The Center focuses on training welding educators, engineers and industrial professionals who are advancing welding in schools and industry globally. Additionally, the Center provides advanced technical welding training for professionals, as well as a portfolio of turnkey educational solutions that can be used to launch welding training at customers’ own facilities. Lincoln’s education portfolio includes an extensive educational curriculum, virtual reality and technology-assisted training tools, industry-leading welding and cutting solutions and robotic cells.
“Our new Center is a strategic investment to help our customers and educational partners grow using leading solutions. Our educational offering and leadership in automation solutions provide meaningful solutions to address the skills gap and capacity constraints facing customers in our industry,” says Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln Electric chairman, president and CEO.
“We are committed to providing students and customers with the relevant skills and knowledge needed to support career and technical schools, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure growth. Our education model will shape the next generation of welders, managers and industry leaders,” says Jason Scales, Lincoln Electric business manager, education.
Located on the company’s headquarters campus in Cleveland, the new 130,000 sq.-ft. facility represents a $30 million investment in training for a new generation of welding leaders and educators, according to the announcement. The Center is a state-of-the art educational facility that features 166 welding and cutting booths, a virtual reality training lab with 10 VRTEX virtual reality welding simulators, as well as extensive seminar and welding school classroom space, and a 100-seat auditorium to advance technical skills. The Center will also become an American Welding Society accredited testing facility later this year.
