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In March, students enrolled in the Welding Technologies certificate program at Great Bay Community College (GBCC) were welcomed into the brand-new welding lab at the college’s Pease Tradeport campus in Portsmouth. The 3,500- square-foot lab offers the latest technology and equipment in ample space that accommodates increasing demand and enrollment for the welding program.
“We began making plans in 2024 to expand our capacity for the Welding Technologies program to meet strong demand for skilled welders from area employers, and are very excited that our students now have this amazing new learning environment,” said Dr. Cheryl Lesser, president of GBCC.
Previously, GBCC’s Welding program operated out of leased space in Rochester. The new facility was built to maximize air quality and sound suppression to ensure a safe, comfortable learning and teaching environment. The lab’s design supports efficient handling of metal, gas, equipment and consumable deliveries.
The new lab features 18 welding stations and a range of new equipment, including Miller Dynasty 300 Multi-Process Welders, a W-60-20 Straight Pipe Cutter, a broad range of pipe holding fixtures and a new Piranha tungsten grinding unit that provides complete containment of excess tungsten electrode dust.
“The new equipment has significantly enhanced our ability to teach more students in-demand skills such as plasma torch cutting and carbon arc gouging,” said Paul Guiliano, GBCC’s Welding Technology program coordinator. “And in the future, we will add short-term training options.”
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