Pictured, front row: Zach Caldwell, Jeffrey Martin, Scott Gould and Tyler Scott Ellis. Back row: Adult Director Richard George, FANUC Instructor Mark Edington, TRCC Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Instructor Ritch Ramey, Hayden Behrens, David Moser, Casey Ogan, Austin Guthrie, Mason Dancz, Superintendent Chuck Speelman.
Marion’s Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative (RAMTEC)—the first and only training facility of its kind in Ohio—celebrated the FANUC certification of nine high school students, Friday, May 16, 2014. These Tri-Rivers/RAMTEC Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering students are the first students in the United States to achieve this certification as high school students, according to Mark Edington, C.E.R.T./Fanuc Robotics Instructor for RAMTEC, located on the Tri-Rivers Career Center Campus.
The first three Tri-Rivers Engineering students to earn FANUC Certification— Handling Tool Operations & Programming— included: Mason Dancz, Scott Gould, and Jeffrey Martin. They were followed by Austin Guthrie, Tyler Scott Ellis, David Moser, Casey Ogan, Zach Caldwell and Hayden Behrens earning their certifications. Their Engineering Instructor Ritch Ramey said earning certification and skills in an area that is in high demand by manufacturing is a major accomplishment.
Gould said he plans to use his certification toward his goal of being a robotics technician at Honda. Gould was one of the students who joined Senator Rob Portman during a round table on the critical needs of manufacturing held at Tri-Rivers in March.
Edington said the students achieved their FANUC certification by working on the most current robotics equipment on the market. “They each received a course completion certificate and are “Fanuc Certfied.” Edington, one of only eight FANUC certification instructors in the country, has 25 years of Engineering and Manufacturing experience with extensive knowledge in robotic and automation using Fanuc robots. He had the opportunity to spend time in the Fanuc World Headquarters in Japan. “From my experience I can tell you that these young people have an edge by achieving this certification. RAMTEC brings this opportunity to high school and adult students in this area and all of Ohio and beyond.”
Several classes of adult students have also earned FANUC certification since RAMTEC opened in the fall, including individuals from companies/schools such as American Showa, Marion Industries, Honda, Con Agra, and Marion Technical College. Others to start training soon, include individuals from Cardington Yutaka, Silverline, Bridgestone, US Yachiyo, and Whirlpool.
RAMTEC is obtaining statewide and National notoriety with legislators , senators, Industry and colleges as the leader in providing certified training, said Edington. “This training is a pathway for students—high school and college— to build upon technical skill sets and open career opportunities for them.”
To learn more about certifications through RAMTEC, contact Edington at 740-396-9011. You can also visit ramtecohio.com.
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