Science & Outdoors
The finished paper product is wound onto a spool so it can later be cut and sheeted into useable sizes.
Paper science department offers career opportunities
Science & Outdoors Reporter
Notebooks, toilet paper, envelopes, boxes, books and much more all start from scratch, are run through paper machines and end up as finished products.
Not many students look into the paper science major because they might not understand the benefits and security that paper products have for us today.
Not only does University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point offer the major to interested students, but it has its very own paper machine and have used it for quite some time. The paper machine was donated in 1992 from SD Warren’s research facility in Maine. It was installed from 1995-1996.
Even though the paper science and engineering major is very rewarding, many students choose not to pursue it. The major might turn students away because of the amount of chemistry and math, and also is a guaranteed five year program because all students are required to take a nine-month co-op within a paper mill to get experience.
”The co-ops are very rewarding and we are able to learn how the industry works at a young age. When we get back to school, we are able to apply what we have learned from the mills and have something to compare it with in our classes,” said Phil Theyerl, junior paper science and engineering major.
The major itself isn’t the only thing that helps these students prepare for their future. Many of the paper science classes use the paper machine. The students are able to get hands-on experience with what they are going to work with in their professional careers. This includes everything from running the machine themselves to designing and implementing ways to improve the machine.
They also get to learn about troubleshooting, maintenance, safety and the clean up of the different pieces of equipment. “They have a lot of exposure to the machine, and because of this they can ‘hit the ground’ running when they get out into the industry,” said Kelly Klaas, lab manager in the paper science and engineering department.
UW-SP is the only college in the state that runs its own paper machine. Although this is only a small machine, it can make a maximum of 200 feet of paper per minute, but on average runs around 150 feet per minute. The paper machine does not run twenty-four hours, seven days a week like in a paper mill, but is used only when needed.
The art department just recently started using the ends of the paper rolls for some work. Paper has been made for different projects on campus, but nothing steady.
The paper from the machine is for sale in the University Store (by the gift products). It is water-marked with Stevie Pointer and says ‘UWSP Pointer Bond’ on it; if it is held up to the light you can see the water mark. Students are currently working on adding gold and purple paper to the mix with the paper 475 class,” said Klaas.
The paper machine isn’t only used for learning purposes. UW-SP is able to give back to the community by making paper for a small speaker cone company. The paper machine makes about 20,000 lbs. of paper for them a year. It is the black speaker paper that they dip and form into speaker cones that go into guitar amps.
Some students and faculty believe that the paper machine at UW-SP will continue to give back to many, including students and businesses that benefit from its use and help to improve the paper science and engineering department.
