Key course information
- Course learning format: IN-PERSON COURSE
- More course dates: See below or click 'Register'
- Pricing: click 'Register' to preview
- Course duration: Two Days
- Location: Shropshire, UK
- Interactive learning face-to-face with expert tutors
- Electronic course notes
- Gain CPD Credits: Smithers training is IOM3 Quality Assured and counts towards professional development.
To book, click Register and choose a session
Looking for an alternative format?
Upcoming in-person course dates
| Select a session when registering | |
|---|---|
| 18 - 19 March 2026 |
|
| 10 - 11 June 2026 |
|
| 7 - 8 October 2026 | |
Course overview
This course provides a clear introduction to plastic materials and their properties. You’ll explore how material selection, compounding and processing influence end-product performance, helping you to design and manufacture components that perform reliably.
Through practical examples and expert guidance, you’ll build the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed decisions about materials and design.
As an additional feature delegates are invited to bring in examples of problem mouldings or product failures for general discussion or private consultation.
Learning outcomes
- Understand how different polymer types behave and where to use them effectively.
- Recognise how processing affects mechanical and environmental performance.
- Interpret key test data and material specifications to inform design decisions.
- Apply design and material principles to minimise risk of product failure.
Course content
Plastics Materials- Classification (thermosets, thermoplastics, semi-crystalline, amorphous)
- Major modifications (fibre reinforced, impact modified, etc.)
- Properties and characteristics
- Advantages and disadvantages of common plastics.
- Extrusion
- Injection moulding
- Blow moulding
- Thermo-forming
- Roto-moulding
Materials Selection
- Navigating though the many plastics types and thousands of grades available
- How to understand and use data sheets
- Advice on drawing up the specification including the hidden requirements, often overlooked, which can result in failure.
- Structural performance of plastics (creep, stress relaxation, fatigue, effect of temperature, ageing, chemical attack)
- Allowable design stresses and strains.
- Differences between short and long term mechanical properties and their impact on application.
- Introduction of methodologies to use long term materials data to:
- Improve confidence in the performance of a design
- Minimise the risk of product failure in the long term
- Common causes of failure:
- Brittle fracture (stress cracking, embrittlement, effect of notches, UV degradation, hydrolysis)
- Impact
- Fatigue
Who should attend
This course is ideal for anyone new to the plastics industry or moving into a role that requires a stronger understanding of plastic materials, design and product development.
It will also benefit professionals involved in the plastics supply chain who want to work more efficiently, manage change, and contribute confidently to technical projects.
Typical attendees include:
- Product designers and development engineers
- Technical services and quality assurance staff
- Procurement and supply chain specialists
- Anyone involved in specifying or developing plastic components
No prior knowledge of plastics materials or processes is required.
Meet your expert tutor
Dr Andrew Hulme – Principal Consultant, Plastics
An expert plastic consultant for over 25 years – Andrew specialises in durability and lifetime predictions for plastic components in their operating environments (including material selection, failure prevention, and design for manufacture) – providing clients with improved confidence in design and material selection.
What our delegates say about the course
“Extremely informative, a lot of great knowledge in two days. I would recommend this course to all plastic component design engineers.”
Thomas Morrice (NCR)
“The course was extremely interesting, with many practical examples and physical samples to handle and look at. I have worked in Plastics for several years and this training course made all the jigsaw pieces slot into place. Andrew Hulme is a very knowledgeable and personable tutor; he made two very intensive days fly past very enjoyably.”
Petra Hall (Sartorius Stedim Lab Ltd.)
“I really enjoyed the course and Andrew has a wealth of information...kept us interested and focused throughout.”
Gavin Dickson (Goodfish)
“Great course, really informative, brilliant tutor. Very enjoyable.”
Mark Clutton (Emtelle)
“Very well prepared and communicated.”
Stephen Joyce (Freudenberg Sealing Technologies)
Contact us or download a brochure
Reach out to the training team now - ask about this course or discuss your training goals.
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Smithers also delivers custom and in-company training designed around your products, materials and processes. Get practical, targeted content delivered online or on-site by the same experts who run our public courses.