Tri-C unveils new mobile training unit

It houses a versatile lab area for hands-on training, 10 desk stations, a whiteboard and video system.

The Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence at Cuyahoga Community College has debuted a mobile training unit designed to bring workforce development programs to the doorsteps of Northeast Ohio companies and schools.

The mobile unit houses a versatile lab area for hands-on training and a classroom space with 10 desk stations, a whiteboard and video system, according to a Tri-C press release. The college retrofitted a 53-foot-long trailer to create the roving instructional space.

The “training center on wheels” allows Tri-C to address the region’s manufacturing skills gap through customized programs at client sites, said Alicia Booker, vice president of manufacturing with the College’s Workforce, Community and Economic Development division.

“Tri-C developed the mobile unit in response to the needs of Northeast Ohio,” Booker said in the press release. “By increasing access to this essential training, the college can help keep local manufacturers competitive while providing workers with the skills to expand job opportunities.”

Initial training programs include CNC machining, welding, 3D printing and programmable logic controllers, with others in development. The lab’s plugand-play design allows the college to change out equipment to tailor each session to specific training demands.

Tri-C is in the process of scheduling training sessions with local employers, the release stated. The college also plans to bring the mobile unit to schools and community events to showcase the skills needed to succeed in today’s manufacturing sector.

For more information, visit www.tri-c.edu/mobileunit.