Wallace Opens Welding Simulation Lab

Press Release

Viewed: 3769

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Aug 25 2011 9:43 AM

Chris Stivers of Lincoln Electric, WCC welding instructor Joe Johnson, and Dr. Amy Brabham, director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, examine a Lincoln Electric VRTEX 360 welding simulator at the Wallace Community Sparks Campus in Eufaula, Ala. The equipment simulates the touch, sound and sight sensations of actual welding, allowing for virtual instruction without waste and fumes. Funding was provided from the Governor’s Recovery Act Skills Training Program.

 

Wallace Opens Welding Simulation Lab

 

Dothan, Ala.— Wallace Community College has introduced state-of-the-art welding simulation equipment into its welding program thanks to a 2009 grant of $90,000 from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development.

 

The College opened a welding simulation lab at the Sparks Campus in Eufaula, Ala., with the purchase of a Lincoln Electric VRTEX 360 Virtual Reality Arc Welding Trainer. The equipment simulates the real sensations of actual welding, but without the waste and fumes. Wallace is the only institution in Alabama with this technology.

 

According to Dr. Michael G. Babb, Dean of Instructional Affairs, the new technology will increase the amount of time students are able to spend on projects and save money. “Simulation will reduce the supply costs and help eliminate waste,” says Babb. “It will also lessen set-up time on projects, which will result in more of the student’s time being spent on task.” Babb says this preparation will help students advance through skills more quickly to be prepared to move into actual projects. “We hope to incorporate industry training in the mix,” says Babb. “That’s where students will really hone their skills and develop their careers.”

 

The Region 10 Workforce Development Council recommended the grant funding in 2009, based on Alabama employment statistics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is expected to grow about 5 percent nationally through 2016, with two-thirds of those jobs being in manufacturing. State industry forecasts suggest the welding workforce will increase 2.13 percent annually through the next decade, largely due to the influx of automobile manufacturing plants in Alabama. Local demand is expected to increase at 2.71 percent, slightly above the state average.

 

The Wallace welding program funnels qualified workers into the state and local workforce. Area employers include Michelin, NYPRO, Perdue, Sara Lee Bakery Plants, Southeastern Sheet Metal Farley Nuclear Plant, Covenant Steel, Michelin, Utility Trailers, and Outdoor Aluminum. College officials suggest students who complete the certified pipe welding program can find entry-level work with starting salary ranges from $15 to $25 per hour.

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