Annual International Sheet Metal Apprentice Competition Comes to Las Vegas March 6-10

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 325 sheet metal apprentices and their families will come to Las Vegas March 6-10 to take part in the Annual International Sheet Metal Competition, which allows apprentices from throughout the United States and Canada to demonstrate their skills.

This year, the competition adds a detailing category where certified apprentices and journeymen can compete for a new Dodge pickup truck provided by Towbin Dodge of Las Vegas. This is the first year journeymen are allowed to compete in the annual competition; the detailer category is the only category in which journeymen will be allowed to take part.

The competition will take place at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino – located at 3700 W. Flamingo Road – as well as at the Sheet Metal Local #88's Joint Apprenticeship Training Center – located in Las Vegas at 2540 Marco Street, just off North Nellis Boulevard and East Carey Avenue.

In addition to the detailing category, contestants will compete in five sheet metal disciplines including HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning), industrial/welding, service, architectural and TAB (Test Adjust Balance in heating and air conditioning). Aside from the detailing competition, each category consists of a written test, sketching projects, a shop project and a blueprint reading test.

"With the addition of the detailing category, we hope to continue to shine a light on the future of sheet metal work," said James Shoulders, executive administrator for International Training Institute (ITI). "The competition also is a fun way to bring talented people together and showcase the true skills members can gain at JATCs throughout the United States and Canada."

Hosted by the International Training Institute (ITI), the contest will take place Monday and Tuesday, March 7 and 8, with the awards banquet Wednesday, March 9.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities in the United States and Canada. The International Training Institute (best known as ITI) is jointly sponsored by Sheet Metal Worker's International Association (SMWIA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA). ITI offers apprenticeship and advanced career training for union workers in the sheet metal industry throughout the United States and Canada. Located in Alexandria, Va., ITI produces a standardized sheet metal curriculum supported by a wide variety of training materials free of charge to sheet metal apprentices and journeymen.

For more information about the contest or ITI, visit www.sheetmetal-iti.org or call 703-739-7200.

SOURCE International Training Institute