SVHEC Staff & Students Tour Riverstone's New C-CARE Facility
On Thursday, September 22, members of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center attended an informal luncheon and tour at Riverstone Technology Center provided by AWFI, contracted to manage the new C-CARE Center. Upon completion, the C-CARE facility will provide the capability for research, development and education in applying coatings to many substrates, including metal, wood, plastics, and other composite materials. Phase one included the up-fit of the high bay area at Riverstone and the installation of a Superfici Flatline UV finishing system. C-CARE's formal grand opening will occur upon completion of Phase two of the project some time in the spring of 2012.
After lunch, interns from SVHEC's product design and development program participated in some hands-on experience utilizing this state-of-the-art coating technology. Kenny Stevenson, Director of C-CARE, states that this new facility will provide a unique opportunity for learning, not only for students from SVHEC and the surrounding region, but to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of coatings application. He continues by pointing out that the assets at C-CARE complement the investments at the Riverstone Energy Center and the SVHEC Innovation Center, offering manufacturers the total solution from project engineering and design to advanced manufacturing to the final application of coatings.
The C-CARE facility uniquely positions Halifax County to be able to offer research, development and educational opportunities to industrial manufacturers and educational institutions on a wide spectrum of technologies. Currently, there is an industry need for workers to have a well rounded experience understanding the entire manufacturing process from conceptual design and engineering to the production of finished goods. Working with institutions like SVHEC, C-CARE can provide that extra hands-on experience with real-world technology that is so essential to employers today.
Working with the interns was Phil Stevenson, president of AWFI, who is always excited to see young people receiving a high level of education before entering into the industry. David Kenealy, Director of Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Efficiency at SVHEC agrees that the new facility will provide students from the SVHEC and from other partnering institutions with insight and opportunity, and he looks forward to collaborating with C-CARE to further develop relationships within education and the industry in the future.