Areas of Work

The functional areas in the plastics industry are broadly divided into three different categories, including production, marketing and management.

Involves not only the production of basic raw materials, but also the designing of products. Professionals employed in the production process include chemical engineers and polymer technologists. Chemists are also often employed in production.

The production of raw materials is done by compounding, blending and modifying the polymers in large reactors. The final product is precipitated, filtered and dried and then converted into molding powder and chips, which are then used as raw materials for the production of plastics.

Before beginning the production process, the designer has to identify the product, depending upon which, the material to be used is decided upon. And depending upon the material used, the selection of the processing operation is made.

Is handled by the companies producing plastic goods or separate marketing companies. These companies appoint marketing and sales executives to handle the marketing of plastic materials or of finished items. These could be for industrial users or general consumers and requires adequate knowledge of the end usage of the plastic and of the qualities and properties of the material.

Is normally the task of qualified engineers, especially those possessing specialized knowledge in the area of plastics technology, and management graduates, who are appointed as managers in companies dealing with the production and sales of plastic products. These could include toys and household wares, industrial components in various shapes and sizes, and also parts for refrigerators, automobiles, radio and television sets, paints, synthetic textiles, and a variety of other products.