Gene Haas Center for Manufacturing Innovation opens

Greenville, South Carolina – Greenville Technical College (GTC) joined with Clemson University, Greenville County Schools, manufacturers, economic development leaders, officials from state and local government, and the community to celebrate opening of the Gene Haas Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI) with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Speakers included Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College; Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America; Dr. Randy Collins, executive director of academic initiatives in the College of Engineering; Computing and Applied Sciences at Clemson University; and Peter Zierhut, vice president of Haas Automation.

The CMI will showcase the robotics and electronics used in manufacturing today and the extremely high skill level required to be part of the workforce. The facility is designed to allow visitors to see the process from above as they cross the GE Bridge to Learning. Hands-on activities will engage visitors of all ages.

CMI brings many firsts to advanced manufacturing education. The involvement of Clemson University (CU) as a partner is designed to bridge the gap between the education of the technician and the education of the engineer – the first of its kind between a technical college and a research university in the U.S. Educational offerings will be integrated.

A Manufacturing Honors College will allow GTC and CU students to work together to solve real world manufacturing challenges. An additive manufacturing partnership with Renishaw at a technical college and the open manufacturing lab for education, training, and industry collaboration is unlike anything else in South Carolina. This campus also contains the college's first precision metrology lab.

Greenville Technical College has forged a stronger relationship with Greenville County Schools in order to expose more students to the opportunities available in manufacturing. Coursework starting in K-12 will transfer or transition to GTC and then to Clemson.

CMI will offer contextualized learning so that adult learners can improve in the basics as they are immersed in the manufacturing curriculum. A modularized curriculum will allow them to stop as required and to re-enter easily.

Greenville County Council supported the initiative by approving $25 million in bonds to build the campus, and state government provided additional support for equipment.

Companies have donated equipment and funds to ensure that what is taught at the CMI will meet their needs. Donors include the Gene Haas Foundation, which provided $2 million for scholarships and equipment. In recognition of this gift, the building has been named in honor of Gene Haas.

Additional donors include GE Power, 3M Greenville, Bosch Rexroth and the Bosch Community Fund, Duke Energy Foundation, Master Gage & Tool, Meyer Tool, Michelin, Piedmont Natural Gas, ProfilGate, ScanSource, and T&S Brass & Bronze.

Source: Greenville Technical College