Left to right: Christoph Kleu, commercial plant manager for Bosch Rexroth, Les Gardner of the Greenville Tech Foundation, Mike McCormick, technical plant manager for Bosch Rexroth, Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College, and Claude Bray, director of human resources for Bosch Rexroth, as the company presents a check for $62,500 to the Greenville Tech Foundation to fund a hydraulics simulation lab at the college’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation.
The learning experience includes not only Bosch Rexroth equipment but that of other vendors as well.
As the economy began to improve around 2010, employers had job openings they were unable to fill based on the skill level of job seekers. At the same time, many workers were approaching retirement age, and young people were not considering manufacturing as a career. The Center for Manufacturing Innovation is expected to impact the skills gap and to create strong interest in some of the excellent opportunities available in this sector.
“As business continues to grow, we face a critical need for highly skilled technicians,” said Mike McCormick, Technical Plant Manager for Bosch Rexroth in Fountain Inn. “We believe the Center for Manufacturing Innovation is going to be a giant step in the right direction, and we are happy to invest in this important project.”
The Bosch Community Fund has previously donated funds to support scholarships for students enrolled in advanced manufacturing programs. In 2013, the company donated $420,000 to create a mobile hydraulics lab housed at the college’s Buck Mickel Center. This lab will move to the CMI when it opens.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support that Bosch Rexroth has provided for the college and our Center for Manufacturing Innovation,” said Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College.
“By supporting our efforts to create the CMI, donating scholarship funds for students enrolled in advanced manufacturing programs, and providing equipment that delivers the skills employers need now and in the future, Bosch Rexroth is ensuring that manufacturing in our area can continue to be a powerhouse that drives the economy.”