MVCTC Holds Grand Opening of New Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Education Center
Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative (RAMTEC) Facility on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Many honored guests attended the dedication ceremony to help celebrate the impact this new facility will have on the Miami Valley Workforce.
The Dedication Ceremony included speeches from MVCTC Superintendent, Dr. Nick Weldy; MVCTC Board of Education Vice President from Miamisburg, Mr. Joe Idzakovich; Senator Bill Beagle; Fuyao Glass Human Resource Manager, Mr. Tom Thompsen; and a proclamation from Governor Kasich’s Office read by Ms. Sandra Brasington. A ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted thanks to Mrs. Cathy Hutton and the Northmont Chamber of Commerce. The evening concluded with MVCTC students and staff presenting tours and demonstrations of the equipment in the new RAMTEC and Fab Labs at MVCTC.
Dr. Weldy said during his opening remarks, “The opportunities that RAMTEC makes available to high school and adult students is phenomenal. For example, in the facility you will see many different robots that students have access to, allowing them to learn to set-up, operate, and maintain as part of their curriculum. Both high school and adult students will no longer need to leave our region to receive the same high level training they have in the past.”
“We are extremely proud of what has been accomplished at MVCTC, especially in the last few years. This is testament to the hard work of our [administration], staff and especially enthusiastic students,” shared Mr. Idzakovich during his speech.
“Nationally, there will be a shortfall of 2 million workers in the manufacturing industry over the next 10 years,” said Senator Beagle. “Programs like RAMTEC at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center are crucial for providing a skilled workforce locally and across the state. Local partnerships between schools, technical programs and businesses are filling the gap, demonstrating the possibilities in manufacturing and connecting our students to fulfilling careers in advanced manufacturing here in western Ohio."
“We are excited, with this whole facility, you look around and see all the different things that are happening. And I think about what we are going to have in our facility, we are constantly growing and I have a need for individuals that this institution is going to put out for us as do many businesses already,” said Mr. Thompsen.
In August of 2014, an Ohio Straight A Fund Grant was awarded to career center partners to create nine Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative (RAMTEC) facilities in Ohio. The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) is the Miami Valley’s regional RAMTEC facility providing training opportunities to a 12 county area (Darke, Preble, Miami, Montgomery, Warren, Clark, Mercer, Auglaize, Champaign, Greene, Clinton, and Shelby Counties). The proven success of the RAMTEC facility at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion, Ohio, is the model for the additional eight facilities. The goal is to strengthen the collaboration between industry, education and government to offer industry certifications for robotics, CNC machining, mechatronics, industrial maintenance, and robotic welding, all at a regional career center. This will provide a means to supply area industry leaders with a viable and highly trained workforce. It is also a pathway for both high school and adult learners to receive in-demand training in the latest technology and leave with industry certifications, highly technical skills and optimally a new career. As part of the collaborative, the MVCTC received $1.47 million of the grant to provide state-of-the-art equipment and to renovate space at their Hoke Road campus into a RAMTEC center.
The grant money allowed MVCTC to create a 21st century advanced manufacturing and robotics lab where both high school and adults students will now be able to receive industry certifications from the largest robotics and industrial maintenance companies in the world including, FANUC and Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, Allen-Bradley and Mitsubishi PLCs, Parker Hydraulics and FANUC CNC. All RAMTEC sites received 3D printers, lasers, capable of etching, cutting and engraving various materials, and VEX robotics. These pieces of technology will serve a dual role in the robotic and automation lab, as well as being transportable enough to serve in mobile trailers that will enable them to take their training equipment to fairs, middle schools, trade shows and recruitment events.
For over 40-years, MVCTC has been providing career technical education for 27 partner school districts encompassing five counties in Southwest Ohio. MVCTC is dedicated to providing in-demand workforce training for youth, adults, and organizations in the Miami Valley.
For more information about RAMTEC @ MVCTC, visit www.mvctc.com/RAMTEC or follow MVCTC on Facebook (Facebook.com/MVCTC) or Twitter (Twitter.com/MVCTC).
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