Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy cuts the ribbon on $4.8 Million Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Quinebaug Valley Community College. (l-r): QVCC President Dr. Carlee Drummer; Governor Dannel Malloy; Mark Ojakian, President, The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; Steve LaPointe, QVCC Director of Advanced Manufacturing Technology; Sabrina Bouvier QVCC Class of 2016, CNC Machinist; and a host of current QVCC students
Lorraine Palmer of New England's Haas Factory Outlet/A Division of Trident Machine Tools presents a $25,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to QVCC inside its new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. (l-r): Lorraine Palmer, HFO/Trident Sales Engineer; Alfred Williams, QVCC Dean of Academics and Student Services; Steve LaPointe, QVCC Director of Advanced Manufacturing; Jodi Clark, QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Educational Assistant; Paul Martland, QVCC Dean of Administrative Services; and Dr. Carlee Drummer, QVCC President
The 10,000 square foot QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center featuring a 5-axis Haas VF-2TR, along with two Haas ST-20 turning centers. Capable of simultaneous five-axis machining, the VF-2TR represents the highest level of technology within the center.
Rounding out the CNC machines in place within QVCC's all-new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center are four Haas Mini Mill vertical machining centers
Designed by architects Silver/Petrucelli & Associates, QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center building is LEED Silver Certified and includes a machine shop lab, classroom, conference room, mechatronics and metrology labs, mechanical and IT rooms, and a tool crib.
Dr. Carlee Drummer addresses the community gathered to celebrate the Ribbon Cutting for the QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center. Participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony were Governor Dannel Malloy; Mark Ojakian, President, The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; Congressman Joe Courtney, Connecticut Second Congressional District; Dr. Carlee Drummer, QVCC President; Senator Tony Guglielmo, Connecticut 35th Senatorial District; Senator Mae Flexer `08, Connecticut 29th Senatorial District; P.J. "Bud" Salemi, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services; Kelli Vallieres, President, Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA); Sabrina Bouvier `16, CNC Machinist, SPIROL International Corporation; Christian Sarantopoulos, President, The QVCC Foundation; and Steve LaPointe, QVCC director of advanced manufacturing technology.
On the heels of positive news from major Connecticut manufacturers including Sikorski and Electric Boat, the state's "Make it Here" campaign got another boost from the education sector. Governor Dannel Mallow cut the ribbon on a $4.8 million Advanced Manufacturing Center, at Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC). "This center is going to equip hundreds of people for the workforce," said QVCC President Carlee Drummer. "I am bursting with pride about our new building."
The 10,000 square-foot QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center features seven state-of-the-art Haas CNC machine tools, which includes a VF-2TR 5-axis machining center, four Mini Mill vertical machining centers and a pair of ST-10 turning centers. Complementing the CNC machines are several engine lathes, knee mills, surface grinders and various metrology equipment. This center will provide students with a true hands-on educational experience, preparing them for high-skill, high-paying jobs with Connecticut manufacturers in the aerospace, firearms, biomedical and defense industries.
"This is about change, and this is what change looks like," Gov. Dannel Malloy said during the ceremony. "It is not just about cutting a ribbon or putting a shovel in the ground. It is about the actual products our state is producing."
"Keeping in mind recent commitments that large manufacturers like Sikorsky and Electric Boat have made to remain in Connecticut, programs like those at QVCC are integral to maintaining the state's prominence in the national manufacturing space," said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.
"The Navy is planning on having a much larger fleet in the near future," Courtney added. "The submarines (produced by Electric Boat) are going to be at the absolute top of that food chain. I am totally bullish that in 20 years the economy is going to look a lot different than it does today, and what we are doing here is leading the way to that future."
QVCC's Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center also includes a classroom, conference room, mechatronics and metrology labs, mechanical and IT rooms, and a tool crib. Designed by architects Silver/Petrucelli & Associates, the building is LEED Silver Certified, has geothermal HVAC, and will display art by Jeff Slomba, professor of sculpture at Southern Connecticut State University, through the Art in Public Space program.
In 2012 the college was awarded funding from the state of Connecticut for the creation of a manufacturing center to encourage new job creation, while developing and strengthening the state's workforce competitiveness. The QVCC Advanced Manufacturing Technology certificate program has produced 119 graduates since 2013 and boasts a 95% job placement rate.
To help students with tuition, the Gene Haas Foundation awarded QVCC with a $25,000 scholarship grant. The grant was presented in the form of a giant check, by Lorraine Palmer of Trident Machine Tools, which is New England's Haas Factory Outlet. The grant is designated for scholarships to support the 34-credit advanced manufacturing certificate program.
"Manufacturers are lining up to hire our graduates," said Advanced Manufacturing Technology Director Steve LaPointe. "The Gene Haas Foundation's support will go a long way in helping more students launch manufacturing careers."
Participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony were Governor Dannel Malloy; Mark Ojakian, President, The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; Congressman Joe Courtney, Connecticut Second Congressional District; Dr. Carlee Drummer, QVCC president; Senator Tony Guglielmo, Connecticut 35th Senatorial District; Senator Mae Flexer `08, Connecticut 29th Senatorial District; P.J. "Bud" Salemi, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services; Kelli Vallieres, President, Eastern Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (EAMA); Sabrina Bouvier `16, CNC Machinist, SPIROL International Corporation; Christian Sarantopoulos, President, The QVCC Foundation; and Steve LaPointe, QVCC Director of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.
For more information contact:
HFO Trident
651 Day Hill Road
Windsor, CT 06095
888-622-4857 / 860-687-2466
www.hfotrident.com
Quinebaug Valley Community College
www.qvcc.edu