Generous donation strengthens manufacturing education and innovation at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
June 3, 2019 – Last month Saskatchewan Polytechnic opened the Gene Haas Manufacturing Technology Lab. Two years ago the Gene Haas Foundation gifted Sask Polytech $435,000 to pay for renovations and construction at Regina campus to accommodate the installation of new Haas Automation equipment.
The new Gene Haas Manufacturing Technology Lab includes state-of-the-art equipment and technology, benefiting students, faculty and industry in meeting the needs of Saskatchewan’s growing manufacturing industry. The lab at Regina campus now includes a new computer lab, 16 CNC lathes and other machining centres. New CNC machines were also purchased for Saskatoon campus.
“The Gene Haas Foundation is proud to be partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic. This investment is the next step in a long and fruitful relationship with all who make the manufacturing program what it is today and will be going forward,” says Kathy Looman, Gene Haas foundation administrator. “Gene Haas was introduced to the manufacturing industry when he was hired as a teenager, he experience the joy and success that making things can provide and the focus of his own privately funded foundation is to help others realize their potential in manufacturing.”
“The Gene Haas Manufacturing Technology Lab is a state-of-the-art facility with new, cutting-edge equipment,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “The Gene Haas Manufacturing Technology Lab is where many great applied research projects will come to life, where solutions to industry problems are solved and where students receive a great education that prepares them for an exciting career in manufacturing.”
“Thomas Skinner has been supporting education in Western Canada for more than 50 years. It is our mission to provide the best machine tools, cutting tools and measuring instruments to support training the next generation of machinists and manufacturing technologists,” says Paul Krainer, Thomas Skinner president. “We represent Haas Automation. Thomas Skinner facilitated the grants to Sask Polytech for student scholarships and for the Gene Haas Innovative Manufacturing Lab. The results of our work at Sask Polytech will benefit the manufacturing industry for years to come.”
The Gene Haas Manufacturing Technology Lab will be used by Innovative Manufacturing program students, CAD/CAM Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Machinist, Welding and Welding Fabricator students and professionals working in the manufacturing industry. It will also be available to support applied research projects with industry.
In 1999 Gene Haas founded the Gene Haas Foundation. Growing up with a strong social conscience instilled by his family, Haas initially formed the foundation to fund the needs of the local community. Haas is the owner Haas Automation, Inc., America’s leading builder of CNC machine tools, which he started in 1983. Gene’s commitment to the importance of North American manufacturing has incited him to grow his personal foundation and direct his foundation board to focus on manufacturing education in the form of scholarships for CNC machinist training. Haas is also a primary supporter of the community where his one million square foot manufacturing facility is located. To date, more than 4000 charitable (501 C 3) organizations and schools have received funds totaling over 50 million dollars from the Gene Haas Foundation.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.
