Contributor: ABB Drives

The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce and the community effort towards transforming workforce development is adding a global twist for the summer. ABB will welcome a group of Swiss apprentices who will spend their summer on assignment at ABB in Fort Smith. The announcement was made in Zurich, Switzerland, today between the company and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Fort Smith Chamber officials.

“I am delighted by the strong partnership Arkansas and ABB enjoy. ABB’s global leadership is dependent upon world-class employees, and Arkansas’s commitment to excellence will ensure these apprentices can continue their education among peers. I look forward to having ABB’s apprentices in Arkansas later this year,” said Governor Asa Hutchinson.

In Fort Smith, ABB produces 1.2 million motors annually. As part of their focus, the students will use what they have learned in school in a real-world environment with a new range of products. Highlights will include projects that focus on an area correlating to their studies, whether maintenance, mechanical engineering or automation. They will also complete ‘Six Sigma Green Belt’ certification to support their future careers.

“ABB’s commitment to expanding our workforce training and development efforts cannot be understated,” said Tim Allen, President and CEO of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Of all of the locations they could have chosen for these Swiss students in the apprenticeship program, Fort Smith was at the top of their list. Not only for the Fort Smith ABB facility’s technology and advanced manufacturing background, but for all of the quality-of-place amenities the community can offer these international students as well.”

Jason Green, Vice President Human Resources ABB’s Motion business in the US, Morten Wierod, President of ABB’s Motion business globally, Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas, Nicole Rommelfanger, Head of ABB Apprentice Program, Tim Allen, President of Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, ABB’s Swiss apprentices.

In partnership with UAFS, Fort Smith Public Schools and a host of area businesses, the Fort Smith Chamber has focused on the expanding effort to build a regional infrastructure to develop the talent for a variety of career pathways, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare and information technology jobs.

Recently, the Chamber hosted the area’s first “Signing Day” experience for area businesses and students. The Signing Day event was the culmination of months of applications, interviews and decisions made by area employers and students who are being matched for both full employment and apprenticeships.

In addition, the Chamber announced a partnership with Edge Factor, one of the country’s leading creative businesses, coupling advanced manufacturing and interactive resources. To build the workforce pipeline, Edge Factor tells real life stories of makers who are using technology to change lives and pushing back the edge of what’s possible.

ABB (NYSE: ABB) is a pioneering technology leader with a comprehensive offering for digital industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB is today a leader in digital industries with four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by its common ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s market leading Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees.

ABB in the United States
ABB’s U.S. and Americas business is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. Since 2010, ABB has invested $14 billion in the United States, and the company continues to expand and localize its offerings for customers. ABB operates over 65 manufacturing facilities and employs approximately 24,000 people across the U.S.
www.abb.com

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