Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, has opened an $8.8 million Center for Welding Technology.
The Cullman Times reports that in addition to the welding center, the facility houses an Innovation Center that will set aside space for six business incubators, which officials predict will create as many as 98 new jobs and bolster the area’s economy.
Gov. Kay Ivey described the center a “bright new jewel” in Wallace State's crown. In addition to classroom space, the 30,000-square-foot floor plan of the building features seven robotic welding stations, 81 welding booths, nine chargeable welding simulators, 20 grinding booths, a fabrication area and a plasma CNC table.
The new center also will serve to help solidify the community college's partnership with Lincoln Electric, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of welding equipment and consumables. The facility makes use of numerous equipment donations from Lincoln Electric and will soon offer students the opportunity to obtain a robotic welding certificate through the company.
The college says the building is the largest welding training facility in the Southeast.
"The new welding facility allows us to impact more lives by providing more opportunities for students to receive training that leads to high-demand, high-wage jobs, says College President Vicki Karolewics.
