Advanced Propulsion Lab
[Please click here for an archived video of the grand opening streamed on our website May 13, 2010.]
The Advanced Propulsion Lab will provide the solid and nationally recognized vehicle training that has been the hallmark of the Horizon Center since its inception in 2007, focusing on diesel and related “green” technologies.
The 12,800-square-foot addition to the Horizon Center is a state-of-the-art-facility providing a foundation of training for diesel technicians to enter the workplace of today and tomorrow. Graduates will have the opportunity to receive hands-on training in the many important skill areas a technician must possess, as well as providing them with instruction on the “green” propulsion methods such as hybrid biodiesel and electricity.
A four-bay area provides students with the equipment and room to diagnose and train on a variety of vehicles using diesel engines, including tractor-trailers, earth-moving equipment, pickup trucks and tractors. One of the bays is a Snap-on-sponsored “green garage” bay which will use only sustainable or other green chemicals and related processes.
Training in other sustainable technologies to be delivered at the lab include learning how to mix biodiesel fuel and learning the intricacies of charging stations for today’s vehicles powered by electricity. Beyond diesel technology, one lab will incorporate torque technology and related training needed for today’s wind industry technicians, one of several areas in which Gateway has begun to offer courses in “green” or sustainable careers.
Finally, a hangar in the lab will allow all three of Gateway’s planes used for its Aeronautics-pilot training program to be brought inside where they can be serviced. That bay also is large enough to serve a dual purpose – which is to bring in diesel vehicles too large to fit in the bay area.
Area employers and members of a Gateway advisory committee helped drive the design of the facility and the program curriculum to ensure it focuses on the skills and qualities diesel technicians require. The high standards of the program are further bolstered by adhering to national standards set forth by Automotive Service Excellence and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, making graduates more marketable and more of a valuable resource to their employers.