Return to Headlines
By Marc Munroe Dion
Herald News Staff Reporter
German Consul General Ralf Horlemann shows off a New England Patriots logo made by Diman junior Raymond Parent of Westport. Parent used a wire electrical discharge machine (EDM) to cut the aluminum, which was than anodized to create its red color. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Diman alum Karl Hetzler, president of H&S Tool and Engineering, talks about Germany and its people and culture with German Consul General Ralf Horlemann at a luncheon at the schools Room Two Fifty One Restaurant. Hetzler is a first-generation German-American who has traveled to the old country several times to visit family there. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
During a change of classes, Diman Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin tells German Consul General Ralf Horlemann about his school. At the right is State Rep. Paul Schmid. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
German Consul General Ralf Horlemann listens, with great interest, as Diman junior Raymond Parent of Westport explains the workings of a wire electrical discharge machine (EDM) in the school's Machine Tool Technology shop. At left is a very proud Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Diman sophomore Richard Sousa of Somerset shows German Consul General Ralf Horlemann what he's working on in the Machine Tool Technology shop at Diman. The Consul General is flanked by Diman Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin, left, and State Rep. Paul Schmid - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
But there’s not as much whir as there would have been 50 years ago.
Instead, there is the silence of computers as students do exacting design work before the work even gets to a machine.
That’s one of the reasons why German Consul General Ralf Horlemann was down from Boston for the day, seeing what Diman kids can do for German companies manufacturing in the United States.
“We’re going to show you the best machine tool program in the United States,” said Diman Superintendent Tom Aubin.
“There are German companies in Massachusetts,” Horlemann said. “They are desperate for qualified workers.”
Horlemann said that problem is not just an American one.
“We have lost manufacturing jobs in Germany, too,” he said. “Manufacturing is a huge part of our economy.
“We have to raise the skill level,” Horlemann said. “It’s very important to creating manufacturing jobs.”
State Rep. Paul Schmid was instrumental in organizing Wednesday’s tour.
“The objective of today is to sell ourselves,” said Schmid. “When a German company thinks about locating here, they’ll know what we have.”
Aubin was careful to stress the state-of-the-art equipment to be found at Diman and the experience students get through the school’s cooperative education program.
Students can take a job in their trade in sophomore year and they continue to work the job until graduation.
“They actually work in a trade or business,” Aubin said.
Karl Hetzler, who owns H&S Tool & Die in Fall River, is a Diman graduate and spoke of how the school nurtures his business.
“All of our employees are Diman grads,” he said. “This school is the reason why we’re successful.
“The technology they use in the shops here is up to date,” Hetzler said.
One of the things Horlemann got see was a model of an Abrams tank built in the shop, a model with 1,700 parts.
Herald News Staff Reporter
German Consul General Ralf Horlemann shows off a New England Patriots logo made by Diman junior Raymond Parent of Westport. Parent used a wire electrical discharge machine (EDM) to cut the aluminum, which was than anodized to create its red color. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Diman alum Karl Hetzler, president of H&S Tool and Engineering, talks about Germany and its people and culture with German Consul General Ralf Horlemann at a luncheon at the schools Room Two Fifty One Restaurant. Hetzler is a first-generation German-American who has traveled to the old country several times to visit family there. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
During a change of classes, Diman Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin tells German Consul General Ralf Horlemann about his school. At the right is State Rep. Paul Schmid. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
German Consul General Ralf Horlemann listens, with great interest, as Diman junior Raymond Parent of Westport explains the workings of a wire electrical discharge machine (EDM) in the school's Machine Tool Technology shop. At left is a very proud Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
Diman sophomore Richard Sousa of Somerset shows German Consul General Ralf Horlemann what he's working on in the Machine Tool Technology shop at Diman. The Consul General is flanked by Diman Superintendent-Director Tom Aubin, left, and State Rep. Paul Schmid - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
FALL RIVER — In the machine tool shop at Diman, the machines whir.
But there’s not as much whir as there would have been 50 years ago.
Instead, there is the silence of computers as students do exacting design work before the work even gets to a machine.
That’s one of the reasons why German Consul General Ralf Horlemann was down from Boston for the day, seeing what Diman kids can do for German companies manufacturing in the United States.
“We’re going to show you the best machine tool program in the United States,” said Diman Superintendent Tom Aubin.
“There are German companies in Massachusetts,” Horlemann said. “They are desperate for qualified workers.”
Horlemann said that problem is not just an American one.
“We have lost manufacturing jobs in Germany, too,” he said. “Manufacturing is a huge part of our economy.
“We have to raise the skill level,” Horlemann said. “It’s very important to creating manufacturing jobs.”
State Rep. Paul Schmid was instrumental in organizing Wednesday’s tour.
“The objective of today is to sell ourselves,” said Schmid. “When a German company thinks about locating here, they’ll know what we have.”
Aubin was careful to stress the state-of-the-art equipment to be found at Diman and the experience students get through the school’s cooperative education program.
Students can take a job in their trade in sophomore year and they continue to work the job until graduation.
“They actually work in a trade or business,” Aubin said.
Karl Hetzler, who owns H&S Tool & Die in Fall River, is a Diman graduate and spoke of how the school nurtures his business.
“All of our employees are Diman grads,” he said. “This school is the reason why we’re successful.
“The technology they use in the shops here is up to date,” Hetzler said.
One of the things Horlemann got see was a model of an Abrams tank built in the shop, a model with 1,700 parts.
“It’s all about precision,” Horlemann said, admiring the model.
In Diman's Machine Tool Technology Shop, a computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machine uses a deluge of water to mitigate the heat produced by cutting and shaping aluminum, spinning at 10,000 RPM. - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
German Consul General Ralf Horlemann asks Diman senior Nathan Raposo of Swansea what he plans to do with his training from the Machine Tool Technology program during a visit to the vocational high school on Wednesday - Herald News Photo | Jack Foley
