New Training Institute to Provide Jobs, Opportunity to People in the Upper Valley.

HANOVER, N.H. -- A new technical training institute designed to provide world class training, mentoring and jobs to Vermont and New Hampshire residents is now open in Lebanon, New Hampshire and teaching its first class of students.

The center, named the Hypertherm Technical Training Institute (HTTI), is a unique partnership between Vermont HITEC, a nonprofit workforce development organization, and Hypertherm, the world leader in metal cutting technology. Vermont HITEC and Hypertherm will work jointly with the states of Vermont and New Hampshire to train dozens of people to become certified CNC machinists. In addition, current Hypertherm machinists can grow professionally by learning new skills needed to advance in their profession. Hypertherm estimates it will need to hire 100 machinists over the next three years to meet increasing global demand for its products.

"The United States has a severe shortage of qualified machinists and Northern New England is no exception," said Jim Miller, director of operations at Hypertherm. "This new training center fills a huge gap by creating opportunity for residents of Vermont and New Hampshire to increase their earning power and raise their standard of living. At the same time, it helps companies like Hypertherm meet their business needs by making it easier for current associates to grow professionally, and providing residents of the Upper Valley with careers in high tech manufacturing.

Hypertherm has provided substantial support. The company, which has had roots in the Upper Valley for nearly 40 years, has invested nearly $2 million toward the center, as well as classroom and machining lab space. An education at the HTTI is valued at $1000 per week, per student. In addition, students accepted into the HTTI will receive their regular wages while attending the program.

"It is gratifying to be part of a program that will provide opportunity for many Upper Valley residents," said Barbara Couch, vice president of human resources for Hypertherm. "This new training center fits perfectly with Hypertherm's mission of caring for the development and well being of our associates and our core value of caring for the community."

The new training center is located at 100 Etna Road in Lebanon, New Hampshire. It is expected that 140 people will graduate from the program over the next 12 months.

A variety of machining curriculums are taught at the center, however, the standard new machinist course lasts eight weeks. Students attend class eight hours a day, five days a week, and program participants learn a variety of different skills including blueprint reading, geometric dimensioning and tolerencing, math, manual machining, and CNC machining.

Since 1968, Hypertherm has been the industry leader in plasma arc cutting equipment and service. By continually delivering breakthrough advances in metal-cutting productivity and precision - first in plasma, now also in laser - Hypertherm reaffirms and extends its position as the world's leading supplier of advanced high temperature metal cutting technology. Hypertherm serves a wide range of industrial metal cutting needs from its headquarters in Hanover, New Hampshire, with subsidiaries, sales offices and partner representation worldwide.