Cadence Inc. and Valley Career and Technical Center invest in future of manufacturing

Cadence Inc. recently partnered with Valley Career and Technical Center (VCTC) located in Fishersville, Va. to help get their new Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) program up and running to help train the next generation of the manufacturing workforce. Cadence donated funds that provided a UR5 collaborative robot to be used in the lab’s Robotics & Automation Work Cell, four Form 2 production-quality Stereolithographic (SLA) printers with a year supply of resin, a UV Cure post-processing chamber and a post-processing wash unit all to be used in the Design & Additive Manufacturing Work Cell in an effort to invest in the future of manufacturing.

“The donation from Cadence contributed to making this a game-changing, benchmark program and facility,” stated Andrei Dacko, CIM Instructor. “We are working on breaking down the barriers and stereotypes about manufacturing and introducing students to really cool technologies used in state-of-the-art fabrication.”

VCTC’s CIM program began in August with fourteen students enrolled from various local high schools. The one- year program provides juniors and seniors with training across core manufacturing and engineering skillsets including the design process, technical sketching and drawing, 2D and 3D part modelling, design for manufacturability, reverse engineering, robotics, automation and manufacturing processes. Upon graduating from the program, students will have a solid foundation for success as an entry level operator with local manufacturers, as well as preparation necessary for post-secondary education in advanced manufacturing and engineering-related degree programs.

“This investment planted a seed for a much higher return in the future,” said Ken Cleveland, Cadence’s Chief Financial Officer. “We are very proud to support the community’s youth and in turn, we look forward to hopefully having some of these students join the team down the road.”

Mr. Dacko also stated, “This partnership is invaluable as it demonstrates something local students and schools don’t often experience – an up-front commitment from a local employer that says we believe in you, and we believe in the importance of what you’re learning and want to help set one up for success.” This partnership also offers students the opportunity to collaborate with Cadence on mutually beneficial projects such as part design and prototyping which provides students with real-world skills.

In addition, CIM students got the chance to tour Cadence’s Virginia facility to see the machines and processes in action. This experience allowed students to observe a day-in-the-life of manufacturing so that they could then apply that knowledge back in the classroom.

Cadence Inc. is a leading supplier of advanced products, technologies and services to medical device and specialty industrial companies worldwide. Cadence develops solutions-oriented relationships with customers and provides highly technical solutions that enable improved product performance in clearly measurable ways. Cadence employs approximately 500 people with its corporate headquarters in Staunton, Virginia and additional locations in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

For more information on Cadence, visit cadenceinc.com. For more information on VCTC’s CIM program, visit www.augusta.k12.va.us/Domain/3127.