Collaboration with Strömbackaskolan Aims to Spark Young People’s Interest in Fiber Composites

Collaboration with Strömbackaskolan Aims to Spark Young People’s Interest in Fiber Composites

Through a collaboration with Strömbackaskolan, SWE-CIC aims to spark young people’s interest in fiber composites and showcase the opportunities within the composite industry in Piteå. On Monday, 28 technology students had the chance to try working with fiber composites at the RISE research facility in Öjebyn. The day also included a study visit to Podcomp, where the students were given a guided tour of the company’s production of prefabricated composite bathrooms.

– Composites are an exciting material used in many applications. I already had some knowledge from following Formula 1, where carbon fiber is used in the cars. After today, I have a better understanding of the material’s areas of use. Working with fiber composites seems like an interesting path for the future, says Albin Wink, a technology student at Strömbackaskolan.

The collaboration between SWE-CIC and Strömbackaskolan combines theory with practice. Each year, students are first introduced to fiber composites in the classroom, followed by a half-day visit to Öjebyn. There, they get hands-on experience working with the material and visit a company that uses it in production. This year’s visit was to Podcomp, which manufactures prefabricated bathroom modules, among other products.

RISE in Öjebyn works to connect research and industry in order to promote sustainable growth. Kenneth Strand, project manager at RISE, sees the collaboration as a great way to inspire interest in fiber composites at the high school level.

– It’s positive that students get the chance to familiarize themselves with fiber composites early on and experience hands-on work with the material.

During the day, the students got to see how production at Podcomp works in practice, following the entire chain from design to finished product.

– It’s valuable to gain deeper insight into the different career paths available after a technical education,
says Alicia Ekman, technology student at Strömbackaskolan.

David Eknor, the students’ teacher, sees the collaboration as a valuable addition to classroom teaching.

– This gives students a clear link between theory and practice. By visiting a company like Podcomp, they see how an idea becomes a finished product, something that’s difficult to fully convey in the classroom.

Piteå is a national hub for the fiber composite industry in Sweden. It is home to RISE and Sweden’s only testbed for the development of sustainable fiber composites, along with several composite companies serving sectors such as energy, automotive, and construction, where Hitachi Energy, among others, has a significant recruitment need. Through the collaboration with Strömbackaskolan, the goal is to spark interest in fiber composites and help secure future skills for the industry.

– The industry has a growing need for talent at all educational levels. Our environment, with access to instructors and labs tailored for composite materials, is an excellent platform for student projects, such as Young Enterprise (UF) or final year assignments. We want to inspire students to choose programs and courses related to composites, which are incredibly versatile materials, says David Engberg, Program Manager for the sustainable composite manufacturing testbed.