MILFORD- The Southeast Community College welding department is buying new equipment to better serve students who wish to work in the welding industry.
According to co-chair of the welding department, Dan Zabel, the department recently traded in their old shearer, a piece of equipment that cuts metal, for a new HM-I 8010 shearer that was built in Columbus.
Zabel said that his department likes to source equipment locally whenever possible.
The welding department is currently accepting bids from several companies to replace some of their multi-process welding power sources. Zabel says his department normally replaces only a handful of the power sources a quarter but is seeking between 15 and 18 this time.
When asked about the larger number of replacement power sources Zabel replied that the high volume of students was simply wearing the machines out.
Besides the welding program, Zabel said students from the railroad training and automotive programs also use the welding equipment from time to time.
Zabel, who has been working at SCC for almost 30 years, says that the economy is rebounding after the recession and many businesses are turning to trade schools for skilled labor.
The welding department at SCC has been at its maximum number of students for the last three years. For potential welding students, this means a lengthy wait-list of several quarters.
The high volume of students also means that the equipment in the welding department gets used continuously from early morning to late evening. With that kind of stress, SCC must replace some pieces of equipment on a quarterly basis.
For more information on the Welding Technology program, readers can visit the following link: Welding Technology