Gefran hosts Manufacturing Day for students to support education outreach

Gefran Inc. (North Andover, Mass., U.S.), a manufacturer of sensors, power and process controls, and other industrial components, is hosting its first Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) event for students in October at its Massachusetts plant to support the company’s education and professional outreach.

Championed annually by The Manufacturing Institute (Washington, D.C., U.S.), the purpose of MFG Day is to introduce U.S. students and educators to career opportunities in manufacturing. Working in partnership with the Eastern New England Section of the Society of Plastics Engineers (ENESPE) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) student club associated with the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Plastics Engineering Department, Gefran will welcome students to its North Andover plant on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Undergraduate and graduate students will tour the facility, learn about operations, lean manufacturing, technical sales, get career-related questions answered and see technology demonstrations.

“We are thrilled to collaborate on Gefran’s Manufacturing Day to advance manufacturing technology and innovation for plastics engineers,” said Dr. Davide Masato, ENESPE technical programming chair. “Our commitment lies in continuously inspiring the next generation of young engineers and problem solvers.”

Gefran Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer and subsidiary of Gefran S.p.A. (Provaglio d’Iseo, Italy) with more than five decades of experience. “Gefran designs and builds the instruments, sensors and control devices used by the composite materials machine builders and machinery end users,” says John Thoma, Gefran’s new business development manager. “Our wide range of PID controllers, data recorders, solid-state relays, indicators and power controllers can all fit into many applications related to composites and advanced materials manufacturing.”

Gefran’s controllers are used in thermal processing functions from open molding to closed molding, cast polymer molding and other applications; data recorders document the material manufacturing process, and provide historical documentation for understanding operational throughput and quality management; and solid-state relays and power controllers are used in the operation of electric heating devices, a pre-dominant method for curing and processing composite materials. 

Another of Gefran’s technologies, which is being demoed in upcoming events is the QE2008-W wireless strain measurement system. “The QE2008-W helps composite manufacturers measure strain measurement wirelessly, and this sensor is used on the tie bars of injection molding machines, die-casting machines and stamping presses. It is sometimes used on flat surfaces when manufacturers need to check the clamping force,” explains Nikunj Patel, a Gefran product and technical specialist. “The QE2008-W helps our customers reduce maintenance time by protecting the tie bars and molds from damage, and it helps manufacturers ensure consistency and quality outcomes by analyzing the profile of cavity pressure. It can be used by machine manufacturers to increase product quality and service in composites, advanced materials and thermoplastics.”

Gefran is attending three professional expositions in October and November — Heat Treat 2023 in Michigan, CAMX in Georgia and the AMI Plastics Compounding World Expo in Ohio.