Golden opportunities

At the end of 2009, Haas Automation Europe held its first Haas Technical Education Centre (HTEC) Industry-Partner Summit.

The event provided an opportunity for representatives from all 13 collaborating companies (Haas +12) to meet at the company's Brussels headquarters, discuss the HTEC programme and how to take advantage of the opportunities it presents.

“This was a very successful first Summit,” commented Bert Maes, HTEC program coordinator at Haas Europe. “The HTEC initiative aims to change the way schools in Europe teach CNC technology. The turnout was excellent with some delegates travelling from as far away as the USA, and all of them took the time and the trouble to reiterate their commitment to helping schools around the continent. A few of our HTEC industry partners have only recently joined us, so it was a great opportunity for them to meet and compare their experiences with the more established collaborators.”

The HTEC Industry Partner Summit was held to coincide with the Haas Automation Europe Open House, which attracted almost 400 engineers, business owners and students over the two days of the event. The Industry Partners were given the opportunity to exhibit their products and services and to make presentations to visitors.
The latest company to become an HTEC Industry Partner is coolant technology specialist Cimcool – represented at the Haas summit by marketing support manager, Cees de Moog, who was excited about the opportunities ahead.

“The HTEC program has very quickly caught the imagination of some well respected companies, all of whom share Haas' enthusiasm for the program and for what we can achieve together. Cimcool is delighted to be part of perhaps the most innovative CNC education initiative that Europe has seen for a long time.”

Mr Maes concluded the summit meeting by information delegates: “We are all aware that too many schools have obsolete technology with which to train students. Individually we can achieve little, but collectively we can change manufacturing education in Europe.”

Haas
www.haas.co.uk