GREENE – More than 250 students from Southern Tier high schools attended a celebration of National Manufacturing Day called 'Innovation in Manufacturing' hosted by the Raymond Corporation last week on October 6, in Greene.

The company displayed what is deemed as state-of-the-art manufacturing combined with advanced lean manufacturing practices, and attendees experienced virtual and hands-on activities that reinforced the idea that manufacturing is an ever-progressive industry.

“The future of manufacturing requires a talented workforce that builds upon the knowledge of our current team with advanced processes and technologies,” said CEO of Raymond Michael Field. “We have growing concerns over filling the next generation of advanced jobs. Encouraging students through manufacturing education is important to ensure we're able to address the skills gap in this growing industry.”

Raymond's 'Innovation in Manufacturing' featured interactive stations with engineers demonstrating various processes including 3-D printing. One of the stations exhibited a 3-D computer-aided design (CAD) system, which allows engineers to model and design a Raymond forklift in a virtual 3-D space. Other stations allowed students to virtually experience welding or driving a forklift througsh simulators.