7 minute read
Upgrade Your JATC
Contractors and Local representatives work together to make sure JATCs employ the best technology and are first in line for more workhours
By Sheralyn Boileau
The Dusty Robotics FieldPrinter is transforming the construction industry, literally underfoot, by automating floor layout. “I call it a Roomba with a laser printer,” says Tim Myres, co-administrator at Local 104 and Bay Area Industry Training Fund, which covers five separate schools. “You download the wall layouts and hanger spots from the 3D model, then the laser printer drives around and sprays markings on the floor,” says.
And even bigger changes are on the horizon. “I think we’re close to producing ductwork on 3D printers,” he says. “Relativity Space in Los Angeles already makes 90% of their rockets on 3D printers.”
ITI Administrator Mike Harris has his eye on the handheld laser welder. “It’s designed for materials that are quarter of an inch or thinner, putting it right in our wheelhouse,” he says. “It’s quick, there’s little warpage of the material, and clean-up is extremely easy. This has the potential to be a game changer.”
Harris is also looking at the HoloLens, an augmented reality tool that shows virtual images in a real space. “An estimator could instantly check the fit of a mechanical system in an area by wearing a HoloLens loaded with that model when visiting the intended space,” he says.
Andre Mayes is membership development coordinator for Local 71. He encourages every Local to plan for a high-tech future. “How do we make sure that these tools are used by qualified, skilled union members?” he asks. “We’ve got to incorporate these advances into our schools.”
Nine times out of ten, the biggest obstacle to adopting new technology isn’t interest. It’s cost. “Technology is not cheap,” Harris says. “That’s why the ITI created several grant programs to make it more affordable for JATCs to acquire technology for training.”
The ITI also offers the know-how, resources, and funding assistance locals need to pull ahead. The number of grants a JATC is eligible for depends on its accreditation status. The ITI recognizes four levels of accreditation—platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. There are more than 100 different accreditation criteria, like the quality of record keeping, type of insurance policies, and number of computers per student.
Harris recommends that schools invest the time it takes to improve their accreditation rating. “If you’re at the bronze or silver levels, you must raise your accreditation to be eligible for more than one grant,” he says. “Once you reach gold or above, you can receive two standard grants a year, plus all the other special grants that the ITI offers.”
—Tim Myres, Local 104 co-administrator
Standard grants reimburse JATCs 50% of the cost for any training purchase. “We’ve had people get welding equipment, press brakes, or any type of machinery for their schools,” Harris says. The ITI reimburses 100% of a HoloLens purchase, and in February 2022, it rolled out a grant program for laser welders, which includes safety training for instructors. The ITI also offers interest-free loans.
The organization’s new Director of Research, Development, and Technology, David St. Peter, modernized the Local 265 JATC in Carol Stream, Illinois, before joining the ITI. “Local 265 has received every grant the ITI offers,” Harris says. “They threw out their old drafting tables years ago and went strictly to computer-aided drafting because the majority of new technologies work off electronic models. Local 265 gives apprentices an immersive experience from the beginning of their apprenticeships.” “Our first big purchase at Local 265 was a Trimble Robotic Total Station (RTS) in December 2015,” St. Peter says.
The Building Teaches—Rethinking the JATC
Local 104 is finishing up a new JATC that includes all-new technology but is also more like an actual job site than ever before. Their motto is: “The Building Teaches.”
The heart of the school is an open area around a two-story steel frame. It looks like a construction site, and students will use it for mockups and installation practice. Stairs lead to the roof of the building, where apprentices will service rooftop units. To give students experience with actual equipment, the HVAC systems in the building will be the testing and balance and service labs.
Three technology and three traditional classrooms adjoin the central area. The classrooms have high glass walls so students can study the central steel frame during discussions and see exactly where they will be installing. The other walls of the rooms are huge whiteboards, which the instructors can cover with diagrams and instructions.
Even the classroom ceilings and floors are carefully planned. There are no ceiling tiles to hide the ductwork, allowing students to see functioning examples overhead during class. The classroom floors are raised, leaving space for wires. “All the wiring will be underneath so we have flexibility to adapt in future years,” Myres says. “We know things will change.” “Trimble gave us a tremendous discount.” There are many other discounts available to JATCs, through both the ITI and software companies. “After the iTi came out with the grant program, everything opened wide up. To get the training center where it is right now, we made about three technology purchases a year.”
Even with platinum accreditation and generous discounts, each JATC will need to decide what to buy next. Talking to member contractors is the first step. “JATCs are in the service industry,” Myres explains. “Our members and our contractors are the clients.” He recommends personally visiting contractors to discuss their needs. “Every time I’m in front of somebody, I ask, ʻWhat do first-year apprentices need to be efficient for your company? What do second-year or third-year apprentices need?’”
Private conversations pay off. “Years ago, I told Westside Mechanical that our JATC had acquired a Trimble Robotic Total Station,” St. Peter says. Westside had recently purchased two RTSs to fulfil contractual obligations, but they were still in boxes. “This was $100,000 sitting because he didn’t have anybody who could run the equipment. Within two weeks, I created a class to get the workforce trained and the equipment into service.”
St. Peter’s work at the JATC allowed Westside to keep their focus on production. “In the Local 265 training facility, they were able to push the pause button, study this technology, learn how it works, and give that training to the membership,” says Westside’s Superintendent of Sheet Metal Matt Mickler. “It’s a great advantage to have that resource.”
The ITI encourages contractors to influence planning conversations by joining JATC boards. This strategy has served Glenn Parvin of Custom Architectural Sheet Specialists well. He keeps his JATC up to date because he knows local trends in the architectural sector. “I sit on the JATC in Detroit, and we’re always talking about training needs,” he says.
Mastering technology gives SMART members a competitive edge. “If we can bid a project that used to take ten individuals and finish it with seven, our contractor can go out and bid more jobs,” Myres says. “That creates workhours for us. I don’t think non-union labor looks at it that way. I don’t believe they embrace technology and train in technology to the extent we do. When we learn new skills, we elevate ourselves as true craftspeople.” ▪ A Colorado native, Sheralyn Belyeu lives and writes deep in the woods of Alabama. When she’s not writing, she grows organic blueberries and collects misspellings of her name.
