Innovance/Lou Rich, a local manufacturer in Albert Lea, recently donated a Mori Seiki lathe machining station to the new machining program at Riverland Community College’s Albert Lea Campus. The station teaches students Computer Numerical Control (CNC) operation.

With a growing shortage for skilled machinist and maintenance mechanics across Minnesota, especially in southeast Minnesota, Lou Rich Machine Tool, a subsidiary of Innovance, donated the CNC Machining station new Machining program to support teaching new machinist on the equipment they’ll see in the area’s job market. “With the high demand for skilled labor, it is important for Lou Rich to partner with Riverland to enhance the learning environment for the students and better prepare them for the local workforce,” said Steve Tufte, general manager of Lou Rich.

In addition to providing this CNC machining station donation, Innovance/Lou Rich is an active partner with Riverland by providing annual $5,000 for scholarships that support the Industrial Maintenance and Mechanics, Welding, and now Machining students. They are also a major partner each year for the Riverland High School Welding competition held each April at Riverland’ s best in class welding lab. Innovance/Lou Rich provides materials, judges, and prizes to the competition.

Steve Bowron, dean for institutional advancement with Riverland, applauds Innovance/Lou Rich for their ongoing support for Riverland students and their most recent gift of the CNC Machining station. “The current need for skilled labor makes it even more important to have partners like Innovance/Lou Rich step up and help bring visibility and support to this growing demand for a technically skilled workforce.”

The machining program is a 17-credit certificate that can be completed in one semester. Smaller class sizes provide students with easy access to equipment and tools of the trade. This hands-on, highly skilled job teaches students to fabricate parts by interpreting blueprints and using precision measuring tools. Students create parts to factory specifications and standards. Lathe and mill operation will be mastered by learning proper machine set up, including material speeds and feeds. The machining certificate is a certificate program starting in January that works in conjunction with Riverland’s Industrial Maintenance and Mechanics diploma program. For more information, visit www.riverland.edu/machining or www.riverland.edu/IMMR.

The Riverland Community College Foundation raises, manages and distributes resources to support, enhance and promote the educational opportunities Riverland Community College offers the people of the region. Because achieving dreams of a better life may be financially challenging, the Riverland Community College Foundation is committed to raising funds for scholarships. The Riverland Community College Foundation is a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) and is funded by local donors. Contributions to the Riverland Community College Foundation are fully tax-deductible.