The Illinois Manufacturing Foundation is partnering with packaging associations and institutes to train 325 participants to attain PMMI Level 1 Mechatronics Certification. Those who complete training will be placed in apprenticeship, on-the-job training, or internship positions with Chicago area PMMI member firms, OEM packaging firms, and contract packaging firms.
Training will be provided to four batches of 82 participants beginning July 1, 2016 and ending in June 2020. Participants—ages 17 to 29—will undergo six months of intensive training for Level 1 in industrial electricity, fluid power, mechanical components, and programmable logic controllers. Less intensive post-employment training for PMMI Level 2 Mechatronics Certification will occur thereafter. The project will cost $3 million, funded by a tech hire partnership grant. The foundation will leverage $750,000 to $1 million in packaging machinery, equipment, tools, and materials from participating firms, trade associations and foundations.
