In a heartening turnaround, PARTEC – the plastics training, education and technology centre at Mt Gravatt in QLD – is now training 60 composite technicians for composites manufacturing/fabricating companies that make an array of componentry including tanks, truck parts, bridge beams and cross arms and bus panels. Roger Cater, PARTEC CEO, advised that this is the biggest intake the centre has ever had. ‘Well trained skilled technicians are in great demand. They contribute to our industry’s productivity and can make the difference between step change and business as usual’, says Roger.
One of its biggest customers is the luxury boat builder, Riviera which has flagged that it needs an additional 90 people to fulfil its order book. In addition to the apprenticeship program, PARTEC is doing short (4 day) courses that comprise of hand laminating, mould prep and safe operation of power tools (diamond saws and buffing) to train job-ready ‘trade assistants’. While this is currently non-accredited, Roger thinks these workers will eventually transition into the apprenticeship program.
(Extract from Composites Australia publication, June 2021)
