A new standard for student-oriented events has just been set:  The NIMS Student Skills Center at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) was a hugely successful event with more than 9,000 attendees visiting the twenty-seven student-focused exhibitors throughout IMTS week.  Made possible thanks to continuous support and accommodations from AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the 2012 Student Skills Center was better than ever with the addition of interactive, thought-provoking exhibitions that visitors could experience with all five senses.

Upon arrival, students and educators - some of whom traveled from as far away as Texas, California, and Florida - encountered a brief Orientation Program sponsored by Sandvik Coromant and designed to welcome groups to the show while providing examples of the connections between daily life and the world of manufacturing technology.  Unlimited exhibitor exploration time followed before attendees proceeded upstairs to the main IMTS show floors where technologies abounded.

Some exhibitor highlights inside the NIMS Student Skills Center included live 3D printing demos by 3D Systems, the American Welding Society and Lincoln Electric’s Careers in Welding Trailer complete with VRTEX 3D Welding Simulators, a replica of the Chilean Miner Rescue Capsule plus video teasers from The Edge Factor, and robot cells connected to hands-on simulators from FANUC Robotics.  Follow this link for a full list of exhibitors and attractions.

Career Launch Pads debuted to push the envelope towards the ultimate experience for curious students.  The launch pads were interactive information desks staffed by young industry professionals – a.k.a. MT-Ambassadors – and facilitated one-on-one chats with students to talk skills, technologies, careers, and beyond.  DMG / Mori Seiki, Mazak Corp., Sandvik Coromant, Seco Tools, Southwestern Industries, and Symbol Job Training generously hosted launch pads at the show last week.

Also new at the 2012 NIMS Student Skills Center was the online Educator Handbook, which was created to provide pre-show logistical information to attending educators and to assist with maximizing time spent at IMTS.  Handbooks also included a listing of Featured Exhibitors, companies throughout all four buildings of IMTS who welcomed student visitors.  Follow this link to view the Educator Handbook.

In partnership with Sandvik Coromant, a mid-week conference for school administrators and guidance counselors occurred inside the Student Skills Center.  Aiming to shed light on an all-too-often overlooked career path for young students, the two-hour conference featured Bruce Braker of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council, John Pusatera of Sandvik Coromant, plus special guests Jeremy Bout of The Edge Factor / Underhouse Studio alongside three-time X-Games gold medalist “Monster” Mike Schultz, who has been a trailblazer in prosthetics fabrication since losing his left leg in a snocross accident in December 2008.

A thousand thanks go to AMT for again providing NIMS with the opportunity to host another student event and thanks also to the twenty-seven NIMS Student Skills Center exhibitors who met this year’s challenge for stimulating, engaging booth content.  This event would not be possible without these collaborations and we hope the relationships established in 2012 will continue to inspire young people to pursue prosperous careers in the manufacturing technology industry.