Press release submitted on behalf of AIM.
The American Injection Molding (AIM) Institute is proud to announce the addition of Sean Mertes to its instructional team as a local instructor for the upper U.S. Midwest region. Bringing over 35 years of specialized experience in injection molding, Mertes joins the Institute to help students improve their careers through world-class education and training.
Mertes will take on this new instructional role while concurrently maintaining his position as a Sales Application Development/Tech Rep at Conventus Polymers, specializing in highly engineered resins such as Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and carbon-filled materials.
The AIM Institute extends its gratitude to Conventus for supporting Mertes as he brings his frontline expertise directly to the classroom. “I am excited for the opportunity to bring additional value to both current and future customers,” commented Mertes.
“Over the past 35 years, I have worn many hats within the plastics industry, from technical service to sales and applications,” says Mertes. “Having partnered with the industry’s largest players on projects of all scales, I have gained a deep understanding of the daily challenges faced on the shop floor. I know firsthand what our workforce needs, and I am passionate about equipping the next generation of injection molders.”
“Sean has trained under John Bozzelli, Mike Sepe, Glenn Beall, John Klees, and John Beaumont,” said Dave Hoffman, Director of the AIM Institute. “That lineage, and the fact that he is a graduate of AIM’s PT&E program, combined with his extensive work across the broad range of resins, is exactly what our students need from an instructor.”
Mertes holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from South Dakota State University—where he is a proud Jackrabbit—and has led numerous material supplier training programs and industry talks at plastics conferences nationwide.
Please join us in welcoming Sean to the AIM Institute. His decades of hands-on experience, technical expertise, and genuine passion for developing the next generation of injection molding professionals make him a tremendous addition to our instructional team. We look forward to the impact he will bring to students across the upper U.S. Midwest region.
About the Plastics Technology (PT) Courses
The PT Courses are designed to provide foundational knowledge within the core disciplines of the injection molding industry. Through a structured curriculum, students gain insight into four key subject areas: Plastic Materials, Mold Design, Injection Molding, and Part Design.
Students who complete all four courses and pass the optional online exams earn the “Plastics Technology Associate” designation, recognizing their achievement.
About The AIM Institute
The AIM Institute’s educational and training courses are rooted in research and are designed to help students solve problems using critical thinking by expanding their knowledge and skills. They are trusted worldwide to develop injection molding professionals through accredited education and training and are driven by the mission of advancing the injection molding industry.
About Conventus Polymers
Since 2012, Conventus Polymers has been North America’s leading distributor of high-performance resins and specialty compounds, including custom formulations, masterbatches, fluoroplastics, and thermosets. From our home base in Parsippany, New Jersey, our team of experts partners with leading OEMs and plastic processors to deliver the world’s next generation of thermoplastic materials to their global supply chains.
The drive to lead our valued customers in the right direction inspires us daily to expand our knowledge and bring complex projects to life.