On February 22, 2019, Custom Rubber Corp. hosted high school students for a day-long exposure to Engineering. The event is organized annually by
Cleveland State University and Custom Rubber Corp. has participated the last three years.
The tour event was also the first time Custom Rubber Corp. used a new audio tour guide system. After winning a $750 prize associated with the "
2018 Educational Outreach award" from ARPM (Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers), CRC purchased a system of 10 receiving headphones and a microphone transmitter.
The day started off with introductions; there were students from all four grades (Freshman to Senior) and from a wide range of schools; two from Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Bay Village, Mentor, and four other schools. The group had discussion about how exciting a manufacturing/engineering career can be - how each day is a new challenge in problem solving, and how critical the role of engineering is to a company like Custom Rubber Corp..
The bulk of the day was spent on a tour of the factory. The new audio tour guide system worked great. Both tour guides stated afterwards that they felt everyone paid much closer attention because they could actually hear everything that was being said - not to mention that afterwards the tour guides still had their voice.
The students learned the basics behind rubber curing of vulcanizing chemistry and how Custom Rubber Corp. uses molding machines to optimize that chemical reaction to make finished product. They learned about the three different types of molding; injection, transfer, and compression. The students also learned about cryogenic deflashing.
The last stop on the tour was the Custom Rubber Corp. vision inspection system.
Custom Rubber Corp.'s engineer explained how the machine was developed in-house using a step-by-step process that proved out each feature and function along the way.
The day concluded with an exercise that simulated what Custom Rubber Corp. engineers do when a new part is manufactured. The First Article Inspection of FAI - specifically the dimensional check on new parts. The students learned how to use calipers and a durometer gage to measure hardness.
Custom Rubber Corp. is committed to opening our doors as often as possible for High School tours. We have formed a consortium of sorts with other manufacturing companies in our neighborhood so that any visiting High School class can see two manufacturing facilities in one day. If you are interested in scheduling a tour of Custom Rubber Corp. for yourself or your High School class, contact us at 216-391-2928.