Columbus Technical College recently unveiled its renovated state-of-the-art machine tool technology and CNC manufacturing space to area employers and community partners. Students studying CNC and Machine Tool technology are honing their skills on the best equipment available while being taught by faculty with real-world experience. One way for Columbus Tech’s Machine Tool Technology students to obtain this know-how is through a registered apprenticeship. As such, students can earn their degree, diploma, or certificate while getting paid a competitive hourly wage and gaining invaluable on-the-job experience at a participating industry partner. When they finish the program, the apprentices are awarded a U.S. DOL certificate of completion indicating the field of specialty. For more information, contact Jim McNair, Dean at jmcnair@columbustech.edu.
Columbus manufacturer Oneda is a big supporter of the apprenticeship programs and the Columbus Tech training ground as a whole.
"This is a great foundation when the students come through our doors," said Heather Hollstein with Oneda. "All we have to do is indoctrinate them in our culture. They have the basic skills and are ready to work."
Learning on the latest equipment is vital in these kinds of industries. The newly renovated lab space at Columbus Tech features the same Okuma CNC Machining Center used by several local industries as well as two new benchtop drill presses, a general purpose box furnace, and a three-axis machining center. The facility has been updated to include new wiring, fresh paint, a glassed-in observation area for the instructor and visitors, and even fatigue mats at each machine. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for machinists and tool and die makers is good with the mean salary in Georgia for machinists being almost $44,000 per year and for a tool and die maker, it’s nearly $51,000 annually.
The renovation took nearly two years to complete at the cost of $373,000. The new equipment came from the Perkins Grant and the Refresh Equipment Grant; improvements were paid for through the Minor Repair & Renovations (MR&R) grant.
For additional questions or information, contact Kenya Motley/Machine Tool program director at kmotley@columbustech.edu or 706-649-1829 or Jim McNair/Dean of Professional & Technical Services at jmcnair@columbustech.edu or 706-641-4034. To view some pictures of the event, check out our photo gallery.