Gateway Community & Technical College in Florence, KY is one of 16 colleges working to bring better lives to all Kentucky citizens as part of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS).  KCTCS offers an abundance of workforce-ready education & and training programs statewide. Established in 1960, KCTCS aims to:

• Elevate attainment of quality education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
  with KCTCS as the accessible, affordable, and relevant choice
• Increase access and success, particularly for underserved students
• Foster clear pathways and experiential learning to ensure best post-
  graduation job placement
• Enhance student support and engagement, aligning programs with industry
  needs for graduate employability and career development

Gateway recently enlisted KENT USA® machines to enhance the college’s Computerized Manufacturing & Machining (CMM) program. The CMM program aims to produce job-ready machinists who are familiar with both conventional and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines.  The goal is to lend students a solid grasp of how production facilities make precision parts and how tool and die facilities operate.

KCTC Powered by KENT USA®

After previously purchasing two KENT USA® KGS-818AH surface grinders, Gateway Community & Technical College recently acquired a KENT USA® WSI-200 Electrical Discharge Machine (EDM).  This EDM will be used to provide hands-on training to students enrolled in the college’s manufacturing program. To ensure that instructors are fully steeped in the use and maintenance of the machine, KENT USA® dispatched a seasoned Technical Support Engineer to provide thorough setup and training.

During the setup, our engineer worked with the college’s staff to ensure the machine was properly installed and calibrated. Instructors were provided with a comprehensive overview of the machine’s features—including its controls—to ensure the best understanding of its operation.

Following the completion of the setup, our engineer conducted thorough training sessions for the instructors.  These sessions covered the EDM’s capabilities, safe operation, and many efficiencies. The training comprised a comprehensive demonstration of the machine’s functionality, accompanied by hands-on practice for each instructor—ensuring their comfort and proficiency in operating their new EDM.

Gateway of Future Machinists

For more than 40 years now, acquiring KENT USA® machine tool equipment has come with our entire team having your back after the sale. The reliability and precision of our machines—supplemented by our team of experienced sales and support engineers—ensures that our customers maximize our equipment to best suit their unique needs. After this particular training and support visit, Gateway’s CMM program faculty members gained confidence in their ability to teach EDM machining with their newly acquired WSI-200 EDM. This valuable addition to the college’s machining program opens up numerous opportunities for Gateway students to acquire essential and practical experience to thrive in the ever-growing manufacturing industry.

The persistent demand for skilled machinists indicates a promising future for Gateway graduates. Whether students pursue careers as machine operators, tool and die makers, mold makers, quality inspectors, machine assemblers, machine tool designers, CNC programmers, field service representatives, or machinists—Gateway Community & Technical College is firing on all cylinders to ready its graduates for the rigors of the jobs which await them.