Interest in energy curing technologies – ultraviolet light (UV), UV LED and electron beam (EB) – continues to grow, as industries see the benefits of these technologies for production and bottom line costs. Printing and coatings are among the business segments that are successfully utilizing radiation curing, which is now a $1 billion industry in North America alone.
 
There is a lot to know about radiation curing, and providing specialized training for end users and manufacturers is an important step. With that in mind, RadTech International North America and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) have partnered to create online learning courses through the Radiation Curing Program (RCP).
 
Dr. Charles M. Spuches, associate provost for outreach at SUNY-ESF, said that SUNY-ESF saw a clear need for training employees in the growing field of radiation curing.
 
“SUNY-ESF recognized that the rapidly expanding radiation curing industry offered extensive opportunities in manufacturing jobs,” Dr. Spuches said. “We now have available two professional development short courses and three advanced online courses to help meet those opportunities.”
 
The target audience for the RCP courses is people who want to enhance their professional development, whether they are currently working in the radiation curing profession or just want to get a better understanding of the technology, and students interested in pursuing a graduate-level education in this area.
 
“If a company manufactures radiation curables, or is a user or potential users of radiation curables, these courses can help keep improve its competitive edge,” Dr. Spuches added. “It is the perfect way to complement in-house training for radiation curing professionals.”
 
The two Professional Development Short Courses are:
•  Basics of UV Curable 3D Printing: A short course that introduces the newest applications for UV technology with enormous growth potential.
•  Principles of Energy Curing Technologies: A short course geared for those wanting obtain a working knowledge of the technology and can be completed in four to six hours.
 
The three Advanced Online Courses are full semester courses offered on a non-credit or graduate-level credit basis, and start four times a year. When all three advanced courses are taken for credit, a student can receive an Advanced Certificate in Radiation Curing from SUNY.  The Advanced Online Courses are:
• Introduction to Polymer Coatings.
• Radiation Curing of Polymer Technologies.
• Radiation Curing Equipment, Instrumentation and Safety.
 
Dr. Spuches said that the courses are all self-paced and online, so they can be taken whenever time allows, provided the course is completed within the specified time period.
 
“This offers students the ability to quickly and easily pick up where they left off and go to specific sections for review,” he added. “The structure allows students to learn on their schedule, at their own pace. The advanced courses include opportunities to communicate with the instructor and other students through an interactive ‘blackboard’ and email.”
 
The RCP courses are taught by experienced industry experts, including:
 
• Dr. Susan Bailey – Technical Development Manager Acrylates, IGM Resins
• Dr. Molly Hladik – Senior Applications Engineer, Brewer Science, Carbon Nanotechnologies Pipeline
• Dr. Mark Driscoll – Radiation Chemist, founding Co-director of the Institute for Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing, SUNY ESF
•  Dan Montoney – Chief Technology Officer, Rapid Cure Technologies
•  Kevin J. Daley – Vice President, TTG Thomas Technology Group
• Dr. Mike Idacavage –Vice President of Business Development, PL Industries
 
RCP is a collaborative effort. RCP was developed with support, in part, by a U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Technical Skills Training Grant, to enhance American jobs and global competitiveness.
 
Its advisory board includes RadTech International North America, Manufacturers Association of Central New York, New York State Department of Labor, Rapid Cure Technologies, Onondaga County Workforce Investment Board, Central New York Technology Development Organization, New York Academy of Sciences, Center, State Corporation for Economic Opportunity, Partners for Education & Business and New York State Energy Research Development Authority.
 
The short courses are $295. The advanced courses are $1,296 for anyone taking them on a non-credit basis or New York State residents taking them for credit; and $2,523 for credit if the student is an out-of-state resident. RadTech members are eligible for discounts for any non-credit course.
 
There are group discounts as well. Excluding courses taken for credit, a 20% group discount per course is available for three or more participants from the same organization. If a company enrolls five or more students in a advanced course, it is eligible for a unique class that can be started at any time.
 
For more information on these courses, please check the web site at www.radcuring.com, or contact Doreen Monteleone, SUNY-ESF’s program manager, outreach and recruitment, at [email protected].