Cloeren Donates $500,000 for 'Mechatronics' Program at Texas College

Cloeren Incorporated, a global leader in building dies and feedblocks for cast film and sheet, has committed to donating more than $500,000 to help establish Lamar State College Orange’s (LSCO) mechanical, manufacturing and maintenance, or “mechatronics.” program. The donation includes an initial $300,000 worth of machinery, and $200,000 in scholarship funding over the next four years to support area students who wish to study this field. Cloeren and LSCO are both based in Orange, Tex.

As part of this partnership, Cloeren will donate machinery such as a manual knee-type mill, a CNC mill, a CNC lathe, and other equipment that will serve as the basis of study for the program. The company has also committed resources such as steel for in-class project use, cutting tools, cutting fluids, and Cloeren staff to provide lectures and instruction for the program’s students.

Further, Cloeren has also committed to providing learning opportunities through part-time paid internships for LSCO students who are enrolled in the program. These students may also be considered for future employment at the company upon graduation.

“Cloeren is proud to make this educational investment in the Orange community,” said CEO Peter Cloeren.  “As a global mechatronics company, we see the need for a workforce that is well-educated and committed to the advancement of this field. This investment of time, money, and training into Lamar State College Orange will further ensure that our area is poised to support the growing workforce demand for mechatronics and ensure that LSCO will be a leader in training future workers in this space in partnership with Cloeren.”

Additionally, one focus of the $200,000 set aside for scholarship funding will be to encourage gender diversity in the field by training more women to enter the male-dominated industry. “Certain areas of the mechatronics field are incorrectly stereotyped as male jobs. I believe women can make significant contributions in the field, particularly in the area of CNC machining, programing, and metrology,” said Cloeren.

“I believe there is a lot of talent in Southeast Texas that is either untapped or void of opportunity. I see our partnership with LSCO as an investment in our local community for those who may wish to better themselves and their careers; and to also support our nation’s ability to remain competitive in this increasingly global marketplace”, Cloeren said.

Added Dr. Thomas Johnson, LSCO president,  “We at Lamar State College Orange couldn’t be more thrilled and grateful to the generosity and vision of Pete Cloeren and the staff at Cloeren. This investment will be a game-changer for our campus in our ability to make our students competitive at a global level in the latest mechatronics industry trends. With Mr. Cloeren’s vision, commitment, and partnership, we hope our ‘mechatronics’ program will become the national leader in the education of the future workforce in this field.”