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So far Amanda Towner has created 185 blog entries.

RENK AG invests in Modest Tree

RENK AG (RENK), a manufacturer of drivetrain technologies, has announced a strategic investment in Modest Tree Media Inc. (Modest Tree), which developes extended reality (XR) applications and software to create immersive training solutions without coding. Modest Tree is well-known for delivering advanced applications for industrial workplace training and marketing to global enterprise clients. Recognized as a technology leader in the North American market, Modest Tree is currently in the process of expanding into the European virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) training markets. The aim of this strategic relationship is to strengthen the already existing cooperation between the two companies in order to accelerate the development of existing and future enterprise VR and AR solutions. “By acquiring a minority stake in Modest Tree, RENK will be at the forefront of shaping digital communication solutions. Together with Modest Tree, we will deliver state-of-the-art training and support services, while exploring other new possibilities to meet our customers’ future demands,” said Florian Hofbauer, RENK CEO. Modest Tree Founder and CEO Saman Sannandeji: “Supported by a strong partner who has a clear understanding of the value and potential for immersive technologies in the industrial workplace, our close cooperation with RENK will fuel our [...]

By | 2019-08-26T16:16:48+00:00 August 26th, 2019|
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Students to Graduate from First HVAC Boot Camp

Bevill State Community College (BSCC) announced the graduation of students from the first HVAC Boot Camp held at the Bevill State/Alabama Power HVAC Training Center. The graduation will be on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at noon. The ceremony will take place at the HVAC Training Facility located at 3711 Industrial Court, Jasper, Alabama. The HVAC-R Summer Boot Camp is an accelerated non-credit training program that teaches technical knowledge and skills to repair, install, service, and maintain the operating condition of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. Instruction and hands-on training include diagnostic techniques, use of testing equipment, and principles of mechanics, electricity, and electronics as related to repair. The HVAC-R Workforce Foundation reports that by 2021, there will be a shortage of more than 170,000 technicians. In response to this national industry need, and in partnership with Alabama Power, the Bevill State Workforce Solutions Division developed a 295-hour, short-term, non-credit class to train and place participants in HVAC-R technician jobs within a few months. Participants are taught in a state-of-the-art facility, by highly qualified Alabama Power instructors. Graduates earn a Bevill State certification, EPA Section 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification, and qualify to take the State of Alabama HVAC-R Contractors Exam. [...]

By | 2019-08-23T14:47:14+00:00 August 23rd, 2019|
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One Energy Funds More Than $200K in Scholarships

One Energy Enterprises, an industrial power company, has funded a total of $210,000 in scholarships to local students since the inception of its Megawatt Scholarship program four years ago. Submissions are now being accepted for the next round of Megawatt Scholarships. One Energy installs utility-scale wind turbines at commercial and manufacturing facilities, and with each turbine it builds, One Energy offers a $5,000 annual scholarship in conjunction with its customer. The scholarships go toward local high school seniors pursuing two-year or four-year degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). Current partners include Ball Corporation, LafargeHolcim, Valfilm North America, and Whirlpool Corporation, with scholarship opportunities available to more than fourteen counties. “We are a company that uses science, technology, engineering, and math every single day – we believe STEM education is vital to developing our nation’s future industry leaders," said Jereme Kent, CEO of One Energy. “We hope these scholarships encourage more students to consider in-demand careers in the fast-growing renewable energy sector.”    

By | 2019-08-21T19:29:26+00:00 August 21st, 2019|
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Construction Education Foundation Releases Updated Curricula

NCCER recently released the following training curricula: Project Management; Pipefitting Levels 1 – 4; Maritime Electrical Levels 1 – 4; Maritime Welding Levels 1 – 3; and Maritime Welding Aluminum Welding. Project Management and Pipefitting now offer downloadable lesson plans, and all of the curricula provides ADA-compliant PowerPoint presentations, which are organized by modules. NCCER develops and distributes its curricula in partnership with textbook publisher Pearson and ensures that it complies with the Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship requirements for time-based training. Individuals who successfully complete these training programs through an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor will earn industry-recognized credentials through the NCCER Registry System. Project Management has been updated with current information on legal policies that impact an organization, including issues surrounding disabled workers, sexual harassment, gender and minority discrimination, child labor laws and more. In addition, information has been added regarding the most common categories of workplace injuries, non-verbal communication, and the laws of employee recruitment and interviewing. Of note is the examination regarding reasons to have an effective safety program and the detrimental results of not having one in place. Pipefitting Levels 1 - 4 have been revised with updated images and additional clarifying content for each [...]

By | 2019-08-20T18:54:12+00:00 August 20th, 2019|
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Current Builders Training Program Alleviates Construction Shortage

The national labor shortage is hitting the construction industry with an especially hard punch, but South Florida’s Current Builders has developed a transformative program to help alleviate the crisis. CB University is a free, bilingual, in-house program that educates motivated workers who want to advance to the next level. The general contractor recently announced the addition of an NCCER Master Trainer and four NCCER Certified Teachers to their in-house program. “There is much talk in the news of what has led to the construction shortage, including the demise of the unions, immigration issues, negative perception among students, but we need more focus on what can be done to prepare ambitious workers in their quest to succeed,” said Chip Reid, Current Builders’ CEO. With estimates of 300,000 unfilled jobs and 80 percent of companies saying their growth has been hampered by the shortage, the construction industry has been searching for ways to attract new workers and create loyal employees. Current Builders has utilized many successful programs including the ACE Mentorship program for high school students, internships and scholarships through the University of Florida’s Rinker School of Construction Management and the active recruitment of women into the industry. While this multi-pronged approach [...]

By | 2019-08-19T16:15:30+00:00 August 19th, 2019|
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NuScale and Partner Universities Win DOE Grants

NuScale Power announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded three grants to support the installation of a NuScale reactor plant simulator at Oregon State University, Texas A&M University-College Station and the University of Idaho. When completed, the simulator facilities will be used for research, education, K-12 outreach and public advocacy regarding nuclear power and small modular reactor (SMR) technology. “These simulator facilities will create new research opportunities and help ensure that we educate future generations about the important role nuclear power and SMR technology will play in attaining a safe, clean and secure energy future for our country,” said John Hopkins, chairman and chief executive officer of NuScale Power. NuScale’s reactor simulator is a virtual nuclear power plant control room that provides U.S. universities and national laboratories with the ability to observe nuclear plant behavior from the control room. These simulators, based on NuScale’s simulator technology and computer models, will include a simulator interface that accepts input from operators in a virtual control room and displays parameters simulating the plant response. The simulator facilitates research into human factors engineering, human-system interface design, advanced diagnostics, cyber security and plant control room automation. In addition to supporting STEM research [...]

By | 2019-08-16T17:55:06+00:00 August 16th, 2019|
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Proforma Affiliate Owner Wins $6M Nuclear Power Training Contract

Rich Mitchell, owner of ProMediaAspire, has secured a $6-million contract with a nuclear power company across 13 of their nuclear generation stations. The contract provides a format to train workers through the use of cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) technology to help reduce health risks to employees. Mitchell is utilizing VR 3D modelling to create virtual rooms and floor plans of nuclear power plants that will be used to train workers to perform quickly and efficiently on plant maintenance and repair. This technology will reduce employees’ work hours inside the plant and limit overall long-term radiological exposure. When Rich became aware of the opportunities in nuclear power training, he immediately began working with Proforma’s Vendor Relations team to identify a list of Preferred Suppliers that had the right set of resources and experience. The network’s Vendor Relations team was able to pair Mitchell with a Proforma Preferred Supplier that had a background in VR training in the energy, aerospace and military sectors. “This was a win-win contract that I could have never done without Proforma,” says Rich Mitchell. “Our ability to use Virtual Reality in this unique setting will significantly impact nuclear power companies who adopt this technology, minimizing the risk [...]

By | 2019-08-15T19:19:41+00:00 August 15th, 2019|
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Micromeritics Launches MLC Online Instrument Training

Micromeritics Instrument Corporation (Micromeritics) launched its Micromeritics Learning Center (MLC) Online Instrument Training eLearning Platform. The Company is currently offering free e-learning courses on AccuPyc II 1340 (PC and Keypad), GeoPyc 1365 (Envelope and T.A.P. Density), and MIC SAS 5800. “Micromeritics has established a long history of training customers. These activities include onsite training at the customer’s facility and at the Micromeritics corporate headquarters in Norcross, Gorgia, USA or other Micromeritics direct offices in Europe and Asia,” said Jack Saad Micromeritics Associate Scientist and Global Training and Support Manager. “Each of these training activities poses unique logistical challenges, and given our growth and global reach, we are introducing this new online training and education as a new on-demand resource for training the Micromeritics global community which includes customers, employees, business partners and potential future customers.” A typical course will include a series of modules on installation, operational theory, sample analysis, and reporting. At the end of each module there will be a quiz with 5-10 questions that needs to be passed with a score of 80 percent or higher. Once all modules are complete, the user will then complete a short survey in order to receive their certificate of completion [...]

By | 2019-08-14T18:07:53+00:00 August 14th, 2019|
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GSE Systems Delivers and Commissions Full-Scope Simulators

GSE Systems Inc. has completed delivery and commissioning of three additional full-scope simulators for Southern Nuclear’s new Operations Training Centers. These new simulators reflect Southern’s commitment to modernize, optimize and expand their fleet’s operator training program. This Southern Nuclear project is the largest single nuclear simulator project in the U.S. in the past 30 years and included three new replica simulators for the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant and the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant. These additional simulators will add flexible scheduling and increased capacity that can drive operator performance. The simulators will also offer more availability to each plant’s engineering and maintenance staff, who find the simulators useful for virtually commissioning plant changes, validating plant procedures, management certification, and a variety of other training activities. In addition, the simulators have been upgraded with some of GSE’s latest technology, including the new OpenSim 7.0 simulator operating system and enhanced containment modeling program and GSE’s PSA-HD program to train operators on beyond design basis events. Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power.    

By | 2019-08-14T18:50:39+00:00 August 13th, 2019|
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Texas Governor Announces $5.2M Grants For Workforce Training

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced more than $5.2 million in Texas Talent Connection grants to 15 innovative workforce skills training and job placement programs across the state. These competitive grant awards, administered by the Texas Workforce Investment Council in the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism division, support innovative education and workforce skills training programs that lead to successful job placement, increased wages, and improved job retention, as well as programs serving workforce populations with special needs. Alvin Community College in Brazoria County is awarded $394,004 for the Alvin Community College Student Success Initiative serving Brazoria County with integrated reading, writing, and math curricula to model workplace applications for postsecondary youth and adults, as well as mentoring, academic counseling, and career coaching. American Youthworks in Travis County is awarded $255,924 for the New Start Pre-Release Occupational Training program serving Travis County. This vocational program serves incarcerated youth ages 16-24 who reside at the Travis County Correctional Complex by providing construction industry certification training and re-entry services upon release. Central Texas College in Bell County is awarded $113,297 for the Educational Accelerated Gateway to Leadership and Employability Summer Camp serving graduating high school seniors in Bell County. Graduates participate in a full [...]

By | 2019-08-12T20:59:20+00:00 August 12th, 2019|
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