Importance of workforce in composites on display at boat show
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was provided by Owen Driskill of Roane State Community College. If you attend the “Downtown Knoxville Boat Show” opening today and continuing through Sunday, be sure and check out the bow cover.)
Roane State Community College’s Advanced Composites Employment (ACE) program and boat manufacturer MasterCraft have teamed up to demonstrate how composite materials can be used in the boating industry.
One of the goals of Roane State’s ACE program is to promote how composite materials, such as carbon fiber, can benefit businesses. Tru-Design, a partner in the ACE program, designed and manufactured a carbon fiber bow cover for MasterCraft that will be on display at the Downtown Knoxville Boat Show March 6-9.
The carbon fiber bow cover offers consumers a light-weight but strong part.
“The ACE program training is a real benefit for manufacturers in this area,” MasterCraft design engineer Adam Larson said. “The program provides manufacturers with a pool of well-trained individuals with hands-on experience in composite materials.”
Andrew Pokelwaldt, ACE program director, said the project with MasterCraft is a good example of how ACE can highlight the potential for composite materials such as carbon fiber.
“We were glad to work with Tru-Design and MasterCraft to show how composite materials can benefit manufacturers and consumers,” Pokelwaldt said. “One of our goals is to connect and partner with industries, and this was a great opportunity.”
The Downtown Knoxville Boat Show will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center. For details, visit www.downtownknoxvilleboatshow.com.
To learn more about ACE, visit www.roanestate.edu/ace, email ace@roanestate.edu or call (865) 354-3000 ext. 4865.
