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INNOVATIVE IDEAS
Plastics Hall of Fame inducts Pa. man
Edinburg, pa.
Tim Womer made his way in the plastics industry by being willing to try things others wouldn’t and thinking differently than those in the business.
Womer owns TWWomer and Associates, a consulting business. He has consulted for companies such as Dow Chemical Company and Coca-Cola. He is an expert in developing screws that work with plastics. Womer was named in 2012 to the Plastics Hall of Fame that is organized by the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.
Much of his work consists of helping companies with production methods, Womer said.
“I know how to tweak the machines to improve production,” he said.
Womer started working with plastics in 1974 as a machinist at New Castle Industries after receiving his associate degree from Penn State University’s Shenango campus.
“When I was going to school, I was going to get an architectural degree, but someone said I ought to be a mechanical engineer, so I changed my degree on a whim,” he said.
At New Castle Industries, Womer said he primarily made parts for the steel mills in Youngstown.
After four years at the plant, he was promoted, but part of the promotion was that he had to complete his bachelor’s degree, Womer said.
He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Youngstown State University.
He later returned to New Castle Industries after his first stint as a consultant.
It was at his second job with National Rubber Machinery where Womer first received a chance to work in a laboratory and try new things, he said.
“I had all these ideas in my head that I wanted to try,” Womer said. “I started doing things that no one else did.”
During his time at National Rubber Machinery, Womer was able to generate multiple patents for his work, he said.
“I was more self-taught,” Womer said.
“I’ve just always loved what I do. If someone has a desire to do something and have an interest, then they can do it.”
Womer was inducted in the Plastics Hall of Fame this year.
He has 15 patents and has designed thousands of screws during his career.
Before his retirement, Womer said he still has one more goal.
He wants to receive an honorary doctorate from one of the colleges in Germany with a significant plastics program, or one of the better-known programs in the United States, Womer said.
“Hopefully that will happen,” he said.
More information about Womer’s company is available at www.twwomer.com.