Able Medical Device Advances High-Tech Career Opportunities
By Rebecca Tavernini '11 MA
Northern students will be on the forefront of advanced technology and innovation in medical device manufacturing and other high-precision careers due to a deepening partnership with industry leaders. In response to a growing demand for talent trained in high precision machining, NMU recently partnered with Marquette-based Able Medical Devices and its parent company, J.M. Longyear, to procure two CNC Tsugami Swiss Turning machines for the Engineering Technology Department.
The machines will enable students to receive state-of-the-art training on the same machinery that is used by companies like Able Medical to manufacture high-quality, high-precision round parts for surgical, aerospace, timepiece, and other industry products with small, high-tolerance features.
Able Medical provided a $43,000 cash gift to match in-kind support from Tsugami and its supplier, Morris Midwest, as well as $128,000 from the U.P. Manufacturing Talent Consortium’s Marshall Plan for Talent grant from the State of Michigan.
“In the medical field, the machines are used to produce parts for orthopedic, spine, sternum, hip replacement, hands, toes, etc. Just about any surgery that is related to broken bones or to repair of the body from age,” said Professor Cale Polkinghorne ‘05 BS, ‘08 MAE, ‘10 EDS.
At Northern, the machines will be used by students in mechanical engineering technology, industrial technology, CNC technology, CNC certificate and engineering design programs. Able Medical will provide the in-class instruction as well as plant tours of their facility and other local businesses that use the same technology.
This will not only enhance the overall experience of students, it gives them a leg up on finding high-skilled jobs in many growing sectors of engineering and manufacturing.
Able currently works with NMU to provide internships to students, and employment to alumni. “In the past three years we have employed 10 students and we currently have five working part-time in high-skilled positions,” said Rob Kinney ’97 BS, Abel production manager and NMU adjunct professor. “And fifteen of our full-time employees have degrees from the engineering technology department at NMU.”
“We are grateful to have a community that supports our goal of creating advanced technical training for students looking to work in the local and distant manufacturing industries,” said Polkinghorne. “We would like to thank Able Medical, J.M. Longyear Company, Tsugami, the NMU Foundation, and the U.P. Manufacturing Talent Consortium for partnering with NMU to bring this opportunity to our students.”