The Department of Wood and Paper Science (WPS) has a long and successful history of partnerships with manufacturing companies, private investors, and government research and economic development organizations.  

These partnerships cover the spectrum from fundamental and applied research, to technology development, economic analyses, and training and continuing education.  The WPS faculty, staff and facilities work to meet the individual goals and needs of the client.  In addition to the immediate benefits received by the partnering entity, many partnerships include graduate and undergraduate students, who conduct the work and can then join the company as work-ready employees after they graduate.

Research and development partnerships – Are you looking for answers to specific fundamental or applied technology, or business questions?  WPS is there to provide answers.  With research and development partnerships WPS can provide confidentiality around the information generated with your company’s dollars, and can work to help you secure patent protection for any discoveries.  Faculty working on the project have complete access to state-of-the-art facilities within the department and across the NC State campus.  More fundamental research projects may last for several years and cover a suite of technical challenges.  Applied research projects may last from a month to several years, and may be conducted by Departmental staff or postdoctoral research associates. 

Learn More About Our Research

Technical Service Partnerships – One common partnership between industry and NC State University is product evaluation and testing. WPS has a host of unique manufacturing and analytical capabilities that can be used if your company is interested in testing new products or evaluating the performance of their current projects.  These facilities are operated by highly trained staff or postdoctoral research associates, with oversight and guidance from faculty members.  These technical service facilities include unique testing capabilities for wood composites and laminates, wood machining and tooling, testing paper products, paper production, paper recycling, and bioenergy products. Specific technical services include:

• Wood Products Technical Services/Hodges Lab
• Pulp and Paper Technical Services

Wood Products Cooperative Extension - The continued long-term health and expansion of the primary and secondary wood products industries not only depends on the national and international economy, but on the individual firms’ abilities to compete by obtaining and efficiently using raw materials, and applying existing and new technologies.  Our extension faculty have many years of individual experience working with the wood products industry. This deep understanding of the wood processing industry as well as being on the leading edge of modern manufacturing and management philosophies insures that clients receive unparalleled advice. Wood Products Cooperative Extension concentrates its efforts on providing educational opportunities for managers and personnel of wood products companies and the consumers of wood products.  These opportunities allow clientele to develop their knowledge and skills to further their effectiveness in the assembly, processing, distribution, and use of wood products.  Activities include individually tailored programs such as:

• Plant specific studies to evaluate installation of new equipment or changing processes.
• Seminars and workshops, both for the general industry or customized to meet the needs of an individual firm.
• In-plant technical and management advice and assistance.
• Remote technical assistance by telephone, email and other technologies.

Let us know how we can help you.

Wood Products Cooperative Extension Website

Training and Continuing Education – As part of its educational mission, WPS has a number of formal and informal technology training and continuing education partnerships.  Two prominent examples of these partnerships include the long standing partnership with the Southeastern Dry Kiln Club teaching their Dry Kiln Operator’s Course for 40 years and the longstanding collaboration with the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industries (TAPPI) to teach a hands-on introduction pulp and paper technology for new Professionals in the industry.  A new effort is BioSUCCEED, a partnership with the University of Tennessee and North Carolina A&T to develop new educational modules for training the next generation of professionals who will staff this blossoming industry. 

• Continuing Education
• Upcoming Wood Products Cooperative Extension Courses
• Paper Science Off Campus Education – link to pdf currently located at  http://cnr.ncsu.edu/wps/in-mill_brochure_2007 (move pdf file to new site)
• Paper Science Outreach & K-12
• More Employee Education Opportunities

Distance Learning – WPS also offers Distance Education Programs that can provide a non-thesis Masters Degree to industry professionals around the world who want to update their skills, but cannot disrupt their busy lives and livelihoods to travel to campus for an advanced degree.

WPS Distance Education

For Industry Professionals

• Industry Services
  • Wood Products Technical Services
  • Paper & Pulp Technical Services
• Hiring Our Students
• Paths to Partnering
• Employee Education

Key Contacts