DP Technology an industry partner of Haas HTEC Education Program

Computer-Aided-Manufacturing software developer DP Technology, creator of ESPRIT® — one of the world’s best-known and widely used CAM programs — is an industry partner in the fast-growing Haas Automation HTEC program, helping to deliver the best CNC education to students across the European continent.

Originally established in the United States and Canada, the HTEC program was conceived as a way of helping young people to build rewarding and lucrative careers in precision engineering by giving them the opportunity to train on the latest and the best manufacturing technology.

Haas Automation Europe (HAE) has already supplied more than 400 CNC machine tools to European schools — many of which are fully-fledged HTECs — on which an estimated 4000 students are trained annually. Many of these students also benefit from hands-on experience with ESPRIT® software.

“Companies and local economies in Europe are realizing that they can’t prosper in the long-term unless they make products that people want to buy,” says Peter Hall, managing director of Haas Automation Europe.

“HTECs are helping to destroy old, preconceived ideas about careers in manufacturing,” Hall says. “They appeal to young people because they provide clean, high-tech and stimulating learning environments. They appeal to schools and colleges because they enthuse the students and help to build closer relations with local companies, which create jobs. As a result, we are witnessing a significant increase in the numbers of students wishing to pursue careers in precision engineering.”

In addition to supplying its software to European HTECs, DP Technology provides educational and technical support, helping to ensure that students are well prepared for industry when they leave education.

“Thanks to DP, HTECs can afford to invest in the latest CAM technology,” says Bert Maes, HTEC coordinator at HAE. “The combination of Haas CNC machine tools and powerful, world-class CAM makes a formidable teaching resource.”

According to Maes, it’s no wonder that the number of students choosing careers in precision engineering has declined over the years.

“Ancient machine tools and dark and dirty workshops do not attract bright and ambitious young people,” he says. “Before they experience an HTEC, they usually have no idea that cell phones, electric guitars, laptops and parts for most of the every-day consumer products we take for granted are made using CNC machine tools and CAM.”

HTECs are created by forming alliances between Haas distributors (called Haas Factory Outlets, or HFOs), leading CNC technology companies, such as DP, and local educational institutions. As a world-leader in CAM, DP was one of the first companies asked to become an HTEC industry partner by Haas Automation Europe.

“DP has shown great enthusiasm for the HTEC ethos and the aim of the program,” Maes said. “The local ESPRIT representatives in Europe are very committed and work continually to provide better applications, better demonstrations and better training seminars. We can’t make the HTEC program work without the support of companies like DP Technology and our other industry partners.”