2008 Woodie Awards
Breakthrough technology
New equipment means more opportunities for industrial technology students
Natalie Niemeyer
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On Nov. 29 Jones Hall conducted an open house for the new technology and machines that they've acquired in the past year.
These machines include a Mitsubishi Laser Cutter, Marata/Weidemann CNC Turret Punch Press and a Mitsubishi Water Jet.
The event brought many visitors to the Kirkwood campus. Industry representatives, Kirkwood students and staff, as well as high school students were in attendance. The industrial technology program purchased two new and one used machine.
The machines ranged in price from $140,000 to $300,000. The project was funded by the Grow Iowa Value Fund.
Each year the deans make recommendations of what their program would use the money for, then they submit the list for possible funding from the Grow Iowa Values Fund. The industrial technology department also got a lot of support from companies.
"Companies said, 'What you're doing is unique, we want to be a part of it,'" Phil Thomas dean of Industrial Technologies said.
With the addition of these machines, students at Kirkwood will have better opportunities and hands-on training that will help them for the future, explained Thomas.
"Students graduating from the program will get jobs in the sheet metal fabrication industry making a wide range of everyday items. In addition some may go into custom fabrication where they produce a product that was designed by an engineer," Thomas said. "About anywhere you look something has been fabricated out of metal for use."
Currently 20 credit students in the Associate of Applied Science program will be using the machines. There will also be many Continuing Education students who will benefit from the new technology.
"These individual may be learning a piece of equipment in order to get a raise or they may be learning a skill so that they can make a living wage and get out of a dead end job that does not pay well," Thomas said.
Local companies that use these types of machines include Midwest Metal, Rockwell Collins and Iowa Lazer.
"Whatever the students' need is Kirkwood wants to be there to provide an education that leads to a better wage and a better life," Thomas said.
These machines include a Mitsubishi Laser Cutter, Marata/Weidemann CNC Turret Punch Press and a Mitsubishi Water Jet.
The event brought many visitors to the Kirkwood campus. Industry representatives, Kirkwood students and staff, as well as high school students were in attendance. The industrial technology program purchased two new and one used machine.
The machines ranged in price from $140,000 to $300,000. The project was funded by the Grow Iowa Value Fund.
Each year the deans make recommendations of what their program would use the money for, then they submit the list for possible funding from the Grow Iowa Values Fund. The industrial technology department also got a lot of support from companies.
"Companies said, 'What you're doing is unique, we want to be a part of it,'" Phil Thomas dean of Industrial Technologies said.
With the addition of these machines, students at Kirkwood will have better opportunities and hands-on training that will help them for the future, explained Thomas.
"Students graduating from the program will get jobs in the sheet metal fabrication industry making a wide range of everyday items. In addition some may go into custom fabrication where they produce a product that was designed by an engineer," Thomas said. "About anywhere you look something has been fabricated out of metal for use."
Currently 20 credit students in the Associate of Applied Science program will be using the machines. There will also be many Continuing Education students who will benefit from the new technology.
"These individual may be learning a piece of equipment in order to get a raise or they may be learning a skill so that they can make a living wage and get out of a dead end job that does not pay well," Thomas said.
Local companies that use these types of machines include Midwest Metal, Rockwell Collins and Iowa Lazer.
"Whatever the students' need is Kirkwood wants to be there to provide an education that leads to a better wage and a better life," Thomas said.
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