Cimatron Technologies Inc., is donating software valued at over $1.7 million to Southeastern Community College (SCC) in Iowa. The CimatronE software-a CAD/CAM solution for mold, tool and die makers as well as manufacturers of discrete parts-will be used to provide training for students in design and advanced manufacturing.
Donation Helps Meet the Talent Needs of Manufacturers
It is one of the largest donations to SCC and will provide the foundation for training students from high school through college to meet the increasing demand for manufacturing expertise by companies in Iowa. The region is home to such industries as energy, pharmaceutical, food processing, and plastics. The donation was facilitated by the Lee County Economic Development Group, a private/public partnership to foster development and employment in the county.
Cimatron Sees Iowa as a Key Manufacturing Location
"This donation, along with another donation to North Iowa Area Community College last year, underscores the importance Cimatron places on growing the manufacturing industry in Iowa and throughout North America," said Bill Gibbs, Cimatron North America President. "The demand for skilled CAD/CAM workers is the number one challenge that comes up in every conversation we have with customers as well as in a survey of toolmakers and manufacturers we conducted last year."
Training on CimatronE software for mold, die making, and manufacturing will be part of the curriculum for Associate of Applied Science in Computer Assisted Drafting and Advanced Manufacturing degrees. "This will elevate the status of SCC among prospective students and employers as a college on the cutting edge of CAD/CAM," said Michael Ash, the president of SCC.
The State of Iowa Invests in Manufacturing
"In Iowa, manufacturing is big business. In fact, the percentage of the state's GDP derived from manufacturing has consistently ranked in the top 10 in the country," said Debi Durham, the director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). "The advanced manufacturing sector is so strong in Iowa because the public and private sectors work together to ensure conditions are favorable for growth. Keeping Iowa's community colleges equipped with leading edge technology is an essential part of training the next generation of highly skilled workers who are sought by Iowa's manufacturers to support future growth."
