By Eric Wobschall
Design Intern
Hello all,
My name is Eric Wobschall and I have been spending the summer as a Design Intern here at Avantech. I currently attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie and will be graduating in December with a degree in Industrial Design and a minor in Business Administration.
Before my internship began, I had only a brief knowledge of rotational molding. And by brief I mean we covered the process in two days of my polymers class and rotomolded a duck decoy. I understood the general idea behind rotomolding (you fill the mold with plastic, it gets hot and rotates, it cools down, and you are left with a hollow part) but I had no idea how complex the parts could become. The molds I have seen so far have ranged all the way from large to small and simple to complex.
I am halfway through my internship and I can’t believe how fast the time has gone. I have had the opportunity to work on many different projects and experience many different aspects of the company. I continue to learn something new every day and have been fortunate enough to work alongside knowledgeable individuals who are always willing to teach me and answer any questions I may have.
The rotational molding industry is growing and improving every day. As the ability to mold more complex parts increases, rotational molding becomes a viable manufacturing process for more and more products. Not only are many new products being created in the rotational molding industry, but many products are being converted to rotational molding due to its benefits over other processes. I believe that the more industrial designers are exposed to the capabilities of rotational molding, the more products we will see being produced in the industry. With tight tolerances and complex geometry, rotationally molded products are not only highly functional but they can also be aesthetically pleasing.
It has been exciting to see such a wide array of products and designs come through Avantech. I have seen both industrial and consumer products covering a broad spectrum of industries from agriculture to recreation. As a designer it has been fun to experience such a variety of products and it has opened my eyes to many possibilities. I look forward to the second half of my internship and I am excited to see what I will learn next.
Eric Wobschall is an Industrial Design & Business Administration student entering his senior year at University of Wisconsin – Stout in Menomonee, Wisconsin. A native of Owatonna, Minnesota, Eric hopes to contribute his design expertise to the rotational molding industry following his college graduation this December.
