Gerber Collaborates with CVCC to Address Skilled Workforce Gap Needed Among Leading Furniture Manufacturers

CVCC has recently expanded its Catawba Valley Furniture Academy from 6,000 square feet to 38,000 square feet and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event on Dec. 8 where furniture industry partners joined the College to celebrate the extraordinary milestone.

"The Academy has educated many workers in the Hickory area and we are pleased to have sponsors who realize the importance of bringing the latest technologies to the furniture industry," said Dr. Garrett D. Hinshaw, President of Catawba Valley Community College. "Extending the knowledge of the workforce allows our local industry to continue to compete in the global market."

The Academy is a program supported by local furniture companies to help educate the workforce in and around the Hickory, NC, area on the next generation of furniture manufacturing processes. The Academy began in 2014 with the support of local companies as well as Gerber Technology. It is taught by industry experts and will graduate more than 100 students in its expanded facility by the end of 2017.

"We are pleased to be apart of such an integral program that contributes to the success of the furniture businesses in North Carolina and the world," said Leonard Marano, director of product marketing, automation solutions at Gerber Technology. "By combining the use of our smart machines with a well-trained workforce, furniture manufacturers will be able to continually evolve their processes and we at Gerber take pride in being a part of the success of our customers."

Gerber has supported the Academy since it began more than 2 years ago with software and automation solutions to help train the local workforce. In the newly expanded facility, Gerber has donated a GERBERcutter® Z1 with Automatch™, the latest technology for making furniture with patterns, to the college and a GERBERcutter Taurus II, a cutter known in the industry for its leather-cutting capabilities.

About Catawba Valley Community College
CVCC is an accredited comprehensive community college serving Catawba and Alexander counties in North Carolina. Approximately 4,700 students are enrolled in college credit courses and more than 10,000 students are enrolled in short-term and occupational training opportunities. It offers programming in Hickory, Newton and Taylorsville and in many community and workplace locations. For more information, visit www.cvcc.edu.

About Gerber Technology
Gerber Technology delivers industry-leading software and automation solutions that help apparel and industrial customers improve their manufacturing and design processes and more effectively manage and connect the supply chain, from product development and production to retail and the end customer. Gerber serves 78,000 customers in 130 countries, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies in apparel & accessories, home and leisure, transportation, packaging and sign & graphics. The company develops and manufactures its products from various locations in the United States and Canada and has additional manufacturing capabilities in China.

Based in Connecticut in the USA, Gerber Technology is owned by AIP, a New York based, global private equity firm specializing in the technology sector and has more than $3.0 billion assets under management. Visit www.gerbertechnology.com for more information.

SOURCE Gerber Technology

Related Links

http://www.gerbertechnology.com