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workforce conference

RAMTEC, Yaskawa Motoman partnership to put Ohio at forefront of manufacturing industry

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“The vision we have had all along is to develop the Workforce of the 21st Century,” said Ritch Ramey, RAMTEC coordinator for Tri-Rivers Career Center. “Our goal is to create a Silicon Valley of Robotics here in Central Ohio.”

Ramey’s vision is becoming a reality as RAMTEC (Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative) and Yaskawa Motoman announced the formation of a new business partnership—The Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Partnership—at a press conference held Tuesday in Miamisburg at the robotics company’s facility.

“This is a critical step in Ohio’s economic future because it will make manufacturing part of our economy long into the future,” said Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, who was at the event. “Five years from now you’re going to wonder what decisions are businesses going to make when they locate their manufacturing facilities. The key issue for businesses is going to be talent.”

Husted said, “We are going to get behind RAMTEC and we are going to get behind these kinds of programs to make Ohio the most talented state in the Midwest. The most business friendly state in the Midwest and the state where people say this is where the future of manufacturing is in the world.”

“We emphasize to our students that many manufacturing jobs are high-tech, exciting careers,” said Chuck Speelman, Tri-Rivers Superintendent. “Robots are doing the repetitive, dangerous and dirty jobs. Students quickly learn that by exploiting the Robotics & Automation technology, a safe, productive environment is created.”

It is estimated that 87,000 new robotic jobs will need to be filled in the U.S. over the next decade. The new partnership will expand RAMTEC’s curriculum to provide advanced robotic training and certifications that will be available to students in Central Ohio and around the state.

“I think something that we excel at in Marion is the partnership between the private sector and education and the public sector…we sort of cracked the code on how do you get manufacturers and the private sector together with educational institutions to make sure everyone is speaking the same language, said Gus Comstock, director of Marion CANDO!.

“RAMTEC is the mother ship of Robotics Education in the State of Ohio and probably one of the best in the nation. It doesn’t get any better for a company that needs people with robotics training. RAMTEC offers them an opportunity to be best in class and to find the best jobs in the nation and the world,” added Comstock.

“When you look at what is happening around the country, there are various programs that are out there being built to replicate what RAMTEC has already done. We look at RAMTEC as really ground zero for industrial education for robotics,” said Bob Graff, senior sales manager of Robotics /Education Workforce Development at Yaskawa Motoman.

Wesley Stillions, a recent graduate of Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Engineering Technology program, has already helped to build a robotic workcell for Whirlpool. Stillions plans to enlist in the military first, but hopes to get a robotics job at Honda when he returns. “It makes me feel very proud to have worked on a robot workcell for Whirlpool and especially proud to be from Marion.”

RAMTEC’s programs help students like Stillions to get high paying jobs at Ohio companies right out of high school.

“Data reveals that within ten years nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will sit empty, with the skills gap being responsible for 2 million of those jobs going unfilled,” said Ramey. “Forming mutually-beneficial relationships with manufacturers through the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Partnership will create the foundation needed to move Ohio’s workforce forward.”

RAMTEC’s core mission to partner with real-world manufacturing facilities to help identify and supply the needs of the manufacturing industry is fueling their involvement in the partnerships with Yaskawa Motoman and companies like Whirlpool. The entire project development funding is earmarked for $400,000 to provide a comprehensive training and application development model that will reach thousands of incumbent workers and students statewide.

“Our workforce-driven training and research partnership with RAMTEC is a solid step to providing students with work-based learning opportunities in the field of robotics,” said Doug Burnside, Yaskawa Motoman’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “The best-in-class instruction and certification programs provided through our Yaskawa Academy will also help to enhance RAMTEC’s vision of providing proficient training and
curriculum in 21st century automation and robotics.”

“The game changer is really about how RAMTEC is going about building a model that is sustainable—that supports what industry is looking for. It really is the biggest value that RAMTEC has,” said Graff.

 

Top Photo:
Ritch Ramey, Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Coordinator addressing group at press conference announcing RAMTEC and Yaskawa Motoman partnership. Pictured with Ramey, Bob Graff, Yaskawa Motoman, Rob Brundrett, Ohio Manufacturers Association and Secretary of State Jon Husted.

Inset Photo, l-r: Ritch Ramey, Tri-Rivers Career Center RAMTEC Coordinator; Ohio Secretary of  State Jon Husted and Bob Graff, Senior Sales Manager of Robotics/Education Workforce Development at Yaskawa Motoman.

 

History of RAMTEC
RAMTEC Ohio opened its doors in Marion in 2013. In June of 2014 eight additional RAMTEC sites were funded through an Ohio Department of Education $14,995,000 Straight A Grant. Then in November 2015 an additional $8 million Straight A Grant funded 14 more RAMTEC Ohio sites. Today, with the site at Tri-Rivers leading the way, 23 RAMTECs are located in Ohio.

“Unique to RAMTEC is that where most schools tend to direct training to high school students, at RAMTEC we are directing training to not only high school students, but adults as well, including college students and incumbent workers, said Mark Edington, RAMTEC instructor.

Since opening, the training center at Tri-Rivers has certified more than 400 students in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, advanced machining, robotics and welding careers. RAMTEC’s graduates have been hired by companies such as: Honda of America Mfg Inc., RobotWorx, SEMCO Manufacturing Co., Union Tank Car Co. and Whirlpool Corp.

Edington said in the last class of high school students at Tri-Rivers RAMTEC, 19 of the 20 were employed even before they graduated. “The Adult students going through the new Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Robotics Technician Training are equally successful in being hired at companies like Jefferson Industries.”

RAMTEC has been recognized by: the SME Education Foundation, the Ohio Economic Development Association and the Ohio Department of Education for being innovative and cutting edge. More than $20 million dollars in state grants has allowed Tri-Rivers to partner with additional career centers to expand and continue the innovative vision of RAMTEC helping to fill Ohio’s skills gap and hopefully helping to establish Marion as the new Robotics Hub in Ohio. To learn more at RAMTEC visit ramtecohio.com

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Tri-Rivers RAMTEC addresses manufacturing skills gap

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Marion has always been a community that builds things. We create things. We just always have. We created the machines that built the Panama Canal. We helped move rockets and space shuttles. It’s always been in our DNA.

At Tri-Rivers Career Center, we knew there was a skills gap; industry told us. We knew students needed advanced manufacturing training, but they just weren’t getting it. So, what could we do about it? We needed to create a place to fill these gaps; we needed a place like RAMTEC (Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative).

“Our answer to the manufacturing skills gap in Ohio is RAMTEC,” said Ramey, RAMTEC Coordinator and Engineering Instructor at Tri-Rivers Career Center. “Tri-Rivers leads the nation on creating a state of the art training center for the gray collar jobs of the future with advanced manufacturing and engineering skills. We are building a Robotic Technician Pipeline.”

Ramey said, “Data shows over the next decade nearly three and a half million manufacturing jobs will be needed to be filled and the skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled.”

Ramey said RAMTEC works with numerous Robotics, Programmable Logic Control and Welding companies to provide multiple advanced manufacturing and robotics certifications all under on roof.

“Tri-Rivers RAMTEC is set up with the most sophisticated up-to-date equipment that is out in the market today with over 38 robots, including FANUC, Yaskawa and Universal—the robots most widely used out in industry settings,” said Mark Edington, RAMTEC Instructor.

“When you look at what is happening around the country, there are various programs that are out there being built to replicate what RAMTEC has already done. We look at RAMTEC as really ground zero for industrial education for robotics,” said Bob Graff, senior sales manager of Robotics /Education Workforce Development at Yaskawa Motoman.

“RAMTEC is a state of the art facility modeled very similar to what we have at our Honda Technical Training Lab, said Drew Mosley, technical training instructor for Honda of America and a graduate of RAMTEC. “They are trying to give students a taste of what they will see on the (manufacturing) floor. They are giving them those tools prior to even going to college. I attribute a lot of my success to Tri-Rivers and the amount of work they put into building the program to what it is now.”

“They are teaching students the same exact skills they will use in the workforce It’s not a situation where there is a correlation or a parallel. It is literally what they are doing in the class is what they will be doing in the manufacturing environment,” Daryl Young, controls and automation manager for Whirlpool-Marion Division.

“They really took charge of identifying the types of curriculum and types of equipment that would prepare those students well immediately for needs that we have within our manufacturing operations,” said Scot McLemore of Honda of America. “Tri-Rivers through their RAMTEC Center has really focused on meeting our needs as an employer with our automation and manufacturing operations and then really working closely with us in terms of identifying pathways that lead to those positions that we have.”

Gus Comstock, the director of CANDO! Marion, said “I think something that we excel at in Marion is the partnership between the private sector and education and the public sector…we sort of cracked the code on how do you get manufacturers and the private sector together with educational institutions to make sure everyone is speaking the same language. RAMTEC is the mother ship of Robotics Education in the State of Ohio and probably one of the best in the nation. It doesn’t get any better for a company that needs people with robotics training.”

“The game changer is really about how RAMTEC is going about building a model that is sustainable—that supports what industry is looking for. It really is the biggest value that RAMTEC has,” said Graff.

“RAMTEC is going to keep our jobs here as apposed to moving to another country or another location,” said Annette Walton, Ohio Means Jobs, Marion.

RAMTEC Ohio opened its doors in Marion in 2013. In June of 2014 eight additional RAMTEC sites were funded through an Ohio Department of Education $14,995,000 Straight A Grant. Then in November 2015 an additional $8 million Straight A Grant funded 14 more RAMTEC Ohio sites. Today, with the site at Tri-Rivers leading the way, 23 RAMTECs are located in Ohio.

“Unique to RAMTEC is that where most schools tend to direct training to high school students, at RAMTEC we are directing training to not only high school students, but adults as well, including college students and incumbent workers, said Edington.

“RAMTEC is a state of the art facility modeled very similar to what we have at our Honda Technical Training Lab, said Drew Mosley, technical training instructor for Honda of America and a graduate of RAMTEC. “They are trying to give students a taste of what they will see on the (manufacturing) floor. They are giving them those tools prior to even going to college. I attribute a lot of my success to Tri-Rivers and the amount of work they put into building the program to what it is now.”

Since opening, the training center at Tri-Rivers has certified more than 350 students in industrial maintenance, engineering technology, advanced machining, robotics and welding careers. RAMTEC’s graduates have been hired by companies such as Honda of America Mfg Inc., RobotWorx, SEMCO Manufacturing Co., Union Tank Car Co. and Whirlpool Corp.

Edington said in the last class of high school students at Tri-Rivers RAMTEC, 19 of the 20 were employed even before they graduated. “The Adult students going through the new Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Robotics Technician Training are equally successful in being hired at companies like Jefferson Industries.”

RAMTEC has been recognized by the SME Education Foundation, the Ohio Economic Development Association and the Ohio Department of Education for being innovative and cutting edge. More than $20 million dollars in state grants has allowed Tri-Rivers to partner with additional career centers to expand and continue the innovative vision of RAMTEC helping to fill Ohio’s skills gap and hopefully helping to establish Marion as the new Robotics Hub in Ohio. To learn more at RAMTEC visit ramtecohio.com

fobotics

FREE* RAMTEC Robotics Technician Training—Learn more June 27th

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Explore Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Robotic Technician Training (RRTT) during the Hiring and Training Fair, Wednesday, June 27, 2pm to 6pm at RAMTEC. With funding through JobsOhio and Ohio Means Jobs, qualifying individuals selected will receive this valuable customized training FREE*. The value of the certifications is approximately $6,995. Completers of the training are guaranteed a job interview, according to Ritch Ramey, coordinator for RAMTEC.

*To be selected for the next RRTT three-week customized skills training class, July 23-August 10, 2018, individuals must first pass a background check, drug screening and assessment tests. They can learn more details at the upcoming Hiring & Training Fair June 27. RRTT Brochure

Those selected for the customized training will earn high-demand industry certifications, including:

• FANUC Robotic HTOP Robotic Training—40 hours in class training

• Yaskawa/Motoman Robotic Training—40 hours in class training

• Additional Training: Robotic Preventative Maintenance, Mechanical Blue Print Reading, Safety-OSHA 10, Technical Math Review and Essential Softskills

Click here to read story on recent graduations from the pilot program—since the news release they have been hired or promoted.

Contact Holly at RAMTEC if you have questions—740-389-8590 or EMAIL

ramey

Tri-Rivers’ RAMTEC Coordinator Presents in Washington DC

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Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Coordinator Ritch Ramey presents to the U.S. Congressional Robotics Caucus Advisory Committee in Washington, DC.

 

Tri-Rivers Career Center’s RAMTEC Coordinator/Engineering Technologies Instructor Ritch Ramey was part of a panel that presented Next Generation Robotics and the Future of Work to the Congressional Robotics Caucus Advisory Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC on April 18.

Ramey said, “The international race to lead the robotics revolution won’t be won in research labs alone, but will depend on effective workforce development programs and strategies. At Tri-Rivers RAMTEC we are proud to be leading the way in providing training locally and working towards ensuring that our training model is replicated to not only meet our district’s needs, but to provide solutions to Ohio’s and the Nation’s manufacturing skills gap.”

Opening remarks were given by Robotics Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressman Mike Doyle and Congressman Rob Woodall. The panel’s moderator was Dr. Ramayya Krishnan, Dean, Heinz College of Information Management and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University. The Heinz College is home to the Block Center for Technology and Society.

Along with Ramey, the panel included: Mark Lewandowski, Procter & Gamble; Jeff Burnstein, President, Robotic Industries Association; Jim H. Key, Vice President, USW Local Union 550, Paducah, KY, President of USW Atomic Energy Workers Council, United Steelworkers; and Seth Hutchinson, Professor, KUKA Chair for Robotics, Georgia Tech Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines.

Ramey presented on the RAMTEC Model. “It was critical to our economy that we started developing K-12 programming, college credits and industrial certifications as well as creating a replicable public and private industry program to overcome our national 2.5 million technician shortage or Manufacturing Gap,” said Ramey. “RAMTEC has gained national attention. We recognized there was a critical need in Central Ohio for technicians and hands-on training and at RAMTEC developed partnerships with national leaders in manufacturing equipment to credential students and instructors.”

Ramey said, “We currently have 11 of our 19 high school Seniors making great wages building robotics work cells half a day in various robotics and automation facilities in Central Ohio while still in school. They also each earned more than $8,000 worth of industrial certifications as well as up to 15 college credit hours from Marion Technical College in their Engineering Technology programs. This sets them up for success.”

Ramey shared with the Robotics Caucus some of the history of how RAMTEC was developed. He explained that in 2003, three area teachers— Ramey from Tri-Rivers and Ed Goodwin and Tad Douce from River Valley— decided to bring the National Robotics Challenge (NRC) contest to this area. “This contest has grown to more than 400 teams and 1300 participants in grades 4-16,” shared Ramey.

He emphasized that this area has become one of leaders in robotics and automation training in the nation. However, he also said, “That even with our Tri-Rivers RAMTEC’s full high school program, adult training, incumbent worker training and customized training, we alone cannot fill the immediate need of Ohio. It will take thousands of schools training students in STEM, Robotics, coding and automation to fill the shortage of the skilled workers we need. A student’s exposure to these high technologies and high-paying careers should not be based on where they live. These great opportunities need to be available to all students K to Gray.”

“A new generation of robotics technologies are entering the U.S. economy. From shop floors to warehouses, robots are becoming common across a myriad of sectors—from transportation to retail, to hospitals, banks, and other services,” said Ramey.

Unlike earlier periods of automation, these autonomous systems technologies are increasingly designed to augment and collaborate with human workers, he told the committee members. Ramey said, “Studies of the manufacturing sector even indicate that as collaborative robotics are deployed in manufacturing environments, the number of new jobs increases as greater levels of robots are deployed. While the creation of new jobs is promising, it is also clear that new robotics technologies will have significant impact on the fundamental nature of work performed and that we must rise to meet the challenges.”

“This briefing brought together robotics industry, labor, workforce, technology research and public policy leaders to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure that the next generation robotics also means broader economic opportunity nation-wide,” said Ramey. “I made multiple contacts that will assist us in moving forward.”

Upon the completion of the presentation about 75 members of the committee and audience member had a 30 minute questions and answers session. Ramey said, “Most of the questions centered around RAMTEC and how can we as a nation need to develop more programs like RAMTEC. “It made me feel proud to hear the interest in our programs. It was also very rewarding to be able to represent our community, the great state of Ohio and all our great public and private industrial partners on the panel. For me, it has really been a great experience to be a part of the creation and on-going development of RAMTEC.

ramtec tech training

Open House for RAMTEC Robotic Tech Training March 14

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Training for Area’s Immediate Openings
Do you want a great paying job? Or know someone who wants a great paying job?  Do you have the aptitude and attitude to succeed in the robotics field?  Would you like to make $18 to $26 per hour?  Join us March 14 for an Open House from 2pm to 6pm at RAMTEC on the Tri-Rivers Campus for an informational session on a customized training class designed to meet the robotic technician needs of area employers.

“Honda of America, Ohio Means Jobs, AeroTek, Robotworx, Tri-Rivers and other area companies will be at the Open House to assist you to gain the training needed to make great wages with a great career,” said Ritch Ramey, Engineering Coordinator for RAMTEC.

“Our first 15-day class will start April 16 and will guarantee participants an interview with a area company that needs associates with robotics skills covered in the RAMTEC Robotic Technician Training program,” said Ramey.

Overview of the program:
• FANUC—HTOP ((Handling, Tooling, Operations & Programming)—Robotic Training—40 hours in class training
• Yaskawa/Motoman—Robotic Training—40 hours in class training
• Additional Training—40 hours in class training Robotic Preventative Maintenance, Mechanical Blueprint Reading, and Technical Math.
Total Hours: 120

Tri-Rivers RAMTEC has partnered with FANUC Robotics to offer onsite certification training, including: Robot Operation, HTOP (Handling, Tooling, Operations & Programming), 2D iRVision Operation & Programming and Robot Maintenance.

RAMTEC has also partnership with Yaskawa Motoman Robotics to offer onsite educational certification training. Students will learn operation, programming and how it applies to Material Handling applications.

Tri-Rivers RAMTEC is located in Marion, Ohio on the Tri-Rivers Career Center campus, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd, Marion, OH. The Center has the most up-to-date equipment. It is supported by industry partnerships with Robotworx, Whirlpool, Honda of America, U.S. Yachiyo, FANUC Robotics, and Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, who have combined forces and talent to operate as an industrial robotics and advanced manufacturing center. The facility is geared to technically train students for high-skilled jobs in Automation, Robotics, CNC (Computer Numerical Control), Welding and Industrial Maintenance.

For more information call Holly at 740-389-8590 or email her at . Financial aide assistance available.

robotics camp

Tri-Rivers RAMTEC Summer Robotics Camp Sign Up

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Tri-Rivers Career Center/RAMTEC is holding a unique 4-day Robotics & Automation Summer Camp, June 4-7, 2018. “Participants of our 4-day Robotics Summer Camp, hosted in our RAMTEC Robotics and Automation facility, will get the unique opportunity to operate and program FANUC and Motoman Industrial Robots. These are the two most popular industrial robotics companies in the world,” said Ritch Ramey, RAMTEC engineering coordinator. “They are used in 90% of all automotive factories in the United States.”

“Along with operating real industrial robots, participants will interact with our NAO Humanoid robot, experience the latest Industrial Cobots, create and print their own 3D projects and gain exposure to

coding electronic devices,” said Ramey.

“Tri-Rivers RAMTEC has hosted more than 20 STEM and robotics camps since 2012,” said Ramey. “These camps expose our area students to the thousands of potential exciting and high paying 21st Century careers in manufacturing and engineering throughout Ohio.”

Ramey said this Summer Camp builds upon the Vex Robotics experiences that many of the RAMTEC/Tri-Rivers camps provide, and allows participants to get hands-on, real world, exposure to the latest robotic platforms.

The camp participation fee is $100, or discounted to $80 if paid by May 22, 2018. The fee includes a T-shirt and lunch each day. The camp appStudents can sign up by visiting our RAMTEC website at www.ramtecohio to download the camp application. “Camps fill up fast, so I encourage students to apply now to reserve their spot in the camp,” said Ramey. For more information contact Ramey at 740-389-8590 or .

RAMTEC Summer Camp Registration form 2018

RAMTEC (Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Educational Collaborative) is part of the Tri-Rivers Career Center Main Campus, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd., Marion, OH 43302.

fanuc students

TRCC/RAMTEC students earn FANUC Certifications

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14976892_1532994630049779_1148265425392156837_oTri-Rivers/RAMTEC:  Fourteen Level I Engineering Technology Students at Tri-Rivers Career Center/RAMTEC earned their FANUC Tool Handling and Programming Industrial Certifications recently. Twenty-eight Level I and Level II students have now completed their credentialing in Engineering Technology from Certified FANUC instructor Mark Edington. Fifty-eight students have now been certified at Tri-Rivers since 2014. There will be many more to come this year between 22 Welding, 16 Advanced Machining and 9 more level I Engineering Technology students.

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RAMTEC instructor is a finalist for national award

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mark-e_updated-webTri-Rivers RAMTEC Instructor Mark Edington, who was named Ohio’s Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)  Postsecondary Teacher of the Year earlier this year, has been selected as the 2016 Region 1 Postsecondary Teacher of the Year. He will be one of five instructors nationwide vying for the 2017 National Award at the ACTE Excellence Awards  Nov. 30th in Las Vegas, according to Larry Hickman, Tri-Rivers Chief Instructional Officer.

“This is quite an honor—a well deserved honor—for Mark,” said Hickman. “We are lucky to have his talents, experience and expertise in our RAMTEC Center. This award recognizes career and technical teachers and teacher educators who have demonstrated excellence and best practices in career and technical education at the postsecondary level.”

“Mark Edington’s dedication to career-technical education shows through his passion to share his knowledge with students,” says Christine Gardner, Ohio ACTE Executive Director. “In 2013, Edington came out of retirement to teach the new Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Training Program at Tri Rivers Career Center. As the only dual FANUC and Motoman-Yasakawa Certified Robotic Trainer in Ohio, he possesses unique skills that he has used to prepare his students for real-life situations.”

“Using a combination of theory and hands-on practice that he has learned throughout his career, Mr. Edington teaches students to react to real-world scenarios and cultivate problem-solving skills that will help them throughout their careers,” said Hickman.  “Mr. Edington was one of the hosts of Ohio ACTE’s summer conference professional development program in 2016 and continually shares his knowledge with colleagues for the benefit of all Career Tech students.

“Over the last three years in his education career, Edington has provided 245 students with thousands of hours of training. He has been instrumental in helping to fill the skilled-labor gap, not only in his community but throughout the state, as he has provided training to instructors that will be sharing this knowledge at eight regional robotics & advanced manufacturing technology education collaborative (RAMTEC) career centers,” said Gardner.  “His unique knowledge and willingness to come out of retirement to give his time to students shows his passion for career and technical education.”

The national postsecondary teacher of the year award, along with several other ACTE Excellence Awards will be announced at the ACTE Awards Banquet, a dinner and award presentation recognizing the best CTE educators in the country.

The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers.

(Shown above with his wife, Linda, at the Ohio ACTE Awards Ceremony)

Tri-Rivers RAMTEC concept to expand with $6 million in Straight A Funds

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RAMTEC outside new 2015In the third round of Straight A Grants by the Ohio Department of Education, Tri-Rivers Career Center was the lead district in a consortium which was awarded six grants of $1 million each to expand robotics and advanced manufacturing by replicating the Marion RAMTEC (Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative) in an additional 12 career centers. Earlier through the second round of Straight A Grants, 8 additional RAMTECs were created.

The recent additional RAMTEC sites include: Ashland County-West Holmes JVSD, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Mid-East Career and Technology Center, Lawrence County, Pickaway-Ross JVSD, US Grant CTPD, Delaware Area Career Center, Southern Hills, Vantage Career Center, Warren County CTC, EHOVE Career Center, Wayne County JVSD. Scioto County Career Technical Center also received a separate grant to create a RAMTEC for a total of 22 RAMTECs in Ohio.
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“Business and Industry do not have the skilled workers needed to upgrade and automate,” said Chuck Speelman, Tri-Rivers superintendent. “These additional grants will help to replicate the success of what we are doing with RAMTEC in Marion, Ohio. Our best practices will be used by these additional career centers to expand advanced manufacturing career-technical learning opportunities in robotics for 6th grade through 16th grade.”

Ritch Ramey, as the RAMTEC Ohio Coordinator, is responsible for the development and coordination of the training programs at Tri-Rivers RAMTEC and the additional 22 RAMTECs made possible through Straight A Grants. “Because of the grants, elementary, middle school, high school, college, adults and incumbent workers have or will have access to credentialed courses in such industrial training programs as those developed by FANUC Robotics and CNC, Yaskawa Motoman, Parker Hydraulics, Rockwell Allen-Bradley Programmable Logic Controls (PLC) and Mitsubishi PLCs.”

RAMTEC on the Tri-Rivers Campus serves as the training center for all of the instructors of the additional RAMTECs providing the professional development needed to make the initiative successful. “As RAMTEC expands throughout the state, we will continue to enhance the training at RAMTEC here in Marion, making Marion the “Home for Robotics Education” in Ohio and the nation,” said Ramey. “The success of RAMTEC in Marion relies on highly motivated and skilled training staff, numerous partnerships we have developed, as well as the grants we have received.”

“Ohio Means Jobs has estimated that there is a 60,000 manufacturing gap in Ohio currently,” said Ramey. “Our RAMTEC mission is to help alleviate that gap by creating a seamless pathway that will allow students throughout Ohio hands-on exposure to high tech equipment starting in the 6th grade.”

Ramey said through Vex Robotics contests and camps, as well as trailer-based exploration programs, we have created an education outreach that reaches into the 144 schools that feed our Career Tech centers. “The Straight A Grants provide state of the art equipment and education technology so our students can earn industrial credentials before they leave high school.”

The grants also provide for training the teachers from each of the additional RAMTEC sites in robotics, PLCs, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, CNC and Vex robotics. “Each Career Center is linked to two and four year colleges in which students can earn college credit while in high school. While middle school students can gain exposure through the Arduino Sparkfun Inventor Kits (SIK), Vex Robotics, camps, competitions, and tours.”

“Our team of professionals have developed and assisted with Vex Robotics camps throughout Ohio this year. With the new grants, this initiative will continue to grow exposing thousands of young people to this ultimate STEM activity for middle school and high school students,” said Ramey.

“We also host several activities for elementary students, including the upcoming Invention Convention competition to be held at RAMTEC at Tri-Rivers Saturday, February 20,” said Ramey. “RAMTEC is opening doors for young people to use problem solving and critical thinking to develop their skills and to receive real world certifications and training that will lead them to high paying skilled positions.”

Speelman said because of Marion’s RAMTEC on the Tri-Rivers campus, “Jobs are coming to this area.” For example, Union Tank Car was able to expand because of the training provided through RAMTEC. “Tri-Rivers RAMTEC has also provided robotics, CNC and Automation training for employees companies including Bridgestone, US Yachiyo, Marion Industries, American Showa, MTD, PPG, Whirlpool, Nucor, FT Precision, and Honda.”

The Straight A Grant funds are for middle school through college; however, adult learners and incumbent workers also benefit greatly from the RAMTEC expansion, concluded Speelman.

RAMTEC Open House Tomorrow, Feb. 3

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RAMTEC Open House flyer-1Join us for RAMTEC’s Open House, Wednesday, February 3, 5-8pm. This event is for high school students, parents and adult learners.

You can tour through the facility and check our high school and adult programs. High School students can also enroll during the evening into Engineering Technologies, Advanced Machining or Welding—all three programs offer bright futures and are needed to fill the skills gap in Ohio and the Nation.

There will be food throughout the event, as well as industry demonstrations.

RAMTEC, is located on the Tri-Rivers Campus, 2222 Marion-Mt. Gilead Rd, Marion, OH.

Sophomores! Maybe you’ve already applied, or are planning to apply soon, or maybe you are still trying to decide. This Open House is a great way to get more details! Along with instructors, a guidance counselor will also be available to answer questions and to assist you with your online application. Get your application in soon! Priority Deadline is February 16, 2016. Applying on or before this date will help you get into the program of your choice.

Thank you to our sponsor: PRIME.

Questions, email RAMTEC Coordinator Ritch Ramey at