Empowering Technicians, Elevating Production

Blue Diamond Steel Casting, a veteran-owned business in rural Huron County, is the world’s leading producer of high-quality, shot-backed, large shell-molded steel castings for critical industries such as mining, construction, and railroads. To maintain superior quality and innovative solutions, the company recognized the need to reinvest in technology and workforce skills, particularly in automation and robotics.

After discussing their training needs for robotic operations and On-the-Job Training (OJT) for apprentices and new hires, Blue Diamond Steel Casting applied for a Going PRO Talent Fund Grant.

Through the grant, the company was able to send two employees to Fanuc Handling Tool Operations/Programming training, two employees to Rockwell Automation Training, provide OJT funding for one apprentice, and 11 new employees!

The training has had a significant impact on employee skills and confidence. Muriel, HR Manager, said, “The Rockwell Automation Fair allowed our technicians to gain a deeper understanding of their field. These new skills broaden their capabilities and give them confidence when approaching previously uncertain situations. The credentials gained provide written confirmation of their skills and achievements, and Fanuc training has enabled employees to perform duties that were previously outsourced.”

Ronald and Miquel, Rockwell Automation participants, shared, “The seminars were incredibly insightful. We learned new techniques for machine repair and gained exposure to a broad spectrum of industry practices. This training has helped us innovate, improve productivity, and stay current in an evolving industry.”

Brian and Heather, Fanuc trainees, explained, “Learning how to perform maintenance on our robots has reduced the company’s reliance on outsourcing. Since completing Fanuc Academy training, we successfully repaired two robot wrist issues, preventing the need to replace the robots entirely. Machine downtime has decreased, allowing for greater productivity. The training also taught us safe disassembly and repair techniques, which have been invaluable.”

The training has produced many measurable outcomes for Blue Diamond Steel Casting, including: faster robot repairs and reduced machine downtime, reduced outsourcing and associated costs, increased technician confidence and expertise in automation and robotics, successful deployment of a new camera system for early defect detection, reduced scrap, and enhanced ability for employees to train others and share knowledge internally.

By investing in employee development and leveraging the Going PRO Talent Fund, Blue Diamond Steel Casting has strengthened both its workforce and operational efficiency. The company continues to position itself as an innovative leader in steel casting while empowering employees with the skills and confidence to excel.