The signatories to this cooperation agreement are: Legnica Mayor Tadeusz Krzakowski, Director of the Centre for Practical Training Zbigniew Kałuża and Abplanalp Consulting board member Paweł Matejak.
Let us recall that this is yet another agreement concluded by the city with industrial entities, aimed at implementing new technologies in vocational education. CKP students already use computer-controlled machines provided by Winkelmann.
The Legnica Demonstration and Training Centre will operate using numerically controlled machine tools from the American company Haas and Mitsubishi Electric electrical-discharge machines offered by Abplanalp.
“The aim of the project is to raise the standard of education for future machine-tool operators, thereby improving their prospects on a labour market that demands modern training,” said Mayor Tadeusz Krzakowski. “The operation of such a modern facility within the Centre for Practical Training will enrich the city’s educational offer for young people from Legnica and the region who are taking up vocational education. It will also make it easier for regional businesses to find highly qualified employees.
The mayor added that our city had fully preserved its vocational and technical education system. It is developing and modernising it, becoming increasingly attractive to investors and entrepreneurs as well. This school year, for the first time, more than half of lower-secondary school graduates decided to continue their education at technical and vocational schools. This is a very positive trend.
The concept for the Centre was developed through successful cooperation between the Legnica Municipal Office, the Centre for Practical Training and Abplanalp, and will be implemented jointly by CKP and Abplanalp Consulting—the exclusive distributor of Haas machine tools and Mitsubishi Electric EDM machines.
The Abplanalp Demonstration and Training Centre being established will help raise the standard of teaching by increasing the number of Haas machine tools currently owned by CKP in Legnica. The delivery of additional new machines will expand training opportunities in occupations related to machining.
In addition, two Mitsubishi Electric electrical-discharge machines will be installed at the Centre. As a result, CKP in Legnica will be the first institution in Poland able to present this modern technology to students and, in the future, provide them with education in electrical-discharge machining.
So far, Abplanalp has opened five similar Haas Demonstration and Training Centres in Poland, where students can train only on machine tools made by this American manufacturer. Students at Legnica’s CKP will be the only ones in the country able to gain experience operating electrical-discharge machines from one of the world’s leading manufacturers.
Paweł Matejak, representing Abplanalp, stressed that the best students, after completing examination procedures and receiving certificates, may be included in the company’s database of potential employees recommended for employment.
The new Centre is scheduled to open later this year. The Legnica Municipal Office’s total financial contribution to this innovative investment will amount to PLN 100,000. Abplanalp’s investment will total nearly PLN 1,440,000, of which the machines alone—two Haas machine tools and two EDM machines—are worth approximately PLN 1,300,000.
UM Legnica