Raymond highlights virtual simulation during national Manufacturing Day celebration

To celebrate Manufacturing Day, The Raymond Corporation hosted Innovation in Manufacturing at its headquarters in Greene, N.Y.

More than 250 students from Southern Tier of New York state high schools, grades 10 to 12, attended the Oct. 6 event. The company displayed state-of-the-art manufacturing combined with advanced lean manufacturing practices, and attendees experienced virtual and hands-on activities reinforcing manufacturing as an ever-progressive industry.

“The future of manufacturing requires a talented workforce that builds upon the knowledge of our current team with advanced processes and technologies. We have growing concerns over filling the next generation of advanced jobs,” said Michael Field, CEO of Raymond. “Encouraging students through manufacturing education is important to ensure we’re able to address the skills gap in this growing industry.”

Raymond’s Innovation in Manufacturing event featured interactive stations with engineers demonstrating processes such as 3-D printing. One of the stations showed students a 3-D computer-aided design (CAD) system, which allows engineers to model and design a Raymond forklift in a virtual 3-D space. Other stations allowed students to virtually experience welding or driving a forklift through simulators. Speakers Rick Harrington, senior vice president of operations at Raymond, and Erric Heitmann, vice president of engineering at Raymond, as well as a tour of the manufacturing floor, provided insights to the future of manufacturing and engineering.

“Celebrating and showcasing the manufacturing industry shouldn’t be restricted to a specific day or month,” Harrington said. “Manufacturing, and its continual innovation, drives our business as well as our customers’ businesses. Because of its significance and continuous growth, manufacturing should be shared with our future workforce year round, educating them on and preparing them for the jobs of the future.”

Raymond plans to host another Innovation in Manufacturing event in spring 2017. The company continues to provide ongoing opportunities for students, from high school to technical school or university, to visit the Raymond headquarters and manufacturing facility to learn more.