Area students will be better prepared for a number of engineering and technical careers, thanks to the newly created LTC-Plymouth Science & Technology Center.

“The opportunities now available to students as a result of this initiative open the door to additional career pathways for our students,” said Plymouth School District Superintendent Clark Reinke. “The technology and coursework this center offers will provide a great deal of academic rigor with career relevant application.” 

The public can get its first look at the state-of-the-art facility, located in the north end of Plymouth High School, during an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The center is a unique collaboration involving Lakeshore Technical College, the Plymouth School District, the City of Plymouth and the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce Operations Managers Roundtable. The facility is used by Plymouth High School students during school hours, and by LTC students later in the day.

More than half of the cost of the $1.2 million project was covered by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The city of Plymouth provided an additional $250,000 in economic development funds, along with $280,000 in in-kind donations from LTC and the school district. In addition, Sargento Foods Inc. donated a high-speed packaging machine, and the Van Horn Automotive Group has pledged $15,000 a year for three years in improvements to the automotive lab.

“Much has been said of late about the call for highly trained workers in technical areas,” said Mark Rhyan, president of the Plymouth School District Board of Education. “While school districts across the state continue their work to erase budget deficits, it is very encouraging to see the Plymouth community get behind the efforts of LTC and local manufacturers to answer that call.”

Mr. Rhyan, EVP and chief operations officer for Sargento Foods, noted that area manufacturers will be the long-term beneficiaries of these investments, as students from both the high school and LTC prepare to enter the workforce.  “We are very excited about the future of our students who plan to take advantage of this education,” he said.

Thanks to the center, PHS students are able to design projects using industry-standard CAD programs, then produce three-dimensional models and finally create and finish projects using high-tech mills and a lathe. They also can learn metal fabrication in a professional welding training facility.

LTC uses the facility to provide classes in the basics of production including: safety, quality control, production processes and maintenance, introduction to high speed packaging and introduction to welding. LTC and Plymouth High School have established two articulation agreements for high school students to get dual credit in career pathways for welding and CNC machining. LTC is in the planning process to offer dual credit options for auto maintenance and machine tool operations. In addition to manufacturing programs, additional space was needed in the community to offer healthcare learning opportunities and community learning and general education offerings. LTC-Plymouth meets these expanded adult needs through class offerings in the evening and weekends.

The center grew out of discussions by area manufacturers about the shortage of workers trained on high-tech manufacturing equipment. The facility includes manufacturing and computer laboratories, high-speed packaging equipment, updated classrooms and space for LTC staff to provide training and outreach activities.

Work began in the fall of 2010, and was largely completed in time for the beginning of the 2011-12 school year. The final piece, a high-speed packaging machine donated by Sargento Foods, was put in place in January.

Those attending the open house can see demonstrations of:

• CAD Lab: Computer-aided design software and a three-dimensional printer
• CNC Lab: State-of-the-art Haas CNC mills and a Haas lathe
• Engineering Lab: Control panel and immersive CNC simulators for Haas high-tech mills
• Graphics Lab: Laser engraver
• Manufacturing Lab: High-speed packaging machine manufactured by Viking-Masek, as well as manual mills and lathes
• Welding Lab: Professional metal fabrication training facility

Also open that evening will be the school’s agriscience, automotive and construction labs. Treats made by PHS culinary arts students will be served.

There also will be several hands-on activities to allow school-age children to explore science and engineering.