Belding, AMC mentioned in EdTech article on high-tech manufacturing programs

The Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of Maine was included in the EdTech: Focus on Higher Education article, “High-tech manufacturing programs foster the next generation of workers.” When North Berwick-based Hussey Seating, a manufacturer of stadium equipment, wanted to investigate new technology applications for a bleacher design, it turned to the AMC, according to the article. “They actually built a whole bleacher section here in our lab,” said John Belding, AMC director. “We prototyped and tested various designs to assess feasibility. The student leading that project ended up going to work for them as a design engineer.” Each year, 15 to 20 electrical and mechanical engineering students work at AMC under the supervision of a staff member, collecting a paycheck that’s slightly better than minimum wage, the article states. “I always tell the students that they won’t make a lot working here, but when they graduate and get their first job, they’ll see a big difference in their starting salary,” Belding said.