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Sinclair’s Workforce Development & Corporate Services (WFD&CS) division, including its Advanced Integrated Manufacturing (AIM) Center, located just a block away in Building 13, is working on several green projects involving product development and training.

“Sinclair’s Workforce Development and Corporate Services division is deeply committed to being an economic development driver for the region. Our rapidly-expanding efforts in green initiatives are one notable example of this commitment,” stated Deb Norris, vice president of Workforce Development & Corporate Services.

The AIM Center is partnering with Precision Energy and Technology (PET) and the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) to assist in the investigation of metal injection molding, as it relates to fuel-cell plate production.

“We’re using a PET-developed mold and Sinclair’s Arburg injection molding machine – with its special barrel and screw designed specifically for metal injection. These plates will replace high-cost, precision-machined plates,” said Ray Lepore, Sinclair’s director of Workforce Solutions. “Initial prototypes have been produced and are currently being tested in Germany.”

The Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC) has sought the AIM Center’s help as it embarks on a green and renewable energy initiative. As part of an overall economic development strategy, this project encourages new companies to bring green technologies to the region. It also assists local manufacturing companies as they make the transition to manufacturing green and renewable energy products and components. The AIM Center, by virtue of its product development, rapid prototyping and production support capabilities, has been asked by EMTEC to be a partner in this initiative.

SkillsTrac, funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through its Community-Based Job Training Grants initiative, is a comprehensive regional training program delivering advanced manufacturing industrial-maintenance training to incumbent and dislocated workers in western Ohio. SkillsTrac training is a five-tier, certificate-based program. It is a combination of instructor-led, online and hands-on lab training that takes students through the lower three tiers of basic and advanced maintenance training, as well as the upper two tiers of high-end industrial-automation and robotics training.

The SkillsTrac consortium has applied for a new grant in the next round of the Community-Based Job Training Grants initiative. “In addition to offering the present industrial-maintenance training program, this grant will offer a new program in facilities maintenance and energy management,” said Lepore. “The plan is to tweak the lower three tiers, for a greater emphasis on industrial facilities maintenance. Then we will also replace the upper two tiers with courses in HVAC, lighting systems, energy management and facilities automation.”

Another area of growing interest is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Accredited Professional Certification. LEED promotes sustainable green building and development. “A LEED Accredited ProfessionalTM is a building professional with a demonstrated knowledge of green-building practices and the LEED Green Building Rating SystemTM,” said Lepore. “Working with the Green Building Certification Institute, we are investigating bringing this certification process to campus, for local and regional building-design professionals.”

By Hope D. Arthur

Hope D. Arthur joined Sinclair Community College in 2007, with over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, hospitality and management. She manages the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center, workforce marketing and Project Lead the Way.