Chapter for Advanced Composites Hosts Statewide Competition at Salt
Lake Community College
Advanced materials, such as carbon fiber and other composite
materials are revolutionizing a variety of industries–everything from aerospace
engineering and automobile construction to golfing, skiing and cycling
equipment. As more products previously
made from metal, wood or steel are converted to composites, companies with
facilities in Utah such as Exelis (ITT), Janicki Industries, ATK, and Boeing have
an increasing need for highly qualified composites technicians.
To
meet the demands of Utah’s industry growth and open career pathways for Utahns–colleges,
industry experts and professional associations are working together to find
ways to educate the public about training and career opportunities in the
advanced material and processing industry.
To
launch one of the first educational campaigns, the Utah Society for the
Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) hosted a statewide
bridge-building competition at the Salt Lake Community College composites lab
on April 11, 2012. Students
enrolled in advanced composites training from Salt Lake Community College
(SLCC), Davis Applied Technology College, BYU and the University of Utah
entered the competition to demonstrate their skills to industry representatives,
experts, guests and faculty, and get a chance to win a prize up to $200.00.
All
together 27 students participated in the competition. Eligible participants were required to construct
a bridge that was four inches wide, four inches high; 26 inches long and
weighed less than 650 grams. Using
the College’s Instron, a testing device that measures strength–students bridges
were put to the test. Kevin Wagner, a
student from BYU, placed first place in the competition with a bridge that withstood
the weight of 9,497 pounds before bowing or breaking.
Lenn
Riddle, Program Chair for SAMPE is already planning next year’s bridge competition. Riddle hopes to have ‘teams’ that are
comprised of students from two or more schools.
A cross pollination of schools would provide students from both
technical/hands-on programs and theoretical/engineering programs to collaborate
with each other to build a single bridge.
Emily
Johnson, a female student from SLCC’s Composites Technology Training never
thought she would be in an advanced technology field after being in the medical
field for over 15 years. While in the
program, Johnson learned how to use several machines, tools and equipment to
manufacture composite products. Johnson
was one of two females in her cohort of about 15 students, a common ratio found
among composites training programs. “It’s a great career for women because it
requires a lot of manual dexterity,” said JoAnn Matern, Education Chair of
SAMPE. “We have several women go through the program and they are very good at
it!”
The
SLCC Composites Technology Training offers three levels to the certificate program
that can be completed in as little as ten-weeks. As a growing key industry in the state of
Utah, graduates have a large pool of companies to work for, especially in the
aerospace and outdoor products industries.
“I really appreciate the training. I was laid off from a job in January, and I
really wanted to better my skills for the job market. Now I am in the position of deciding which
job I want to take,” said Brent Swenson, student in the Composites Technology
Training at SLCC.
“Students in these programs are being trained
to be composites technicians, but as the industry grows I see them being able
to do more,” said Matern. “I see them as
being the leaders and managers of the future.”
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SAMPE Members and Advanced Composites Training
Faculty in the SLCC Composites Lab, 2012 Bridge Competition |
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| Bridges from competition. |
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