URI student
advances from mechanic to mechanical engineer for Pawcatuck company
 |
| Lyle Topa, a polymer compounding engineer at Cable Components Group in Pawcatuck, Conn. Photo courtesy of Lyle Topa. |
Working as an auto mechanic in high
school, Lyle Topa knew he wanted a career that would enable him to use his
hands as well as his mind.
He found it two weeks after
graduating from the University of Rhode Island last year, advancing from
mechanic to mechanical engineer when he was hired by Cable Components Group, of Pawcatuck, Conn., to help with the installation
of two new compounding lines.
A manufacturer of extruded products
used in wire and cable, optical fiber and industrial non-woven products, the
company invested in two lines to produce the plastic compounds used in its
products.
Topa created a chart to track each
piece of equipment as it arrived at the company and worked with a team to
install the lines.
Now, after completing a six-month training program, he has a
new title—polymer compounding engineer.
The compounds Topa helps produce are
designed to meet high fire-retardant and low-smoke generation requirements, and
to make wire and cable lighter and more efficient.
The company’s new lines
operate at below-standard temperatures, which enable foaming agents and
fire-retardant loading to be incorporated into the products without
degradation.
“Working closely with the manufacturer, Lyle has played an integral role in commissioning and troubleshooting our new compounding equipment,” said Cable Components Group President Charles Glew. “In addition, he has already assisted in developing compounding processes that will create the foundation for future business.”
Topa found out about the job from
his capstone project advisor, Professor Bahram Nassersharif, who received an
email from Glew saying he had an opening and that a URI graduate with a
mechanical engineering degree would make an ideal candidate.
For his capstone, Topa designed a
system for Hope Global in Cumberland,
R.I., to reduce the cost and time involved with manufacturing
shoelaces. He led a team that created an optimized process for fusing the ends
with heat.
Nassersharif provided Topa with
Glew’s contact information, Topa said, and “I decided to give him a call. The
conversation went well, and I was able to set up an interview.”
Topa had applied for many other
positions, but he was attracted to the company by both the opportunity and the
location.
Topa had some exposure to the wire and cable industry during an
internship at Web Industries, Inc. in Dayville, Conn.
The commute to the cable company is just a 25-minute drive from his home in Charlestown, R.I., so the job allows
him to live at home and keep his expenses low while remaining close to his
family.
“It was perfect to start at the
opening of the compounding business,” said Topa. “Now there are two fully
commissioned lines that I run every day. Being here from the start, I assisted
with installation of the machinery and planning its operation. When I’m not
operating the lines, I’m making compounds and training new operators.”
Location also played a role in
Topa’s decision to attend URI, but so did the reputation of its engineering
college. He chose mechanical engineering as his major because math was his best
subject in high school.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do,”
he said, “so I gave mechanical engineering a try and ended up liking it.”
Topa credits his URI classes with
preparing him for his position. His course in mechanics and materials provided
insights into the physical and chemical properties of materials. He sees his
current position as a good fit with his education.
Topa is thrilled with his new job:
“It’s a very important business with a bright future. And I’m not sitting
behind a desk all day.”
This release was written by David Kowal, of Kowal
Communications, for Cable Components Group.