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Hydraulics & Pneumatics: Technology Education |
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Fluid power technology education making strides
 The growth of technology education projects and inter-association initiatives were the strong messages from the recent annual general meeting and conference of the Canadian Fluid Power Association (cfpa.ca).
ìThe CFPA is reaching out to other industry associations,î said John Bachmann, CFPA chair, in his report at the meeting. Bachmann attended the NFPA Educator/Industry Summit in Scottsdale, AZ, last fall (nfpa.com), as well as the Automotive Parts Manufacturersí Association-led Yves Landry Foundation (ylandryfund.org) technology education fundraising gala in Toronto, and noted the CFPA has begun a dialog with the Power Transmission Distributorsí Association (ptda.org).
 In Ontario, Bachmann has been on a fact-finding mission to alert members to programs at Mohawk College (Stoney Creek), Durham College (Oshawa) and Sheridan Institute (Brampton). CFPA members are being encouraged to not only look to local technical schools for recruits, but to provide industry support so that curriculum best reflects industryís needs.
Mohawk College (mohawkcollege.ca) is the site of the PTDAís Industrial Careers Pathway project, an initiative the CFPA has begun to participate in along with 17 other North American trade associations through the PTDA Education Foundation. The Industrial Careers curriculum supplements technical college programs with sales, marketing, business and mathematics courses for positions in industrial distribution organizations.
Durham College (durhamcollege.ca) houses the Integrated Manufacturing Centre, an ambitious structure that emulates the real world of industrial automation. ìThe IMC has eight robotic cells that can operate in factory or student modes. Each robotic cell has a laptop, touch screen and a complete set of safety interlocks,î said Bachmann.
The Sheridan Instituteís Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (sheridaninstitute.ca) facility opens in September. ìThe CFPA wants to be sure it meets member needs, so we need to get involved on defining curriculum,î said Bachmann.
 At the middle school education level, the CFPA continues to inspire younger students into considering technical careers. This month in the Toronto area, 20 middle schools will participate in the 5th Hilltop Challenge, a competition that teams two boys and two girls to solve a basic fluid power pick-and-place problem. ìWeíre trying to export the Hilltop competition to Edmonton and Niagara regions, but we have to find a champion in the school system.î
 The Western Chapter of the CFPA has been working hard with the Edmonton school board on curriculum in the high school system, according to Don Trenn, the chapter chair. ìThe plan at Strathcona High School is for a Grade 10 fluid power course to start in February 2006, a Grade 11 course in the fall, followed by a Grade 12 course. We want to present a business plan to the school board that includes two fluid power trainers, CD training software and components. The CFPA and school board would share the costs.î
 The association supports education mainly through golf tournament fundraising events. The 2005 CFPA Annual Golf Tournament will be held June 14 at Crosswinds Golf & Country Club in Burlington, ON.
The CFPAís 6th Annual Western Golf Tournament will be June 22 at Alberta Springs Golf Resort in Red Deer, AB.
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