WG Benjey Cylinders Receives Skilled Trades Training Fund Grant
W.G. Benjey Cylinders recently benefited from a Skilled Trades Training Fund (STTF) Grant through Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium. This funding provided CNC Programming training for five employees and was conducted by Alpena Community College and CIM Solutions & Networking. Employees received certificates upon completion. Thanks to this award of STTF funding, W.G. Benjey employees are more skilled and will be more efficient, helping W.G. Benjey stay competitive and bringing more work to Alpena.
“This training will enable us to write and edit programs faster and more accurately, keeping us more productive and cost-effective,” says shop manager Dave Seifferlein.
Established in 1961, W. G. Benjey, Inc. designs and manufactures standard and custom machinery for a variety of industrial processes. From automotive assembly to woodworking equipment, W. G. Benjey, Inc. has been a proven leader in innovative designs and manufacturing processes. Recently, they upgraded their CAM software to 4 axis and purchased new 4 axis machinery. With growth expected over the next few years, these upgrades and this training will help them retain their competitive edge, increasing productivity and getting parts out to customers on a more timely basis.
CNC Programming is in-demand and finding skilled workers is often difficult for area employers. Thanks to the awarded STTF funding, W.G. Benjey has increased the programming skills of their current staff, including recently hired staff, which has created new job openings at the company. At this time, W.G. Benjey is looking to find another full-time machinist and possibly two new hires, which could be filled by those less-skilled. This initial training has helped, but more skilled workers and skilled trades training is needed to keep up with the industry’s growth.