Composites Fabrication Technician Program

Hi;

I'm a long-time lurker and occasional contributer here, and thought that some of you may be interested in knowing about a new course being offered featuring foundation-level training in advanced composites fabrication. In the interests of complete openness, please be aware that I do have a vested interest in this - I will be the instructor.

The Composites Fabrication Technician Program is being offered by the Nova Scotia Community College - Lunenburg Campus (actually located twelve miles/nineteen kilometres from the town of Lunenburg at Bridgewater, but still within Lunenburg County, hence the campus name), and starts on the 28th of September 2006. It runs for 36 weeks, with students graduating in April 2007. The curriculum has been developed in partnership with Composites Atlantic Limited, an aerospace components manufacturer and member of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) Company, the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association, and A.F.Theriault Ltd (a prominent Nova Scotian boatbuilding firm).

The course features education in both classroom and workshop settings, and will encompass fibreglass, aramid, and carbon fibre reinforcements in wet-layup and pre-pregs. Various resins will be used and solid and cored structures (foams, honeycombs) will be fabricated. Various fabrication processes will be covered such as filament winding, resin infusion, vacuum bagging, resin transfer method, compression moulding, etc. Basic composites assembly, finishing, and repair skills will be taught. There will also be courses in blueprint reading, computer basics, fundamentals of CATIA (a CAD program used in the aerospace and automotive industry), Lean Manufacturing, and quality assurance taught during the program.

Although primarily targeted at the aerospace industry, this course has many applications in the boatbuilding industry, and course content will recognize this fact. Two two-week practicums will be scheduled throught the course where students will work with Composites Atlantic to get real-world experience in this high-tech trade. All course graduates are guaranteed an interview with Composites Atlantic at the end of the course.

For further information, visit the NSCC website at www.nscc.ca. Applications for this program are available at the campus or online at: http://www.nscc.ca/News_Events/Publications/NSCC_Application.pdf