News Article

Training facility construction makes headway in Laurens

A training facility originally planned to meet ZF Transmissions’ workforce needs could now serve as a recruiting tool for future industries to Laurens County.

Construction recently began at the Piedmont Technical College Center for Advanced Manufacturing in Laurens County, which aims to help educate the local workforce for existing and future industry. The first phase should be finished in April.

Local industry and ZF Transmissions LLC’s plant have expedited the building process of the 24,300-square-foot training center. The facility was initially planned for readySC to help the ZF Group meet its initial training needs in collaboration with Piedmont Tech’s faculty.

ZF Transmissions will invest $430 million and create 1,200 jobs at its 947,000-square-foot facility at 2846 Old Laurens Road in Gray Court. Construction is set to finish in the first quarter of 2012. The facility will produce ZF’s eight- and nine-speed transmissions.

Industry leaders and economic developers now see the center as a major asset for Laurens County to recruit prospective industries and to educate the workforce for current industries in the area.

“This new center is a game-changer for Laurens County, and the positive impact will be felt for many years to come,” said Jonathan Coleman, the Laurens County Development Corp. deputy director.

The center will be along the Interstate-385 corridor in Laurens in the former Honda of Laurens building, where demolition work was recently completed.

Phase one, designed to meet ZF’s training needs, consists of a renovation of 13,000-square-feet room to include: three classrooms, a CNC lab and a CMM lab for precision measuring of parts.

ZF Transmissions plans to partner up with Greenville Technical College and Piedmont Technical College initially to create training programs, as well as instill an internal apprenticeship program for new hires.

Phase two will include a mechatronics lab, a welding lab, additional CNC equipment and another classroom shared between CNC and mechatronics. Flexible space will be available for future industries coming to the county and other readySC projects.

Upon completion, Piedmont Tech will offer full mechatronics, machine tool and welding programs with hands-on lab time for students in Laurens County, enabling local residents to stop the commute to the Greenwood campus for this experience.

Piedmont Tech’s Continuing Education and Economic Development Division will also begin to offer professional development and non-credit courses to the public and to the Laurens County business community immediately after the first phase is complete.

“There’s been a genuine need for a facility like this for some time now, and we’re looking forward to having an increased capability to provide training within Laurens County early next year,” said Rusty Denning, associate vice president of Piedmont Tech’s Continuing Education and Economic Development.