Plastic Engineering

Plastic Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with designing, analyzing, and modifying polymer materials for aiding the manufacture of plastics. Plastics have strong implications in our daily life, starting from household items such as pet jars and water bottles to complex plastic polymers. There has been a consistent rise in the demand for plastic due to its low price, versatility, variety, and durability. In fact, today, after steel, plastic is the most widely used material. Due to significant developments leading to a clear recognition of synthetic plastic goods in the last few decades, this field is poised to play an important role in the Indian economy. For this reason much job opportunities with high salary packages are awaiting young graduates in this sector. There is also much research work being done to make plastics ecofriendly.

Courses and Eligibility:

Below is a list of courses offered under Plastic Engineering:

• BE Polymer Science and Chemical Technology
• BE Polymer Technology
• BTech Polymer Science and Technology
• ME Polymer Technology
• MTech Polymer Science and Technology
• PhD Polymer Science and Technology

The eligibility criterion for admissions to a bachelor’s programme is a 10+2 pass in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects. The 2-year MTech course can be pursued after successfully completing an undergraduate course. Students must go through entrance exams such as GATE for admissions to BTech and MTech courses.

Career Prospects :

The plastic industry is already well rooted in India and is rapidly growing. A number of private and multinational companies engaged in the production and marketing of plastic goods provide vast job opportunities to engineers. Graduates in this field can find employment in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Oil India laboratories, Petrochemicals Engineering plants, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Polymers Corporations of different states, Petroleum Conservation Research Association of India, Petrofiles Cooperative Limited, and many other associated organizations. Plastic engineers are involved in research and development; processing; quality control; technical support and sales, design, and manufacture of moulds; training and management activities. One can also opt to join as a lecturer in a college or university.

Remuneration:

The starting salary of graduates in the public sector ranges from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. In the private sector, the starting remuneration can be in the range of Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 12,000 per month, whereas those with an MTech degree can earn as high as Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month at the starting level. Professionals with an experience of 5 years or more can get a salary of Rs. 35,000–40,000 per month.