WE CULTIVATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SUPPORT THE MAKERS MOVEMENT

Unique ideas are conceptualized every day, and most often, require an informed creative solution to get from idea to real-world application. That’s why Sea-lect Plastics make our team available to the NW Innovation Resource Center to help guide budding inventors and entrepreneurs in all stages of product development. We volunteer our expertise to problem solve design challenges, identify flaws, source material, and customize solutions to get new start-ups ready for the investor stage.

Mentored 22 new inventors in 2017.
Participated in 5-panel advisory workshops.
Led 7 factory tours to introduce plastics technologies to aspiring designers and inventors.

WE ARE ON THE FOREFRONT OF GREEN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

It all started out with a luggage tag. Many of you may know Pearl Jam as the ‘90s alternative rock band from Seattle with an impressive string of #1 hits in their repertoire. However, you may not know Pearl Jam has a long history of dedication to the environment.

Recently, we partnered with Green Dot, a full-service bioplastics company dedicated to the growing demand for biobased and compostable materials to design a biodegradable luggage tag manufactured by Sea-lect as a specialty item for Pearl Jam’s Fan Club. It took months of design, engineering and process adjustments to formulate a biodegradable bioplastic to meet the physical attributes required of the tag.

The creative solutions provided by Sea-lect Plastics raised and enhanced the industry standard, as well as provided a new material that would lighten the environmental impact of the final product we produced.

WE PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO COMPLEX ISSUES WHEN OTHERS FAIL

Think composite material is best utilized on a 777? Think again.

For the family-owned company, Outdoor Ukulele, American manufacturing was extremely important after having an overseas vendor pirate designs. And they also needed an innovative solution that would allow their unique musical stringed instruments optimal performance in extreme outdoor conditions. We were immediately intrigued by the opportunity of making professional musical instruments and started with two models, the Tenor and the Soprano.

Our customer had been testing different versions of glass filled Polycarbonate with other molders, without satisfactory results. We were able to meet our customer’s expectation by utilizing our superior process knowledge and relationships with our material and color suppliers.

WE HELP EDUCATE CIVIC LEADERS IN THE NEEDS OF BUSINESS

You could say that the leadership development organization, Leadership Snohomish County shares the same values as Sea-lect Plastics; we are both molding for a better tomorrow.

Each year, Leadership Snohomish County selects participants representing the private, public and non-profit sectors of the community for a nine-month civic leadership development program. The goal is to inspire people to become leaders that will strengthen and positively transform the community through informed inclusive and connected service.

For the past ten years, Sea-lect Plastics has been a partner with Leadership Snohomish County, as a participant, as a board member and now, as part of the leadership curriculum; providing a real-world, hands-on manufacturing experience to those who may be creating policy that could affect our industry in the future. Our staff is overwhelmingly interested in contributing to projects focused on environmental sustainability. Through LSC connections, the Sea-lect Plastics team facilitated a new partnership with the Snohomish Conservation District proving again that plastics manufacturing can be leveraged to drive positive environmental outcomes

WE HAVE TO TAP INTO THE ONLY SOURCE OF SKILLED WORKERS, WHICH IS OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE TO GET THE KIDS EARLY.”

Matthias Poischbeg, GM & Vice President, SEA-LECT PLASTICS

WE INITIATED APPRENTICESHIP DEVELOPMENT

Sea-lect Plastics is one of WA state’s leading advocates for apprenticeship programs. At Sea-lect Plastics, we are battling the skills gap with apprenticeships.

Common in European countries, apprenticeship programs are getting a second look from American policymakers and industrial leaders. The Sea-lect Plastics apprenticeship program began in 2013 when we had to replace our principal mold maker who was retiring.

We partnered with AJAC, the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee to implement a program, where apprentices get on-the-job training while taking at least 540 hours of related supplemental instruction a year.

Sea-lect Plastics sees apprenticeships as important vehicles to satisfying, well-compensated careers for individuals, as well as essential to developing the workforce skills manufacturers require. Currently, 40% of Sea-lect Plastics employees are enrolled in four different apprenticeship programs.

WE ADVOCATE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS

Sea-lect Plastics believes that apprenticeships do not foreclose options, they expand them. This prompted our staff to take time away from growing our business to instead getting involved in local Middle and High Schools. The current K-12 education system does not prepare kids for success in Industry and therefore needs to change. Schools are required to offer Career Technical education and Sea-Lect Plastics actively supports three local school districts by serving on CTE advisory committees, as well as the Sno-isle Skill Center, which supports 15 school districts. In 2018:

Participates in 6 k-12 career expos
Delivered 4 presentations in classrooms
Donated hundreds of custom tumblers for school events

WE PROVIDE REAL- WORLD MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCES FOR EDUCATORS

In another effort to transform the K-12 education system, Sea-lect Plastics is actively supporting the Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS).

Over the last three years, Sea-lect Plastics has invited teachers to spend two weeks of their summer break as “Externs”. The STEM Externship enables teachers to connect their curriculum to real-world applications, which enhances student engagement and provides examples of how their learning is linked to future career options. Externs complete a rich, three- week summer training that combines professional development and an on-site externship placement.

The externship experience provides valuable insight into 21st Century skills needed in the modern STEM workplace, while interactive curriculum design workshops help Externs translate those real-world experiences into the classroom. The teachers work alongside Sea-lect Plastics staff and received a glimpse into every position and skills needed.

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