Trumpf Expands Training Facilities

Trumpf’s commitment to the training and education of its precision sheet metal fabrication customers and employees in North America has increased by 18,000 square feet. The company is now able to offer classroom and “at the machine” instruction in a 40,000-square foot training center. The total investment of the company’s training center expansion in Farmington, Connecticut exceeds $3 million.

“We look forward to providing our customers with a first-class learning experience beginning with their arrival in our new interactive lobby, to learning in our state-of-the art classrooms, followed by hands-on training on our expanded machine floor and a visit to our bright training cafeteria,” says Christine Benz, training and development manager.

Trumpf believes it is important to support its customers and employees with instruction and training in order to keep pace with developments in advanced manufacturing. “With the digital transformation of manufacturing and society, we need to take action to prepare our workforce. As a family-owned company, we recognize our responsibility with regard to this change and want to support our customers in this endeavor as well,” says Burke Doar, senior vice president.

The company offers IACET and SAA certified courses, to help enable customer advancement within the industry. Trumpf is said to be the first training center in the machine tool industry to achieve both certifications at the same time. The company also offers a tuition-covered, full-time paid apprenticeship program for aspiring employees as well as cost-free training to veterans who enroll in training courses to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

With the expansion, Trumpf is now capable of training 5,000 students in 630 training events a year, which will be a significant increase from the 3,000 students that took part in training events a year previously. The new training floor is equipped with 13 Trumpf machines including tube lasers, material handling and material storage systems as well as laser, bending and punching machinery. The facility has 14 classrooms and two virtual learning classrooms. The company now also offers an E-learning Specialist to teach online Machine Operator and Programming Training courses in the two new web pods.

“Our facility enables us to offer a wider variety of Trumpf machines and courses to a wider variety of students,” says Ms. Benz. “It doesn’t matter whether our customers come here with years of experience working with Trumpf equipment or whether they are new to Trumpf, they will leave the training center retaining valuable skills and knowledge that will impact their company’s performance as well as improve their professional growth.”