Haas Technical Education Center (HTEC) – Supporting Excellence in Manufacturing Education

In the United States, many executives agree the skills gap is a major barrier to innovation. A Deloitte Touche survey of 500 technology CEOs reported that the “main barrier to growth is finding, hiring and retraining qualified people to support technology companies.” In manufacturing, this holds true, where the only way we can compete is to increase the level of sophistication and automation. In the precision machining industry, the resulting systems and technology require more highly trained operators than ever before. And yet, vocational training in the United States is on the downturn.

Haas Automation, America’s leading CNC machine tool builder, established a program to help educate our next generation of workers in machining. They established HTEC (Haas Technical Education Center), which is a global network and partnership between learning institutions, Haas Automation, and local Haas Factory Outlets. This partnership ensures that qualified learning institutions receive support to provide the highest quality CNC education.
Haas Technical Education Centers leverage the capabilities and technologies of Haas Automation and partner with industry, schools, and professional societies to exchange best practices and exploit the power of modern manufacturing equipment for educational purposes.
As of June 2009, the HTEC network in the USA and Canada includes more than 750 high schools, vocational and community colleges, and universities. In Europe, there currently are 25 HTECs in operation, with another 15 planned by year’s end, and a 5-year goal of 200 HTECs in 35 countries.

Excellence in Manufacturing Education

The mission of the Haas Technical Education Center network is to promote and advance manufacturing and productivity through excellence in manufacturing education.
The HTEC concept demonstrates to young people that today’s manufacturing is, in fact, performed in clean and pleasant high-tech working environments that involve “making-things” – using a wide spectrum of advanced technologies to produce critical products, with processes that can truly be described as high-tech.
HTECs provide young people with opportunities to enter challenging and rewarding careers in the manufacturing industries, and provide local companies with a steady supply of well qualified CNC technologists. These technologists, in turn, will become the manufacturing leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.
HTECs also demonstrate to female students that there is absolutely nothing in regard to high-tech manufacturing that they cannot accomplish. They, too, may become manufacturing technologists, and have very rewarding careers in the manufacturing industries.

Local HTEC Partners

HTEC partners in Arizona include: Arizona State University, Coconino High School (Flagstaff), Mesa Community College, Pima Community College, Eastern Arizona College, Gateway Community College, Maricopa Skills Center, Yavapai College, and the University of Arizona. In New Mexico and Nevada, HTEC partners include Central New Mexico Community College and University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

HTEC Benefits

• Lease to Purchase available through Ellison Machinery - A 5-year lease is available through HAI Capital, Inc. Schools have the opportunity to lease a new Haas machine for a low monthly payment. At the end of 5 years, the school has the option to return the machine, or purchase the machine for 20% of its original cost.
• Discounted Purchases - Depending on the product, most Haas products will be offered to qualified schools at a 10% to 15% discount from the published retail price.
• Free and Discounted 3rd-Party Products - Haas has negotiated special discounts for items from other suppliers and manufacturers. These items include tooling, fixturing, raw material, CAM software, inspection equipment, etc.
• Job Placements - Haas Automation invites its educational partners to participate in a placement program at the Haas factory in Oxnard, California. Job openings may exist for Machinist, CAD / CAM Programmer, Quality Control, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Machining Apprenticeship Programs - The Haas Master Apprentice Program is an intensive 18- to 24-month training program in the field of Machining Technology.
• Scholarship Opportunities - The Gene Haas Foundation offers a limited number of grants up to $5000 per year to cover the cost of class units, books and other standard student fees. Grants that are approved are sent directly to the schools, and it’s the school’s responsibility to administer them according to the Foundation’s guidlines.
•HTEC Website - The official website of the Haas Technical Education Center Network (http://www.htecnetwork.org) provides HTEC news, a calendar of events, a member directory, access to partner companies and much more. 
• Online Training Materials - A variety of training materials are available from companies that specialize in machine tool education.
For more information about the HTEC network or Haas products in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, contact Haas Factory Outlet/Ellison Machinery at 480-968-5877 or go to their website at www.ellisonaz.com.

Comments from some HTEC Members

“At Eastern Arizona College, we have been a member of HTEC for about 10 years now. I estimate that more than 2000 students have come through my class and received training on the Haas machines. The 4-axis capability of the Haas in conjunction with our Mastercam software facilitated our 2nd place award in Mastercam’s “Innovator of the Year Award” last year! We were one of 17 competing for the Award, and all but our school were 4 year colleges! The HTEC program is outstanding for us, as is the support we receive from Tempe Haas Factory Outlet!”
Newell Dryden, Eastern Arizona College
“The HTEC program was so beneficial to us because we had so much trouble receiving funding until we were introduced to the HTEC. I knew just what I wanted when monies opened up - 2 Haas mills and a lathe. In the 2 years since we’ve been in the program, approximately 75 students have been taught on the Haas. The training our instructors received from Haas was outstanding and the machines are very reliable”.
Thomas Reyman, Mesa Community College

“We started in the HTEC program in 1999 and now have 5 Haas machines - 1 lathe, 2 mini mills, 1 VF2, and we acquired the Haas 5 axis through the Entrustment program. I would guess more than 500 students have been trained on the Haas, and we have a number of alumni come back to tell us they wouldn’t be in their current jobs if it weren’t for the program (and thanks to the help from Haas!) Recently, they added a local service person to Tucson, and that’s helped alot.”
Tommy Salazar, Pima Community College

“We actually participate in the HTEC program as a small machine shop within University of Nevada Las Vegas to help Physicists. We are a small R&D shop that makes their parts. We also give the Physicists training in machining so they know what to ask for when they are building a product. The support from Haas Factory Outlet in Tempe, AZ has been excellent and the equipment is great. We have a Haas VF2 CNC mill today and we’re looking to acquire a Haas lathe.”
Jim Norton, University of Nevada Las Vegas

“At Gateway Community College, we’re up to 9 Haas machines, including a full simultaneous 5 axis machine with live tooling. We’re probably one of few colleges working at this level of machining. We have trained in excess of 750 students in machining on the Haas machines, and we’re growing our program exponentially. About 10% of our students are what we consider “Poster Students”. One such Poster student went from making $8 per hour to $25 per hour. The boy is 23 years of age and he learned machining, tooling, prototyping and design in under a year!”
Dave Samora, Gateway Community College

“The Haas Technical Education Center (HTEC) in the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMET) programs at ASU Polytechnic was established in the summer of 2000.  Within the HTEC, there are a total of six machines: five machining centers and one lathe (an SL-20). The machining centers range from a VF-3 with a five-axis trunnion to an OM-2 Office Mill.  Every student in the MMET programs since 2000 has had hands-on experience with the Haas equipment. Courses taught cover a range from introduction to CNC to 4 and 5-axis machining.  As a result, these gradates go into industry with CNC machining experience, making them better engineers. With the help of the HTEC program, ASU’s Engineering Technology’s manufacturing labs are the best of any University in the country.”  
Scott Danielson, Arizona State University