JLG to Provide Aerials for Service Technician Education Center

Enlarge Image The FABTECH facility at Fox Valley Technical College is scheduled for completion in July 2007. Image courtesy of Somerville, Inc.

May 22, 2007 • McConnellsburg, Pa.-based JLG Industries will supply three aerial work platforms to the FABTECH Service Technician Education Center in Oshkosh, Wis. FABTECH is an innovative new partnership between Fox Valley Technical College and FABCO Equipment Inc., the Caterpillar® dealer for Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

The FABTECH program provides a certificate series of courses focused on developing entry-level technicians in the construction equipment, engine and electric power generation fields. The rental service technician career track includes extensive hands-on experience with aerial equipment. These accredited programs provide students with opportunities to be on the job in less than a year.

 

JLG is providing an electric powered scissor lift, a gasoline-powered rough-terrain scissor lift and a diesel-powered boom lift that will be used to teach students enrolled in the program. JLG will also supply components used for disassembly and reassembly, on-site support by a JLG trainer, and course material.

 

Students who successfully finish one of the four different career tracks in the FABTECH program will receive certificates of completion and can apply the credits earned toward an associate degree in selected fields. They also will have the opportunity to be employed at one of FABCO's 23 facilities.

 

“JLG is very pleased to be able to participate in this program and looks forward to additional opportunities as they become available,” said Todd Weaver, JLG's director of product support for the JLG Caterpillar Alliance. “We recognize the need to develop and employ experienced technicians and applaud FABCO's initiative to pursue this program.”

 

According to Robert Bailey, FABCO's human resource manager and one of the principal architects of the program, JLG's participation is of significant value to the program. “FABCO's 13 Cat Rental Store branches offer an extensive fleet of JLG equipment and having competent technicians on staff to maintain this equipment is key to our success,” Bailey said.