NEWS

Haas welcomes HTEC Industry Partners to summit, Brussels

On November 24th, 2009, Haas Automation Europe held its first Haas Technical Education Centre (HTEC) Industry-Partner Summit. This extraordinary and inspiring event was an opportunity for representatives from all 13 collaborating companies (Haas +12) to meet at the company’s Brussels headquarters, discuss the HTEC programme and how to take advantage of the myriad opportunities it presents.

“This was a very successful first Summit,” says Bert Maes, HTEC program coordinator at Haas Europe. “The HTEC initiative is unique and aims to change the way schools in Europe teach CNC technology. The turnout was excellent, and gives a strong indication of how excited everyone is to be part of the programme. Some delegates traveled from as far away as the USA, and all of them took the time and the trouble to reiterate their commitment to helping schools around the continent. A few of our HTEC industry partners have only recently joined us, so it was a great opportunity for them to meet and compare their experiences with the more established collaborators.”

The HTEC Industry Partner Summit was held to coincide with the Haas Automation Europe Open House, which attracted almost 400 engineers, business owners and students over the two days of the event. The Industry Partners were given the opportunity to exhibit their products and services and to make presentations to visitors.

The very latest company to become an HTEC Industry Partner is coolant technology specialist CIMCOOL, represented at the Haas summit by marketing support manager, Cees de Moog, who was excited about the opportunities ahead.

“The HTEC program has very quickly caught the imagination of some well-respected companies, all of whom share Haas’ enthusiasm for the program and for what we can achieve together. CIMCOOL is delighted to be part of perhaps the most innovative CNC education initiative that Europe has seen for a long time.”

Mr. Maes concluded the summit meeting by telling delegates: “We are all aware that too many schools have obsolete technology with which to train students. Individually we can achieve little, but collectively we can change manufacturing education in Europe.”

The full roster of HTEC Industry Partners currently comprises:

• KELLER: The global leader in didactic software designed to teach the principles of CNC machining and graphic programming systems for production.
• ESPRIT: A high-performance, full-spectrum CAM system for a comprehensive range of machine tool applications.
• MASTERCAM: The world’s most widely used CAM software.
• SANDVIK COROMANT: The world's leading manufacturer of cutting tools for the metalworking industry.
• RENISHAW: The leading manufacturer of industrial measuring products and probing systems.
• BLASER: The leading Swiss-quality coolant specialist for the metal cutting industry.
• CHICK: Designing and manufacturing innovative work-holding solutions for more than 20 years
• SCHUNK: A leading manufacturer of work-holding and automation equipment
• URMA: Swiss manufacturer of high-performance precision tools and tool-pre-setters.
• Air Turbine Technology Inc. manufacturer and supplier of patented technology high-torque, low-vibration, high-speed spindles.
• HAINBUCH GmbH, manufacturer and supplier of work-holding technology.
• CIMCOOL, a world-leader in metalworking fluids technology