NEWS

Scandinavia Celebrating First HTECs

Bäckadalsgymnasiet was inaugurated on May 13th as the country's first HTEC and was attended by100guests from industry and the municipal government and educational services. After speeches and ribbon cutting the visitors saw samples of students' work produced on a Haas SL-10 CNC turning centre and a Toolroom lathe TL-1, as well as prismatic work made using a Haas Toolroom Mill TM-1P and a VF-1 vertical machining centre. The HTEC is also equipped with Haas CNC simulators and with computers running Keller CNCPlus-Training: a groundbreaking program designed to teach both beginners and experienced operators how to program a Haas machine. In an adjacent ‘design’ workshop two, additional Haas TM-1Ps are also available to students.

The speakers at the inauguration in Jönköping included a representative from local government, Mr. Mats Gren, as well as Mr. Tony Grahn, a personnel manager at Fager Belysning AB. Both agreed that the new HTEC is an important step to increase and improve relations between the school and local business.

“Our region is always facing new economic challenges and we must adapt to business needs in the manufacturing industry to make us more competitive,” said Mr. Gren.

Hosts of the event in Jönköping, Gymnasietchef Mr. Stefan Hagström and Rector Mr. Hans Lundgren, added their appreciation for the efforts of all involved. Mr Lundgren commented he felt positive that more young people would be attracted to CNC education, thanks to the new HTEC facility.

"Right now we have filled all Autumn 2009 programs,” he said. “In the future we will increase admission requirements, which will help to guarantee a higher number of truly motivated students are admitted to course. We’ve also discussed the possibility of evening classes with local businesses.”

The inauguration of the HTEC at John Bauergymnasiet in Värnamo on May 14th was also well attended with many representatives from the region's manufacturing companies.

"There are few 14-year old students who have any idea of what manufacturing looks like in the 21st century,” said principal speaker at John Bauergymnasiet Mr. Niclas Mårtensson, president of Bufab Lann AB and representative of the association Teknikföretagen. “But, with this HTEC program, and with this new equipment, we can enlighten young people and find and educate the CNC operators of the future. If our manufacturing sector is to compete with low wage countries we simply must have the right skills available."

 The new HTEC facility in Värnamo houses two Haas machines, a MiniMill and an SL-10, as well as four Haas CNC control simulators.

Both new HTECs are supported by the program’s Industry Partners, including: KELLER, MasterCam, Esprit, Renishaw, Sandvik Coromant, Schunk, Blaser, Urma, Chick and the latest member to join the program, Air Turbine Spindles.

Before Haas introduced the HTEC program, it seemed that fewer and fewer young people were choosing to train as CNC machinists. To help students begin well-paid and rewarding careers Haas introduced what has become an exemplar of hands-on technical training, both in continental Europe and also in the USA, where a network of more than 700 facilities already trains thousands of students every year. Since the European program was launched in 2007, Haas has certified 19 different schools and this number is expected to grow to more than 200 within a few years.

"Everything that exists around us is manufactured in one way or another,” says Haas Europe Managing Director, Mr. Peter Hall. “CNC-controlled production is the key technology in this area. Unfortunately, there is a lack of machinists, which will create major problems if we do not reverse the trend. The HTEC program is only part of the solution, but it’s an important one."

Staff at both Bäckadalsgymnasiet and also John Bauergymnasiet agrees that the underlying problem is that so few young people are attracted to careers in manufacturing. Young people often see industry as old-fashion and dirty work. And who, says Kristin Alexandersson from the Haas Factory Outlet (HFO) Edströms AB, in Jönköping, can blame them?

"Nobody would want to be trained on computers that are 25 years old,” she says, “so why is it acceptable to train future engineers using outdated equipment? The development of CNC technology is fast and exciting. With the assistance of Haas Automation, the renovation of the school workshop premises and the availability of the latest machinery, tools and support equipment, the students’ perception is changing."

Mr. Hall commends the role of the local Haas Factory Outlet (HFO) in identifying and motivating schools that have potential to become HTEC’s.

“These new HTECs in Scandinavia illustrate once again how HFO’s are the key local element to make them a success,” he says. “It’s our distributors, like Haas Factory Outlet (HFO) Edströms AB, that develop the concept with the school, supply the machines, install and set them up, etc. They also train the teachers and provide the crucial long-term support to make the HTEC a success. HFO’s also coordinate the participation and support of HTEC Industry Partners.”