FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 1, 2007

DONALD C. PAULSON HONORED WITH SPE LIFETIME ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ACHIEMENT AWARD

Chester, CT (June 1, 2006)… At the fourth annual “SPE Celebrates” Banquet, held on May 10, 2006 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City in Charlotte, North Carolina, Donald C. Paulson received the SPE Lifetime Engineering and Technical Achievement Award. Mr. Paulson has devoted his career to the plastics industry for nearly 40 years. He is the author of over 40 technical papers, 12 training courses on a variety of plastics types, a lecturer, seminar instructor, and industry consultant. He is also the founder of Paulson Training Programs based in Chester, Connecticut.  

"It is a great honor for my father to receive this award. His dedication and enthusiasm for advancements in plastics processing have been the foundation of many revolutionary developments in our industry.  From research, to process controls to training and simulation, his life’s work and passion has been dedicated to the industry and we’re pleased to announce this honor for his achievements,” says Scott Paulson, president of Paulson Training Programs, of his father’s award. 

In 1963, Mr. Paulson was hired by General Motors Institute to develop a processing laboratory and plastics training program for the company’s engineering students. Within six months he had the laboratory operating and the curricula written. “At the time, plastics processing was considered an art, and training was only taught by the limited opinions of experienced processors,” said Mr. Paulson. He felt that he must be able to explain the molding process based on mathematics and the physical laws with which students were familiar. He gathered real data by installing pressure transducers and thermocouplers inside the machine. His research resulted in the ability to accurately predict part shrinkage based on cavity pressure, and showed that molecular orientation was directly related to the flow rate and cooling time.

Mr. Paulson developed a method of injection molding polyester at his next position as the Research Manager for New Britain Machine Co. He developed Control Process Inc., and was contracted to supply NBM with what would be the first closed-loop molding machine control systems using cavity pressure transducers. In 1981, he started Paulson Training Programs, Inc. to provide training in process control for molding technicians. Paulson Training Programs has become the global industry leader in plastics training, with over 3,000 companies and 30,000 industry professionals having used the training courses he developed. Mr. Paulson’s latest accomplishment is in injection molding simulation software, similar to what is used to flight simulators for pilot training.

As an instructor, author, trainer, and patent holder, Donald C. Paulson has changed the plastics processing industry from an art form to a science-based logical system. His accomplishments allow industry personnel to predict and control all aspects of plastics processing properties.