Harper College will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA) agrees to partnership with Harper College with a $500,000 sponsorship gift to support Harper College's Manufacturing Program and the Harper College Promise Program.
FMA is a professional organization with more than 2,300 individual and company members working together to improve the metal forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events and FABTECH.
The official publications of FMA include - The FABRICATOR®, TPJ -The Tube & Pipe Journal®, STAMPING Journal®, Practical Welding Today®, The Fabricator® en Espanol and Canadian Industrial Machinery. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA) and the Sustainable Manufacturer Network (SMN).
FMA serves members involved in the following processes: bending, blanking, cutting, drawing, extruding, fastening, finishing, leveling, piercing, punching, roll forming, shearing, slitting, spinning, straightening, stamping, swaging and welding. TPA serves members involved in production and fabrication of welded and seamless pipe and tube. SMN serves members deploying sustainable manufacturing practices. FMA, TPA, and SMN membership spans the United States, Canada and Mexico, and reaches into more than 30 other countries.
FMA has provided grant funding to Harper in the past—in support of the youth manufacturing program offered via InZone. That relationship led to further discussion and growth of the partnership—to a $500,000 gift that will support Harper's manufacturing and Promise programs.
"About a year ago Jim Warren (FMA) and I were walking around Fabtech 2013 at McCormick Place looking at lasers and press breaks thinking, 'What if we could form a partnership between FMA and Harper College?', it was a long shot since FMA had never done anything like it before. Many conversations, emails and meetings later we have an agreement. I'm excited at the opportunities this will give our students. Harper College will have the premier fabrication and manufacturing program in the U.S. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen." — Kurt Billsten, Harper College Faculty