Large Selmet Gift Supports Expanded Welding Program at LBCC
Selmet, building upon a many year relationship with Linn-Benton Community College,
is helping meet the workforce needs of the region by donating 18 new welding machines
to the college welding program.
Selmet Vice President and General Manager Marc Christman said, “CPP-Selmet is fortunate
to be a part of the rapidly growing aerospace industry. Jet engine and jet aircraft
production, for which CPP-Selmet provides titanium castings, is growing at a rapid
pace. In order to meet our customers’ growing demands, we need to continue to grow
our workforce locally. We need the trained and skilled employees that LBCC produces
through its manufacturing programs. We are excited to deepen our partnership with
LBCC and look forward to lots of LBCC grads coming to work at CPP-Selmet.”
There is a huge need for skilled workers in a number of manufacturing industries in
the area. LBCC is expanding the space for welding instruction, and the equipment provided
by Selmet will allow for an increased number of trained welding graduates.
“The wonderful gift of welding equipment will increase the amount of hands on learning
time so students can hone their welding skills to meet the needs of local industry,”
said LBCC President Greg Hamann. “LBCC is thrilled to have a partner so willing to
invest and so committed to the success of our students and the economic vitality of
the region.”
Marc Rose, chair of LBCC’s Welding Technology department, was clear about the impact
Selmet’s gift will have. “The welders that Selmet is supplying will be utilized in
all courses and can be used to teach several types of welding processes,” said Rose.
“This comes at a time when our demand is up, and this new equipment is much more versatile
and will allow us to do much more.”
Cameren Moran, Welding Technology faculty, agreed: “The welders Selmet is providing
will help us facilitate everything from welding structural steel to welding titanium.
These welders are multi-process machines that are capable of Shielded Metal Arc Welding,
Gas Metal Arc Welding, Flux Cored Arc Welding, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding.”
The new welding equipment provided by Selmet will be in use this spring. The ribbon
cutting for the new welding facility at LBCC is set for September.
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About Linn-Benton Community College: More than 18,000 students rely on Linn-Benton Community College each year for higher education including career technical education, transfer degree programs, professional development, corporate training, small business development, community education classes and more. Serving the mid-Willamette Valley with six locations including its main campus in Albany, LBCC partners with multiple business and industries to enrich the community and support economic growth. LBCC students choose from more than 80 programs and go on to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, skilled workers and community builders.