RANDOLPH, Vt. (WCAX) – The VTSU Randolph campus has just opened a brand new manufacturing center.
The center is part of the Vermont Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative and is available to any size business to work on prototypes, test, and create products while working to grow the workforce from students at the Randolph campus.
“This is one of it’s kind in the world collection of advanced manufacturing equipment that’s available for businesses to come in and worth with,” said Melissa Bounty from Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation.
Bounty also says its an affordable way to learn and grow. “You can come in for questions about prototyping, product development, anything that might use this equipment and hire this center at a really affordable rate to go through your problem with you,” said Bounty.
Some examples of the advanced manufacturing capabilities at the Randolph campus include cybersecurity, data analytics, collaborative robotics, and 3d printing, and its accessible to all. Mercy Sheehan of Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation says anyone can get involved no matter how old they are. “One of the beautiful things at this A.M.C., Advanced Manufacturing Collective, is that they teach and pay students of all ages to work in this facility,” said Sheehan.
Sheehan also says the wide array of uses for the manufacturing center make it an invaluable resource for the school and surrounding communities. “It can be used for a lot of different things which is really cool to see, there’s multi-purpose and creative ways these machines can create a lot of really cool things,” said Sheehan.