Opened Advanced Technology and Academic Center

The Advanced Technology and Academic Center (ATAC) which will be based in Rochester, New Hampshire, US will offer traditional academic courses and programmes in advanced composites manufacturing.

The 17,000 square foot ATAC will provide programmes in advanced composites manufacturing starting from 17th June 2013 and Great Bay say the centre is the largest single project under the statewide Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Education initiative, formed by the Community College System of New Hampshire under a $20M federal grant.

The College say the new advanced composites manufacturing curriculum has been developed to fit the needs of area manufacturers, among those, Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) and Safran Aerospace Composites (SAC), who will be co-locating a new manufacturing plant in Rochester at the Granite State Business Park. The plant is being built by SAC and is expected to add about 500 jobs to the local market. It is scheduled to start operations later this summer.

Debra Mattson, Advanced Manufacturing Program Director and Designer for Great Bay describes the training as structured around a six month tiered programme. "At the end of the six months, full-time students earn a certificate in Composites Manufacturing and are qualified for positions as high level machine- operators with options for continuing into an Associate Degree in Technical Studies. It's a great way to get into the aerospace industry." Students first take three courses; Introduction to Advanced Composites, Applied Math & Measuring for Manufacturing and Technical Blueprint Reading.

At the end that term, they identify an area of interest and start training for positions as high level machine operators/technicians in one of eight areas of specialisation. Specialisations are paint operator; 3D weaving & pre-form finishing technician; resin transfer moulding technician; bonding/finishing operator and quality inspection and laser engraving machine operator, and composites milling/CNC set-up operator. In addition, training for aerospace composites repair technician and high-performance composites fabrication technician career tracks or positions will be offered.

During the programme, students will spend half their time doing hands-on work in the centre's state-of-the art composites lab. According to Mattson, the lab will house the newest equipment for high tech composites manufacturing including a clean room, Autoclave, RTM press, Curing Oven, a 3D weaving loom, a full range of CAD, CAM, 3D printer, CNC and CMM equipment as well as other commonly recognised equipment used in aerospace manufacturing facilities. The lab is slated for completion by the end of this summer.

A full time instructor, a lab technician as well as five adjunct faculties has been hired for the new training programme. During the course development phase and lab installation, they will be supported by internationally recognised composites expert Andre Cocquyt. In addition, the programme will take advantage of on-line course content such as offered by SME owned ToolingU, an on-line education provider. This will provide future alignment with the SME certification programme.

To make the public more aware of the composites industry and aerospace composites manufacturing at Safran and Albany, as well as job trends, Great Bay will be hosting free informational session on Advanced Composites Manufacturing on 7th and 8th June at the new ATAC in Rochester. At the event Andre Cocquyt will provide information on the composites industry and representatives from SAC and AEC will be on hand to talk about their companies, the aircraft engine components they are manufacturing in Rochester, and the job opportunities at their new plant opening this summer.