HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Celette Inc. and Elektron Inc. have come to the aid of Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School, the I-CAR Education Foundation’s 2009 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant winner, by donating an Elektron MI-100 welder with accessories. The donated equipment, valued at $20,000, was requested by Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School through its Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant application.
The Elektron welder, along with the other equipment, tools and supplies that the school received through the makeover grant, will be on display during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Commenting on the donation, Celette and Elektron General Manager Tim Morgan said, “Celette and Elektron have over 110 years combined experience in the structural repair and welding processes and equipment and realize the need for proper equipment in the education process. New vehicle materials used to make the vehicle stronger, lighter and safer require highly sophisticated welding current and parameters. This MI-100 welder is capable of welding those materials. Giving this unit to Steel Center AVTS is an investment in not only the current students in the school’s collision program but the future students as well. We are proud to be part of the I-CAR Education Foundation’s first annual Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant.”
Education Foundation Executive Director Scott Kruger added, “Thanks to the generosity of Celette and Elektron, we are able to fulfill the request of the 2009 Makeover winning school and enhance that school’s collision program with this donated welder and accessories. I would like to specifically recognize Celette Inc. Elektron Inc. General Manager Tim Morgan for arranging this donation for the school and assisting the Education Foundation in our efforts through the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant program.”
Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School Collision instructor Jim Fichera said, “I was definitely concerned about selecting the proper spot welder for our facility to train future collision repair technicians. There are many companies to choose from, and talking to local repair facilities, no one was impressed with their current welder. After having the opportunity to use different welders at the Toyota Collision Training Center and completing the necessary destructive tests, we all found out that the Electron MI-100 welder was the best welder and had the capacity and power to weld the uni-body frame halves together on the vehicle we were working on.”
Following the generosity of numerous collision industry donors, the Education Foundation is again offering the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant in 2010. The deadline for collision schools to apply for the $50,000 school grant is Sept. 7, and the winning school will be announced during the SEMA show this November.
For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation, visit www.ed-foundation.org.
