Oak Ridge Today

Dick Smyser Community Lecture on Thursday to feature advanced composites manufacturing executive

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Craig Blue

Craig Blue

The 19th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series on Thursday will feature Craig Blue, chief executive officer of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation.

Blue will give an overview of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation and Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. The lecture is sponsored by Friends of ORNL, or FORNL. It’s free and will be at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge.

A reception will be held in the museum lobby starting at 5:30 p.m. (snacks will be served), and the lecture starts at 6 p.m. in the museum auditorium, a press release said. This talk should be of interest to the general public, the release said. [Read more…]

Roane State ACE courses available at no cost to qualified students

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Composites Program

Leslie Agron (left) and Dana Hudson work on a class project as part of Roane State’s Advanced Composites Employment (ACE) program. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

Roane State Community College’s composite materials courses were just the challenge Dana Hudson wanted.

Hudson, of Knoxville, completed three introductory courses in composite materials through the college’s Advanced Composites Employment, or ACE, program. Hudson had taken college courses on and off for years. Her previous college work paid off because the number of college credits Hudson had completed qualified her to take the composite materials courses at no cost.

“It was a great experience, and it challenged me in some ways that I needed to be challenged,” Hudson said. “I learned a lot, and the courses added to my resume. The first night I was ready to quit, but I stuck with it and learned a lot, and I feel very proud of the achievement. Like I told my kids, you are never too old to learn.”

Roane State offers specialized composite materials courses as part of its Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in General Technology. Composite materials, such as carbon fiber, are used to make automotive body parts, pontoon boats, wind turbine blades, and much more. [Read more…]

Roane State’s ACE program, MasterCraft showcase carbon fiber part

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ACE Boat

This MasterCraft boat on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show featured a carbon fiber bow cover. (Submitted photo)

Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composites Employment program and boat manufacturer MasterCraft teamed up to demonstrate how composite materials can be used in the boating industry.

One of the goals of Roane State’s ACE program is to promote how composite materials such as carbon fiber can benefit businesses. Tru-Design, a partner in the ACE program, designed and manufactured a carbon fiber bow cover for MasterCraft that was on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show March 6-9.

The carbon fiber bow cover offers consumers a lightweight but strong part.

“The ACE program training is a real benefit for manufacturers in this area,” MasterCraft design engineer Adam Larson said. “The program provides manufacturers with a pool of well-trained individuals with hands-on experience in composite materials.” [Read more…]

Roane State ACE program hosts presentation on composites in the construction industry

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An expert on replacing traditional construction materials with composite materials spoke to representatives from the construction industry during a forum hosted by Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composite Employment program.

Isaac Diggs, president of Longhouse Enterprise Group, has more than 30 years of experience in civil construction projects. ACE and the East Tennessee Economic Council partnered to host Diggs’ Sept. 24 presentation at the University of Tennessee Outreach Center. The event is an example of how the ACE program raises awareness about the potential for composite materials in a variety of industries. [Read more…]

Advanced Composites program ‘perfect fit’ for Roane State teacher

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Andy Pokelwaldt

Roane State’s Andy Pokelwaldt, right, works with instructor Josh Martin to set up a filament-winding machine used by students in the college’s composite materials courses. (Submitted photo)

As the leader of Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composites Employment accelerator, Andy Pokelwaldt can blend his experience as a military trainer, an educator, and a mentor.

“I enjoy teaching, and I understand what having skills in composite materials will mean in the marketplace,” Pokelwaldt said. “Learning about composite materials will make people more employable, and that’s what this job is all about.”

The ACE program, based at the Halcyon Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, provides three introductory courses in composite materials. People with two- or four-year degrees can take the courses at no cost because ACE is grant-funded. [Read more…]

Roane State’s Gatton eager to show new side of manufacturing

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Bob Gatton of Roane State's National STEM Consortium

Roane State’s Bob Gatton explains a composite materials demonstration during an open house showcasing the college’s advanced manufacturing programs. (Submitted photo)

Bob Gatton wants to spread a simple but powerful message.

Manufacturing is not what it used to be.

“When you start talking about factories, people have this mental picture of being covered in soot,” Gatton said. “That’s just not true anymore. Most factories are clean and automated.”

As director of Roane State Community College’s National STEM Consortium Program, Gatton is in a position to train people for today’s high-tech manufacturing jobs. The college has developed two one-year certificate programs—mechatronics and composite materials—with funding from a $19.7 million grant awarded to the National STEM Consortium. [Read more…]

Roane State open house will showcase advanced manufacturing programs

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Everyone is invited to learn how Roane State Community College’s advanced manufacturing programs can help their career at an open house on Tuesday, July 30, at the Clinton Higher Education and Workforce Training Facility at 214 Nave St. in Clinton.

The open house is scheduled from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Visitors are welcome to drop by anytime to learn more about the programs. Employers are also encouraged to attend to learn more about training opportunities for their employees. [Read more…]

Roane State, ORNL, industries train workers in composites, advanced manufacturing

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John Thornton at Carbon Fiber Technology Facility

John Thornton, left, a graduate of Roane State’s Advanced Materials Training and Education Center and an intern at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, chats with Roane State President Chris Whaley. (Submitted photos)

John Thornton of Clinton graduated from Roane State Community College’s Advanced Materials Training and Education Center, or AMTEC, a year ago.

Today, he works in one of the most innovative places in the country.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” Thornton said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of this and hopefully develop a career out of it.”

Thornton is one of 13 AMTEC trainees interning at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility. The $35 million plant is a new advanced manufacturing facility designed to reduce the cost of carbon fiber—a critical material for efficient, lightweight vehicles, next-generation wind turbines, and a wide array of other consumer and industrial products. [Read more…]