A Look at Wisconsin's Top Ski Destinations

Since 2018, Gerald "Jay" Fahl has served as a thermoplastics molding operator at Scientific Molding Corporation in Somerset, Wisconsin. Outside of work, Gerald Fahl enjoys various activities such as traveling and downhill skiing.

With snowy winters and three dozen resorts for skiing and snowboarding, Wisconsin is the perfect place for those who enjoy spending an afternoon on the slopes. Among the state's most popular winter sports offerings are downhill skiing destinations for people of all ability levels.

On the Illinois border in Kenosha County sits Wilmont Mountain, which features nine lifts and nearly two dozen trails with a vertical drop of 190 feet. The resort is also home to a terrain park and tubing area for those interested in activities outside of downhill skiing. Another great option is Granite Peak in Wausau. At 700 feet, the vertical drop at this ski and snowboarding destination is the largest in Wisconsin.

Wilmont Mountain and Granite Peak represent just a small sampling of Wisconsin's top-notch ski areas. The list of notable mentions also includes Devil's Head in Merrimac, Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, and Cascade Mountain in Portage.

Types of Thermoplastics Used in Medical Devices

Gerald Fahl is a voice actor as well as a public address announcer for football and basketball games at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He also served as the chief experience officer (CXO) at WESTconsin Credit Union. Gerald Fahl serves as a thermoplastics molding operator at the Scientific Molding Corporation in Somerset, Wisconsin. His responsibilities include creating medical equipment parts on various thermoplastics molding machines.

The most common thermoplastics used in medical device injection molding are: polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polycarbonate. Polyethylene is biologically inert and retains its structural integrity long-term, making it ideal for medical implants. Polypropylene is resistant to fatigue and cracking and is commonly used to manufacture syringes, prescription bottles, and clear bags.

Polymethyl methacrylate is a substitute for glass and is used to create optical fibers for endoscopy and telecommunication. Polyvinyl chloride is used to manufacture catheters, artificial limb materials, and blood bags. Polyamide is strong, inflexible and mostly used in place of weaker metals. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is used to manufacture non-absorbable sutures, tracheal tubes, and drug delivery systems, while polycarbonate serves as a good alternative to glass, as it is shatterproof.