Wood tech receives another equipment donation

  Tuesday, January 27, 2015 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

It’s been a good year for the Wood Technology program at Pittsburg State University.

Just months after receiving three state-of-the-art pieces of equipment from Veneer Services, the program has received another equipment donation from a corporate partner.

Advanced Fixtures Inc., a Dallas-based wood technology company, recently donated a 5x12 hot press, valued at nearly $80,000, to the wood tech program.

“What this machine allows us to do is complete the building process in a manner that students will see when they are out in industry,” said assistant professor Doug Hague. “Before we received this machine, the pressing process could take 6 to 8 hours. Now, in one hour or less, we can get panels on the substrate, which completes the cycle.”

Hague said the hot press is a machine the program has wanted for 10-15 years.

“I remember talking about needing one when I was a student, but the price of this equipment was always going to be an issue,” he said. “We are fortunate and grateful to have such tremendous corporate partners and supporters.”

Along with the new equipment, the program has also received hundreds of thousands of square feet of high-quality veneer from Houston-based Brochsteins.

“When you put all of that together, we now have a state-of-the-art, complete wood technology lab that will benefit students for years and decades to come,” Hague said.