ASHLAND – Legislators and business leaders had the chance to see the new Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center RAMTEC Center in use during an open house Thursday morning.
“With the opening of this lab, we join other career centers across Ohio in preparing for the future,” Supt. Mike Parry said. “Secondary students who study here in this building build their future by developing industrial robotics and advanced manufacturing skills that will enable them to get the jobs of the 21st century and continue their education.”
After receiving a $435,000 Robotics Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative grant early in 2016, the Career Center began making plans to convert lab space at the school into a high-tech robotics and manufacturing training center to be used by both high school and adult education students.
The RAMTEC Center combines high school programs in Manufacturing Technology and Engineering and Design Technology and Adult Education’s Maintenance Training and Welding programs under the same roof, giving them the ability to interact and share the Center’s new state-of-the-art robotics, designing, advanced manufacturing, machining and welding equipment.
State Rep. Mark Romanchuk said the programs included in the RAMTEC Center will give students the training they need to compete in today’s workforce.
“There are 2,2000 job openings within a 20-mile radius of Ashland. So there are jobs out there, they’re good paying jobs. And that’s why this training center is so important,” Romanchuk said.
State Sen. Larry Obhof said there are more than 137,000 job openings across the state.
“We’ve got more people than that looking for work, but we don’t necessarily have the skill sets that match up with those, and that’s what this is about here today. Helping people get the education they need, get the skills that they need, so that we can fill these positions. So that employers can expand the size of their business, grow the economy, and every family can be self-sufficient, put a roof over their heads and know where their next meal is going to come from and not have to worry about how things are going to go on payday,” Obhof said.
All of the speakers pointed to retired Supt. Mike McDaniel as the driving force behind the creation of the RAMTEC Center and praised his efforts to make the center a reality.
Major renovations were done to space that formerly housed the Machine Trades and Welding lab programs, including moving block walls, creating two integrated flexible classrooms and placing various pieces of industry grade equipment used in training.
During the open house, students in the program demonstrated how to use a number of the pieces of RAMTEC equipment they use in the center. Equipment in the center includes a virtual welder, a CNC lathe, a robo drill, a plasma cutter, a 3-D printer and robotic arms.
Senior Owen Maynard from West Holmes High School was demonstrating how to use the ABB Robot, which the students refer to as Abby. Owen said students get to spend several hours each school day in the RAMTEC Center, using the equipment and learning skills.
Junior Daniel Maki from Hillsdale said he is excited about the career choices he will have waiting from him after graduation thanks to opportunities he will have in the RAMTEC Center.
Construction on the center started in May and was completed on Aug. 1, with Ashland firm Simonson Construction serving as the general contractor.
The public will get the chance to view the RAMTEC Center during an open house from 5 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, in conjunction with the high school Interact Club’s annual, all-you-can-eat fish fry. Fish fry prices are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, an $6 for children over 6 years old.
