technology bachelor’s degree program can pursue the Medical Plastics certificate. The 14-credit certificate program prepares graduates for careers in medical product development with courses in advanced materials, new product design, manufacturing, and FDA regulatory issues. According to a SIGMA press release, this is the only medical plastics certificate or degree program offered in the U.S. at the undergraduate level.

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., SIGMA Plastics Services is part of SIGMA Engineering GmbH, headquartered in Aachen, Germany.