TAFE in South Australia has invested in an Art Smart plasma cutter to help train the next generation of local tradies.
Skills development is more important than ever with Australia’s manufacturing sector under pressure due to the high Aussie dollar, tougher global trading conditions and entrenched skill shortages.
Manufacturing is dependent on the availability of a skilled workforce that is
able to adapt and respond to a wide range of challenges.
These challenges include the shift to higher-level skills driven by the introduction of new technologies.
SA TAFE has over 27,000 students across seven campuses.
TAFE teacher Jeff Bryant said the CNC machine provided students with a new, critical area of expertise and real-world experience.
“We were looking for a turnkey system, so we didn’t have to worry about getting additional software on the machine to run it, with different NC codes,” he said.
“I wanted something that would just run straight off, something simple and easy to use, but high-tech and standard in industry.”
Bryant said TAFE wanted to invest in an Australian-made machine and its small footprint suits small to mid-sized shops which is a great fit for training purposes.
Plasma cutter
