FLORENCE — Florence-Darlington Technical College opened its state-of-the-art Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing (SiMT) for the public to see “a new era in manufacturing” during an open house Thursday.
The college dedicated the center in honor of Florence’s long-time state senator during an invitation-only dedication ceremony Wednesday.
“This facility is really devoted to becoming an economic asset to this community,” Florence-Darlington Tech President Dr. Charles Gould said. “Hugh Leatherman has been extremely important to the economic development of the Pee Dee, particularly for the last decade. He’s also been supportive in helping fund some of the technology we have in this building.
“There isn’t any other facility as devoted to economic development as this is,” Gould said, “and since he’s devoted to economic development, we thought it was very appropriate to have his name on this capstone facility.”
The public had the opportunity to tour the first of three phases that will be located on the 146-acre campus behind the college’s main campus on U.S. 52. People were able to see demonstrations of 3D visualization technology, CNC cutting machines and rapid prototyping equipment, as well as other features of the facility.
“It’s fantastic and a great educational facility,” said Jimmy Happle, a Florence resident. “It’s more than what I expected. I expected it to be like a manufacturing facility.”
Happle and his son, Duane, who plans to attend Florence-Darlington Tech, visited to see the center he may someday use. Duane Happle said he is interested in the electronics and robotics career fields.
The AMC, a two-story, 177,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing training facility, will house the Interactive Digital Center, the college’s Engineering Technology Department and Continuing Education program, the National Robotics Training Center of Excellence and the Florence County Economic Development Partnership.
The college has partnered with EON Reality Inc., an interactive visual content management software provider, to offer 3D visualization through the institute’s Interactive Digital Center — a first in the state.
The robotics center will develop training courses to teach robot maintenance technicians for the military.
The AMC’s centerpiece is an 18,000-square-foot manufacturing arena, where machine tool technology students and faculty are training already.
The facility has several features, including technical labs, classrooms, a conference center and an 800-seat auditorium.
SiMT’s Phase 2 is made up of the Industrial Environmental Training Center, the Business Excellence Center, the Industrial Research and Development Center and the Manufacturing Incubator Center. Phase 3 is the Health and Safety Training Center and the Chemical and Biotechnology Center.
Gould said the college is in the process of designing the second phase of the facility.
The celebration week will conclude with the Florence-Darlington Technical College Educational Foundation’s 43rd Annual Celebration and Gala beginning at 6 p.m. today at the SiMT.
“I think now people are beginning to understand what we’re trying to do with this facility,” Gould said. “It’s very hard to explain verbally what you’re trying to do. I think they’re beginning to understand what kind of economic impact this facility will have.”
For details about SiMT, call its director, Jack Roach, at (843) 661-8121 or visit www.simt.com online.