Iceland Joins Haas Technical Education Center Network

“We want our students to be recognized leaders in the field of modern technology,” FNV Principal Mrs. Ingileif Oddsdóttir said. “We are certain the Haas machines will help us to achieve this."

----

Few economies were hit as hard and as early during the recent banking crisis as that of Iceland. But, despite the resulting crippling interest rates, migration that has decimated the workforce, and high unemployment, the country still has a future worth investing in.

Iceland’s first HTEC opened on November 4th, 2011, at the Fjölbrautaskóli Norðurlands vestra (FNV - North-West Community College) in Sauðárkrókur. This most northern HTEC in the European network is equipped with two TL-1 Toolroom Lathes, and a VF-3 vertical machining centre with a TR160 Trunnion rotary table, for 5-axis cutting operations.

“The Icelandic economy depends heavily on fishing and fish processing technology,” says Hjörtur P. Jónsson, CEO of Haas Factory Outlet: A Division of Idnvélar ehf, “so as a nation, we need to invest in more diverse sectors. We have an abundance of metal ore, natural resources and energy. The opportunities for manufacturing in Iceland are virtually unlimited, so the challenge is about educating people and showing them what we are capable of.”

“The metal industry in Iceland needs development,” concurred Mr. Thorkell V. Thorsteinsson (Þorkell V. Þorsteinsson), FNV Vice Principal. “I believe that metal processing – that is, creating good quality stock material, is the starting point for technological innovation. I also believe that the metal processing industry will have a stablising effect on our economy, and CNC education will prove to be the future for our manufacturing sector.”

Like all, similar HTEC opening events around Europe, Iceland’s first was attended by dignitries and representatives from national government, including the head of upper secondary schools for the Ministry of Education, Mr. Thórir Ólafsson (Þórir Ólafsson): “Our country has 32 upper secondary schools,” he said, after the event, and amongst them, FNV is already known as a school that delivers high-skilled students ready for industry. In the Iceland Skills competition, students of this school won the gold and silver medals. The metal-cutting technology that is taught here, with the support of Haas Automation makes FNV the model for schools of this kind.”

Also at the event, Haas Automation Europe Managing Director, Mr. Alain Reynvoet commented: “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of our local customers during this exciting Grand Opening. Every one of them has told me that Haas CNC machine tools and this new HTEC, supported by the local HFO and our HTEC industry partners, will help the country’s industrial sector to build a strong future.”

FNV Principal Mrs. Ingileif Oddsdóttir added that the school’s aim is to have the same technology as manufacturing companies have in their factories. “We want our students to be recognized leaders in the field of modern technology,” she said. “We are certain the Haas machines will help us to achieve this and we are confident that by being an affiliated and certified HTEC, we have the credentials to extend our technical and training services to local companies. To be successful, it’s vital we build relations with industry, and this is how it is done.”