The Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE) began as the Polymers Extension Program (PEP), a joint venture between the Industrial Extension Service at North Carolina State University in Raleigh and the Cameron Applied Research Center at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte . In 1994, with the provision of continuing funding by the State of North Carolina, PEP was able to expand from a two-day per week part-time activity with no facilities, into its present full-time staff of 8, part-time staff of 5, and equipment valued at $1.75 million, most of which has been generously donated or consigned by the polymers industry.

With PEP's growth since 1994, the 1997 North Carolina General Assembly approved funds for expanded facilities to house PEP. This was in response to requests from PEP's support base, which includes private firms, The Society of the Plastics Industry Southern Region, the American Plastics Council Southern Office, and the Carolinas and Piedmont-Coastal Sections of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

Because of the continuing rapid growth of the Program, the need to provide expanded services, and the need for operating flexibility, changes were required in PEP. In early 1999 PEP's support base moved to create a not-for-profit 501c(6) corporation, the Polymers Center of Excellence (PCE).

The Polymers Center of Excellence is a not-for-profit organization located at University Research Park in Charlotte , North Carolina . The full-time staff of 13, plus 5 part-time staff and student assistants from UNC-Charlotte, are backed by an extensive network of industry lecturers, consultants, and faculty members from North Carolina institutions of higher learning.

Modern, well-equipped molding, extrusion, and test laboratories, made possible by the generous support of the industry, are available to serve client companies as well as provide a hands-on dimension to PCE's training and workforce development activities.

PCE is partnered with UNC-Charlotte, NC State University and the North Carolina Industrial Extension Service.

PCE enjoys a close and mutually supportive relationship with the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), the American Plastics Council (APC), and the Carolinas and Piedmont-Coastal Sections of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

THE POLYMERS CENTER : OUR MISSION

To increase the knowledge of employees, whose work fuels the industry.
To provide timely, cost-effective technical support.
To assist in the development of emerging technologies.
To maintain the highest level of competency, confidentiality, and currency of knowledge.

---

PCE's Quality Policy

PCE is committed to meeting or exceeding our customer requirements in the areas of polymers processing, physical testing, educational products, and consulting. This is in addition to the ongoing evaluation for continual improvement in the effectiveness of the PCE quality management system.

Dennis L. Hayford, Executive Director