Australian interest in Tech Park tool solutions
When Tech Park was developed, MIT needed a tool store room to inspire the next generation of apprentices.
Together with NZSafetyBlackwoods and Milwaukee Power Tools, the institute delivered a treasure trove of the latest circular saws, drills, cordless rivet guns, grinders, orbital sanders and impact wrenches showcased at the heart of the complex, presented in an eye-catching set up that is user friendly for both staff and students.
“It’s a display to show our support and how we want to build relationships to work with MIT and its students,” says Milwaukee’s Education & Training Specialist NZ, Glen Thornton.
“At the end of the day, we want to make it attractive for students to come here knowing they are partnering with Milwaukee and on their exit, having used tools basically the same as they will use in the real world. They leave here with the experience, go to a site and get into an apprenticeship to work straight away,”
The store room allows staff to easily see what kit’s in stock and what’s out on the workshop floor with classes, as well as offering the flexibility to add new tools to the mix and plenty of storage options.
“For us, it’s meant that students are exposed to all the different options for kit that are available,” says Tech Park campus general manager Pip Schollum-Manase.
“With this layout, we know the equipment is ready for us to teach. If a tool breaks down it gets addressed and doesn’t have an impact on the next class. There’s a lot more pride in what comes back in because someone is checking it. It gets looked after much better.”
Last week, a representative of the company’s Australian arm came to Auckland to have a look at the way MIT is doing it and how this approach could be applied at training providers on the other side of the Tasman.
“My purpose of coming out here is understanding the business partnership with MIT, understanding the way it works and how the tools are merchandised with a view to implementing that into Australia,” says Anthony Marsh, the company’s National Business Development Manager for Training and Education – Australia.
“We are looking at this as the pinnacle of what we want to achieve internationally because it’s going so well,” says Mr. Thornton.
More than two thousand learners use MIT Tech Park each week. The state-of-the-art trades and engineering campus was opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in February last year.
Since its launch, the development has won National and Gold medals at the New Zealand Commercial Project Awards, an Excellence Awards in the NZ Property Council Awards and best new construction of an educational facility at the Learning Environments Australasia Awards.
Milwaukee’s Glen Thornton (far left) and Anthony Marsh (far right) with Tech Park GM Pip Schollum-Manase, store coordinator Dan Winter and technician Jaz Sandhu.