Career as Plastic Technologist

Introduction Image: 

Plastics are being used since 100 years but some 'high-tech' plastics used in fields such as health and technology have gained significance since the 1970s. New types and forms of plastics with new or improved performance characteristics are being developed.

The field of Plastics engineering encompasses the processing, design, development, and manufacture of plastics products.

Job Prospects

The plastics and polymer industry is growing at a tremendous pace. The transport sector, household appliances and goods, packaging and electricity and telecommunication are major areas which demand plastics. This has created employment opportunities in this sector.

In the public sector, plastics engineers / technologists and technicians may find employment in the following organisations:

•    The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
•    Oil and Natural Gas Commission, and
•    Oil India Laboratories
•    Petrochemicals Engineering Plants
•    Indian Institute of Petroleum
•    Polymers Corporations of different states
•    Petroleum Conservation Research Association of India
•    Petrofiles Cooperative Limited and other such organizations.

Several private companies and MNCs that deal with the production and marketing of plastic commodities also offer employment to plastics technologists and engineers. Plastic technologists also play a significant role in the key sectors like agriculture, water management, automobiles and transportation, building and construction, telecommunication and electronics, defence and aerospace, computers and power transmissions and manufacture of artificial limbs.

Specialization

Designer and Processing Technologist are the specialized key players. Other professionals are Plastic Testing Technologist, Plastic Mould Makers and Mould designers. There are Plastic Part designers who design Industrial and Consumer parts by using high end CAD System. Mould Designers are professionals who know the entire process involved in the plastic industry and perform their duties on CAD/CAE/CAM System. Plastic Mould Makers convert the Mould design into reality. The Processing technician takes care of the production normally done in lots. The Polymers Professional studies and work on the science of polymer, more specifically raw material research and developments.

Key Skills

Working in plastic industry needs technological skill, to convert the knowledge into reality. Those who have a keen interest in physics and chemistry would be suitable for this area of work.
 
Eligibility

Candidates, who have successfully completed the 10+2 examinations, with a background in science, are eligible for the B.Tech courses in plastic technology. The eligibility criteria for the M.Tech programme in plastic technology are a B.Tech /BE degree in chemicals engineering or plastics and rubber technology or mechanical engineering or textiles technology. Candidates with an MSc degree in chemistry or physics are also eligible for the M.Tech program in plastic technology. Candidates who have qualified in the GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) exam will stand to gain during admissions to the M.Tech courses in most institutions.

Institutions

•    University College of Science & Technology, Calcutta
•    Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur
•    Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi 
•    Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur
•    Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
•    Delhi College of Engineering, New Delhi
•    Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology, Sangrur 
•    LD College of Engineering, Ahmedabad
•    University of Bombay, Deptt. Of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
•    Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune
•    Cochin University, Deptt. Of Polymer Science & Rubber Technology, Kochi –
•    Sri Jayachama Rajendra Copllege of Engineering, Mysore
•    Anna University, Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai
•    Alagappa College of Technology, Chennai
•    Crescent Engineering, Chennai
•    Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) – Chennai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Imphal, Lucknow. 

Remuneration

The starting salary of Plastic Technologists in public sector ranges from Rs.8,000 to Rs.10000 per month. In the private sector, the starting remuneration can be in the range of Rs.9,000 to Rs.12,000 per month. Those with M.Tech degree can earn as high as Rs.15,000 to Rs.20,000 per month at starting level.