RAMTEC—Grand Opening Sept. 19
RAMTEC the first training facility of its kind in the State of Ohio had its grand opening Thursday, September 19. The Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative is located on the Tri-Rivers Career Center Campus.
Historically, career centers, technical colleges, and four-year colleges have provided parts of the answer. Now, however, through the collaboration of Tri-Rivers Career Center, Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University at Marion, the Marion Area has the opportunity to offer the whole solution by partnering directly with business and industry to provide industrial robotics and advanced manufacturing skills/industrial certifications throughout Central Ohio and beyond.
The three schools, in partnership with companies like Honda of America, FANUC Robotics, FANUC CNC, Lincoln Electric and Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, have combined forces to make RAMTEC a reality.
“We truly believe manufacturing is alive and well in Ohio and we are involving all types of advanced automation,” said Charles Speelman, Superintendent for Tri-Rivers. “The need for RAMTEC is now.”
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Speakers for the Grand Opening Business Summit
• Charles Speelman, Tri-Rivers Superintendent—
“The need is here. The need is now. RAMTEC is here. We thought it was critical to provide the best opportunities and training for jobs here now and in the future, not the jobs that won’t come back. RAMTEC will provide training for industrial certifications including robotics, welding and CNC (computer numerical control) operation on systems including FANUC and Yaskawa Motoman , both widely used in American manufacturing plants.”
“This will hopefully just be phase one of our mission. Step 2 will be an advanced manufacturing research center.”
• Jan Gansheimer, Senior Manager, Honda of America
“I am thrilled to see this type of training center and even more excited about the number of students that will receive top-notch technical education and hands-on training. There is a real need, right now for job applicants and new employees with these skills. You (RAMTEC) are helping businesses like Honda prepare a new generation of workers.”
• Dennis Budkowski, Vice President, Instructional Services, Marion Technical College
“It is a magnificent day for central Ohio. It is a magnificent day for incumbent workers here that want to advance. It is a magnificent day for those seeking new opportunities that require advanced manufacturing skills. It is more than a facility, it’s teaching, it’s learning, and the output of that is a skilled worker. (Marion Technical College plans to use RAMTEC for their robotics training.)
• Dr. Bishun Pandey, Associate Dean, The Ohio State University, Marion
• Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer
• Representative Mark Romanchuk, District 2
“What I like is, it acts as a recruiter. Our industry has not done a good job of telling our story. There are hundreds of jobs in Ohio that are not filled. The center is going to help fill that void.”
• Representative Dorothy Pelanda, District 86
• Representative Jeff McClain, District 87
“It’s been obvious what the problem’s been. There has been a disconnect between manufacturing and education and trying to get them to mesh.”
• Ohio Senator Dave Burke, District 26
“This is an exciting opportunity for the area, for the entire state, blending with what manufacturers are looking for. This teaches to the job rather than teach to the degree.”
• U.S. Senator Rob Portman, represented by Stephen White
• Sandra Brasington, Western Ohio Regional Liaison, Office of Gov. John Kasich
• Thomas Gunlock, Vice President, State School Board
Students here will not have to learn manufacturing technology from a book or simulator. They will be using actual technology to teach technology skills. That makes for a richer, more practical experience.”
• Steve Gratz, Director of Career Technical Education – ODE
“We talk about industries and their big concern. We need people who can operate that equipment. They are working on the real equipment that they will work on at Honda.” He praised the partnership between the public and private sector.
• Dr. Richard Ross, State of Ohio School Superintendent
“We are really connecting real skills to real jobs and not just imagining things down the road.”
Pillars of the Past
The visionaries whose perseverance brought Robotics to Marion:
Carol Bebout
Don Bender
Ed Cackler
Tad Douce
Rick Fryman
Ed Goodwin
Dave Gorenflo
Wendell HallRoger Johnson
John Kuzio
Ritch Ramey
Rob Smith
Brad Pottkotter
Mark Robinson
Keith Wanner
Larry Wood
Contributing Businesses
Honda of America
Glen-Gery Brick
Nucor Marion Steel
FANUC Robotics
FANUC CNC
Yaskawa Motoman Robotics
Lincoln Electric
Buckeye Education Systems
Houser Racing
ISTOHIO
Thanks to Area Historical Societies & Historians for sharing their
expertise and photos on the Manufacturing Legacy Wall
Randy & Sandy Winland, Marion
Mike & Linda Perry, Marion
Bill Flickinger, HPM
Mike Palm, Marion Power Shovel
Chuck Barry, Richwood
Marion County Historical Society
Gale Martin
Morrow County Historical Society
Phyllis Miller
Huber Machinery Museum
Linda Denise
Special Thanks to Project Contributors:
Tri-Rivers Board of Education Members
SHP Leading Design
Andrew Maletz, Lead Architect
Dave Wagner, Dean of Engineering, MTC
Brad Harvey, Tri-Rivers Building
Randy Masters
John Burkhart, IST Ohio
Ellen Messenger, Director of Communications, Tri-Rivers/RAMTEC
Steve Badertscher
The students and staff of Tri-Rivers and the many local contractors who worked on our project.
Appreciation to:
Debbie Curtis
Steve Earnest
Culinary Arts
Welding Program
Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Program
Ambassador Club Member
Kerry Beckel
Public Safety Services
Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Digital Media & Entertainment
Maintenance Department
The parking lot was full during the grand opening.
