RRC: Industry and Rheology

College of Engineering
University of Wisconsin - Madison

Industry and Rheology

RRC and Wisconsin Industry

Vigorous industries are the lifeblood of the RRC for they involve novel, challenging and commercially relevant problems. RRC participation in industrial problem solving helps sustain Wisconsin industry. Wisconsin industries bringing ambitious rheology research projects to the RRC include cheese producers, plastics processors and pulp and paper manufacturers. One third of the nation's cheese is made in Wisconsin.

With more than $2.3 billion of plastic parts processed in Wisconsin each year, the Wisconsin plastics industry is among the largest per capita in America. The Wisconsin plastics industry has recorded the highest growth rate in the United States. Of the hundreds of plastics processors in Wisconsin, more than 150 export products from the United States; more than for any other kind of manufacturing. In recent years, the Wisconsin plastics industry grew faster than those in other states, with annual growth exceeding 10 percent.

More than $12 billion of Wisconsin forest products are shipped each year. The pulp and paper industry sustains more than 50,000 jobs and yields more than $100 million in revenues to the state of Wisconsin. This industry invests more than $400 million in capital improvement projects each year.

Graduate students in the Polymer Processing Research Group examine the strain distribution in a part produced on the thermoforming machine. (57K JPG)

Above, a plastic pipe extrusion operation at Freedom Plastics in Janesville, Wisconsin.(54K JPG)

Below, plastics processing problems are addressed on an industrial-scale injection molding machine.(65K JPG)

Industrial Interactions with the RRC

The center's concentration on basic research complements the extensive applied research conducted throughout industry, with its necessary concentration on the solution of immediate practical problems. Good contact between industry and the center promotes the rapid transfer of existing knowledge and new research results.

Industrial collaboration stimulates new basic investigations when the RRC learns of new phenomena and specific needs for new knowledge which arise in industrial investigations. With a continuing emphasis on research work of high quality, the interaction between university and industry provides increasing cross-fertilization to benefit both.

The RRC fosters close interaction with industry through consultation, seminars, and lecture courses organized by firms and technical societies. Closer relationships frequently develop into funded research arrangements. The funding can either be unrestricted gifts or detailed research contracts. Since the latter normally stipulate deliverables and dates, contract budgets must include indirect costs. The University has a standard contract and corresponding policies for industrial research with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Wisconsin Research Tax Credit

The State of Wisconsin extends a research tax credit (1983 Act 27) to Wisconsin companies investing in reseach in Wisconsin. Created in 1983, this research incentive is patterned after the federal Research Credit.

RRC Reports

The Rheology Research Center publishes reports of recent research efforts in the form of partial or full manuscripts to be submitted to refereed journals, or reports to funding agencies. The reports furnish rapid communication and stimulate comments and suggested improvements.

Visitors

Some facilities can be provided for industrial and academic visitors who wish to spend one or more semesters on the Madison campus to take advantage of the research opportunities and lecture courses in rheology. Inquiries may be directed to any member of the Executive Committee.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 22-Feb-2005 16:29:52 CST
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Address comments to rheology@engr.wisc.edu