Marking the beginning of new opportunities for students and the next step for the welding program, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute celebrated the grand opening ceremony of its new Welding Technology Center Feb. 5.

Welding students, instructors, joint operating committee members and guests were treated to speeches from a trio of speakers and took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

LCTI welding technology student Jordan Everett had the honor of cutting the main “ribbon,” a length of red chain, with an oxyacetylene torch as other students and attendees cut real ribbons strung across the welding booths to commemorate the center’s opening.

Breaking ground March 14, 2019, the Welding Technology Center is twice the size of LCTI’s old lab with about 10,000 square feet of instructional space and 2,000 square feet of storage.

The new setup allows 50 students to weld simultaneously.

The lab includes a theory room with virtual welding simulators, a CNC plasma cutting table and plasma cutter, a material hoist and a dedicated grinding room.

It also houses 10 workstations and 40 welding booths equipped with capture arms and welders.

“This $4.25-million project represents the complete evolution of our welding program here at LCTI, including instruction, environment and technology,” LCTI’s Executive Director Dr. Thomas Rushton said about the new facility’s capabilities.

“Our mission is workforce development, always has been, and the welding technology center allows us to meet the changing demands of industry, increase capacity and better serve our sending schools and students by preparing them to enter the workforce with the right skills and experience.”

Rushton thanked his team, school superintendents, and staff for their guidance and work to make the Welding Technology Center a reality. “Without your help, we would not be able to have this ceremony here today,” he said in his opening statement.

“I am fortunate to have great team members that I can count on to get the job done.”

The featured speakers were American Welding Society District 3 Director Sean Moran, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Don Cunningham, and Everett.

Moran said it was a “tremendous” opportunity to be at the opening of the welding center, noting that demand for welders was increasing nationwide.

“One thing we have seen in industry throughout the nation is this drive for welding students; we have such a high need for welders,” Moran said.

He said that by 2023, there could be a need for 375,000 welders in the workforce.

“That’s enormous,” Moran said, “How do we do this? “We do it through schools like this; this is where it gets started.”

He also spoke about the American Welding Society, saying the organization of more than 70,000 members is always open to add more welders to its fold.

“One thing we always hope to see is institutions such as this; the success and ability of the institution, their success going forward, and the future success of your students,” Moran said. “I look forward to visiting more.”

Cunningham spoke about how welders and LCTI’s welding program play an important role in the Lehigh Valley.

“This project, being able to deliver welders into our economy at such a high skill level, is critical to the whole ecosystem of the Lehigh Valley,” he said.

Cunningham said the region is the 50th largest manufacturing center in the United States with more than 34,000 manufacturing jobs.

“We aren’t the 50th largest population center in the United States of America, so we are punching well above our weight class with $7.8 billion in annual GDP coming from our manufacturing sector,” Cunningham said.

He said in the past three years, there has been a demand for 275 welders in the Lehigh Valley.

Cunningham said that it was thanks to institutions like LCTI that young workers are available to fill these positions.

“Almost every sector of our economy, in some way, is employing these young men and women that you’ve trained at this school, and you’ve more than doubled your capacity now to turn out welders,” he said.

“Thank you for the good work you do, and thank you to your students for choosing to go into this category of work.

“America still makes things, the Lehigh Valley hosts companies that make things, and there is great skilled work in manufacturing, welding and technology being performed.”

Everett had attended the March 14, 2019, groundbreaking ceremony and he spoke about how his education at LCTI has honed his skills in welding, allowing him to succeed in his co-op position as a welder with Schlosser Steel Inc.

“I came into the welding program with little to no knowledge about this field,” Everett said.

“From blueprint reading to TIG welding, fitting, all sorts of knowledge that I didn’t have, I now can go to work every day and they trust me to put my stamp on it.

“Without the skills I learned here, I wouldn’t have this job and the opportunities to take what I do for a living so far.”

He told The Press he was glad to have been present for the beginning and conclusion of the welding center’s journey.

“It’s an honor to be involved with the ribbon cutting, and also with the groundbreaking ceremony last year,” Everett said.

“I hope future students can appreciate what we have here and get the opportunity to learn with the new lab and equipment.”

After the ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to take self-guided tours of the facility while students familiarized themselves with the booths and equipment and received hands-on practice with the welding simulators.

Kurt Adam, director of Career and Technical Education, said that the center marked a new step in LCTI’s future, opening doors for students’ education, and he thanked attendees for taking part in the process.

“Thank you all for attending today to recognize the beginning of a new era of welding technology here at LCTI,” Adam said in his closing statement.

“The welding technology center project will afford exponential opportunities for students for many years to come, so thank you for all who were here to celebrate this day and this long journey with us.”

Ruston also commented on the bright future for the school.

“Ladies and gentlemen, know that LCTI is your school,” he concluded.

“You should be proud of your new welding lab, the quality of education that occurs here on a daily basis, and the impact that this program at LCTI will have on the future workforce for the next 25 years and beyond; enjoy it and be proud of it.”