R&D Resources

As part of one of the country’s foremost public research institutions, Penn State Behrend has the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities you would expect, and they’re available to Knowledge Park companies.

Polymer/Plastics Processing

Our School of Engineering has the largest academic plastics lab in the United States and the faculty and students able to make the most of its capabilities. Industry partners are often surprised by the variety and amount of equipment utilized by students and available to industry including:

  • 12 Injection Molding machines with tonnage from 35-200 (0.1-14 oz)
  • 2 Blow molders
  • 4 Extruders
  • Twin screw materials compounder
  • 2 thermal formers
  • Test equipment/Materials Characterization (DMA, DSC, Flash DSC, TGA, rheology (CEAST), LSR (medical molding)
    • Mettler Toledo/DMA
    • Flash DSC (details)
    • DSC
    • UV Weathering


Thanks in part to Harmac Medical Products, SIGMA Soft Plastics Services, Philips Respironics, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Medical Plastics Center of Excellence was created in 2011. This lab boasts:

  • A Class VIII portable Clean Room
  • Autoclave
  • Micromolder
  • Liquid silicone rubber machine


Material testing and characterization is one of Penn State Behrend Engineering’s core competencies. Our lab capabilities, faculty, and students are sought after world-wide. Focusing on industrial R&D is unique enough, but being able to leverage the world class basic research capabilities of University Park gives us an advantage unparalleled. Lab capabilities include:

  • MTS Dynamic Test Machine with 1000 degrees C Hi-Temp Control Center and Laser Extensometer
  • Metalograph
  • Micro Hardness testing machine
  • Satec Bending and Rotary Fatigue Machines
  • Taber Abraser
  • Tinius Olsen 10,000 Universal Tester
  • Tinius Olsen 120,000 Universal Tester Ram with hydraulic lift
  • 2000 degrees F heat treat oven
  • Microscopes including a Neophot 21 with Sony Trinitron, Measuring scope, and multi-lens


In 2012, Penn State Behrend School of Engineering received the campus’ largest gift ever – the entire suite of Autodesk software with a “street value” of over $100 million dollars. This gift is utilized across campus for flow analysis, mold design, gaming, and digital media & arts.

In addition to the labs listed above, here are some other notables –

  • Scanning Electron Microscope
  • Infrared Camera System
  • A 2’ x 2’ Open Circuit Wind Tunnel with a Force Dynamometer
  • Coordinate Measurement Machines both semi- and fully-automatic
  • Optical Machinist Comparator
  • CNC Mill
  • Haas Toolmaker Mill
  • Biaxial Material Tester