2. This open house was offered in conjunction with The Golden Corridor Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, an association of businesses and municipalities located along I90 from O’Hare to Elgin. The purpose is to: Dispel myths about manufacturing Promote manufacturing as a viable career choice Identify the characteristics that make manufacturing an attractive option Provide a ‘Print to Product’ experience in the design and manufacture of a typical sheet metal part/assembly – Gaming type console Ed Youdell, President of the FMA and Nuts Bolts and Thingamajigs organization spoke on the above topics Event Focus

3. 2 Groups totaling 200 students attended the Manufacturing Career Day 7 area high schools were represented: Wheeling, Palatine, Vanguard, Elk Grove, Conant, Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows

4. Laura Haas was MC for the day. She explained her educational background and her work experience; as well as giving an explanation of the types of sheet metal fabricating equipment the students would see in operation, and how that equipment is utilized in the production of everyday products. LaserTurretPress Brake

5. Ed Youdell, President of FMA, spoke about the viability of careers in manufacturing; and the various paths available to students.

6. Design Engineer Jason Ekstrom demonstrated a Print To Product process by taking a solid model and developing flats and bending programs.

7. Application Engineers provided demonstrations on the equipment, producing the parts programmed in Amada Hall, completing the Print To Product process.

8. Application Engineers sat with the students at lunch to answer questions and talk about their manufacturing experiences. Stainless steel Chicago sports team logos were handed out. Students were invited to attend the open house at Big Kaiser on April 16