NC State University CINC Tour Makes a Stop at the Facility of NCMEP Partner, The Polymers Center

The Connecting in North Carolina (CINC) Tour at NC State University is a comprehensive and engaging experience designed to showcase the university’s commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration and research excellence. This tour provides participants with an in-depth look at the state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge projects, and interdisciplinary initiatives that make NC State a leader in innovation and technology.

“The Connecting in North Carolina tour is an annual event that has occurred at least 18 times, possibly as many as 24. This tour aims to introduce new faculty and staff at NC State University to various places in North Carolina where the university has partnerships and collaborations. Participants learn about the remarkable initiatives across the state and gain experience engaging with partners and collaborators. Additionally, the tour aims to inspire faculty and staff to start their own research or learning initiatives, either with the partners encountered on the tour or by generating ideas about the possibilities that exist beyond the walls of NC State University,” stated Mike Nutt, project manager for the NC State University Office of Outreach and Engagement.

Over the past year, the NC State University Office of Outreach and Engagement collaborated with the NC State University Engagement Operations Council to identify potential sites to visit on the CINC Tour based on existing partnerships. These partnerships exemplify the type of research collaborations and economic development initiatives they aim to highlight.

On June 5, CINC stopped at The Polymers Center facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Polymers Center, a North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) partner, is a premier facility dedicated to advancing the polymer industry through education, technical support, and innovation. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the center is a hub for polymer research, development and application, offering a wide range of services to businesses, researchers, and students.

North Carolina Manufacturing Partnership (NCMEP) and NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) director Phil Mintz explained what the partnership entails, saying, “We wanted to build on his presentation and emphasize the importance of the partnership. That aspect was the main factor that made this tour unique.”

“Organizations like the Polymer Center blow people’s minds when they see it because many tour participants had no idea it existed. The tour helps to expose these hidden gems, revealing their significant impact,” commented Nutt.

During the tour, participants walked through the Polymers Center facility and observed compounds made using injection molding machines and molds. They also stopped at the material science lab, where they learned about the organization’s analytical equipment for flow, identification, and physical properties. “What makes the Center unique is that you can develop compound and mold test bars and determine the properties of each sample under one roof. We also can produce larger quantities of such compounds in the production area, all covered by NDAs. As impressive as all the equipment is, the combination of capabilities is the most valuable aspect of our work for researchers,” stated Shoemaker.

Bill Murphy, technical associate at the Polymer’s Center, says many professors in research positions attended and could benefit from using some of our resources here. “We would love to integrate more effectively with NC State’s research needs in any way possible. We have equipment you won’t typically find in a university setting, such as injection molding machines and extruders,” Murphy continued, “If you need compounds made, items molded, or specific tests conducted—such as capillary rheometry or tensile testing, which require expensive equipment used infrequently in a university setting—bring it here. We would be glad to work with you.”

“My preference for all projects is for the people who come here to get their hands dirty—restacking a screw, running a melt indexer or operating a molding machine–because they gain so much better an understanding of the process once they involve all their senses. Such an immersive experience helps them see how the polymer, machine, and product are interconnected,” commented Shoemaker.

Nutt plans to grow the tour experience and encourages continued promotion of the tour opportunities. “Talk about us. Let your bosses and partners know about the CINC tour. Achieving buy-in from our administrators is a goal. Keep promoting and helping us grow by identifying new places to visit.” The Connecting in North Carolina (CINC) Tour is an opportunity for new faculty/staff to better understand the University’s outreach across counties and the impacts of those efforts and put a face to the people doing the work and impacting their county and region.

“The creation of this university was to allow the public access to education,” said Rich Bonanno, vice provost for outreach and engagement at NC State. “Our overall work in outreach and engagement across campus is to help fulfill the land-grant mission. NC State has much to offer in sharing our knowledge beyond our campus borders.”