Pittsburgh, PA -- While businesses were in lockdown and people were quarantined at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, TRAK Machine Tools – Southwestern Industries Inc. and New Century Careers continued to forge a partnership that will benefit Pittsburgh’s regional manufacturing industry.
TRAK Machine Tools Pittsburgh Showroom will open at NCC’s Anselmo Innovation Training Center, 305 E. Carson Street, South Side. “This unique strategic public-nonprofit partnership launches the next iteration of regional post-COVID recovery for the industry,” said Neil Ashbaugh, NCC president and CEO. “It will help to reframe NCC for a larger role in the industry as a whole.”
A grand opening is scheduled for August 25-26.
Because of the COVID-19-based cancellation of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (ITMS), one of the world’s largest manufacturing technology events, the showroom opening is expected to have heightened interest for companies in the market for new equipment, added Ashbaugh.
At the Pittsburgh location, TRAK will offer regional manufacturers and TRAK prospects and customers in central and western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio demonstrations of TRAK machines and comprehensive support for TRAK and ProtoTRAK products performed by a factory direct personnel. Companies visiting the showroom also will be introduced to NCC training programs and Job Shop, which provides parts for prototype to small batch production runs.
“The partnership between TRAK Machine Tools and New Century Careers creates a unique opportunity and synergy that will equip the Southwestern Pennsylvania workforce with the advanced skills employers need for the challenges of Industry 4.0.,” said Steve Pinto, President and CEO, TRAK Machine Tools – Southwestern Industries, Inc. “We believe that our presence at NCC will expose more students, trainers and employers to transformative technology that will allow them to compete and be more productive.”
The new showroom expands upon the TRAK equipment NCC currently utilizes for its onsite training programs including the DPMRX3 Bed Mill, 1845RX Lathe, the 2op-M11 Portable VMC, and the new VMC5, introduced by TRAK in March of 2020.
The TRAK VMC5 is a three-axis machining center to run low volume production while running in “Production Ops.” With the flip of a keyed switch, the operator can enter into Toolroom Ops and the VMC works like a TRAK DPM, only with an enclosure that keeps chips and coolant contained.
“For manufacturers, this equipment offers a high level of flexibility, design and onsite maintenance capabilities to support maximum productivity. What’s more, NCC trainees will gain confidence through experience on these machines, ideal for entry-level job readiness for dozens of open positions regionally,” said Ashbaugh.
The NCC training center floor plan was revamped over the last few months to accommodate the additional TRAK milling and CNC turning equipment being added to the showroom:
“Everything a consumer touches except the air that you breathe has been touched by a machine,” says Michael McGarry, TRAK Regional Manager, “along with every industry -- auto, healthcare, education and research, aerospace, and agriculture, to name a few.” McGarry notes recent critical applications. “Machines like 3-D printers produced face masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline COVID-19 workers. Manufacturers retooled production lines to make respirators and other essentials in higher volume,” he says.
To plan a showroom visit and equipment demonstration call Amanda at TRAK, 310-608-4422 x159. To schedule a TRAK Field Service Technician, call 800-367-3165.
NCC training is free and classes enroll year round. New trainees will be among the first to work on the new showroom machines. Interested candidates, including those unemployed or underemployed due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, are encouraged to apply. Enrollment details for the training can be found at www.ncsquared.com or contact Patrick Bendel, 412-258-6668.
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