♻️🌱 The Endless Journey of Learning in Plastics and Recycling
The world of plastics and recycling is one of constant evolution, where the only certainty is that there’s always more to learn. My own journey in this field began when I was just 10 years old. My father, an expert in plastics processing and a visionary in the industry, often talked to me about the potential of these materials. He would wake me up on Sunday mornings at 6 a.m. to explain how buttons are made from plastics! When I groggily responded, "Dad, but it’s 6 a.m. on a Sunday," it never discouraged him from passionately sharing his ideas, especially when he had a new concept in mind.
In our home, even my mother knew how to operate extrusion machines and plastic presses. If I wanted to see my parents during the day, I knew I would find them in the company – usually standing by the extruder. My father, while focusing on management and design, had an encyclopedic knowledge of plastics. It was from him that I started learning.
He would also take me to trade fairs, where I could learn about machines and their capabilities. I vividly remember standing with him as a teenager at these fairs, listening as he explained how injection molding machines worked. Not long after, we had our own injection molding machines and extruders. Eventually, we started assembling extrusion and recycling lines ourselves. Every project became a new lesson for me – I learned step by step how to optimize processes and how plastics could be transformed in various ways.
Teaching Others is Also a Learning Experience for Me
Creating these courses and webinars has been a learning journey for me as well. To provide you with accessible and comprehensive information, I continue to educate myself and consult with other experts. I engage in discussions, analyze their experiences, and strive to prepare courses and webinars tailored to your needs. These are heartfelt trainings, created by practitioners for practitioners.
If you’re looking to delve into chemical formulas or break plastics down into molecules, you’ll need to look elsewhere. At Rolbatch Academy, we offer practical knowledge, which I and other experts have gained from working on real-world projects. The most valuable lessons often came when things didn’t go as planned – at least not on the first try. But we never gave up, and eventually, we found the right solutions.
You, however, don’t have to make the same mistakes that others before you have made. As the saying goes: "A wise person learns from their mistakes, but a smart person learns from the mistakes of others." So, learn from the mistakes others have already made and figured out how to correct, with our help at Rolbatch Academy.
Trade Fairs: A Shared Space for Learning and Inspiration
For many years, we’ve exhibited at the world’s largest industry trade fairs. We regularly participate in Plastpol in Kielce and the K Show in Düsseldorf, held every three years – the largest plastics industry event in the world. We’ve also exhibited at events such as Plastimagen in Mexico, EPLA in Poznań, Equiplast in Spain, and Plastukraina in Kyiv, where we’ve participated twice.
Additionally, I regularly visit the Fakuma trade fair in Germany, which is an excellent venue for networking and discovering innovative technologies.
Trade fairs are not just a platform to showcase our solutions but also an opportunity to engage with practitioners from around the world and exchange invaluable experiences.
A Woman in a Technical Field: Breaking Stereotypes
The plastics and recycling industry is not typically considered a woman’s domain. Yet, it turns out that women can excel in this field – something many men initially didn’t expect. I remember when I started working in the industry; clients calling our company would usually ask to speak with the technical department, expecting to be connected with a man.
When I assured them they could talk to me, I often heard surprise in their voices. Fortunately, that surprise quickly faded once we started discussing how to design a recycling line to make the process as efficient as possible.
Thankfully, times have changed, and today, no one is surprised to see a woman in the plastics industry leading an engineering company. Equality and openness have allowed us to show that skills, knowledge, and experience are what truly matter, regardless of gender.
Lifelong Learning: A Key Principle of Success
In our book, "Successful Mindset – The Key to Achieving Your Goals," co-authored with Brian Tracy, we emphasize 23 principles of success. One of the most important is lifelong learning – the commitment to continually expand your knowledge and skills in your chosen field.
For me, lifelong learning is not just a principle; it’s a way of life. It drives me to keep exploring, experimenting, and sharing what I’ve learned with others.
Final Thoughts
The journey of learning in plastics and recycling is never-ending. It’s a field where curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to growth are essential. As Socrates said: "I know that I know nothing."
This awareness of our limitations fuels progress, both personally and professionally.
What about you? What fuels your curiosity in this industry? Share your thoughts and join the conversation! 😊
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