by Bernard Martin

On July 24, 2024, Laurie Barcaskey, President of Leading Marks LLC, helped to lead a "Foundry in a Box" workshop at BotsIQ as part of the "Girls Exploring Engineering" program. This session focused on metal manufacturing and offered young women a unique, hands-on experience in the world of engineering and foundry work.

BotsIQ, a workforce development program by the Pittsburgh Chapter National Tooling & Machining Foundation, nurtures youth’s interest in manufacturing careers. The program offers hands-on learning experiences to foster STEM education, provides technical resources to schools, and connects students with industry mentors. BotsIQ aims to bridge the skills gap and build a competent future manufacturing workforce, making it the perfect setting for this workshop.

The "Foundry in a Box" workshop was one of the highlights of a weeklong camp dedicated to encouraging girls to explore various engineering fields. Joining Duraloy Technologies, Laurie Barcaskey, helped to guide the participants through the "Foundry in a Box" process, a program sourced from the American Foundry Society and the Foundry Education Foundation. This collaboration aimed to introduce the fundamentals of metal casting in a fun and interactive way.

The participants had the opportunity to design and create their 3-D printed patterns, which were then used in the foundry process during the workshop. This not only allowed the girls to engage with advanced manufacturing technology but also to witness the transformation of their designs into tangible metal products.

The "Foundry in a Box" workshop provided a valuable introduction to the metal manufacturing industry, sparking interest and enthusiasm among the young attendees. By offering such hands-on experiences, programs like these play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of engineers and innovators.

Leading Marks is proud to have been a part of this initiative, helping to empower and inspire the future leaders in engineering.

The Northwestern Pennsylvania (NWPA) Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), in collaboration with Northwest Industrial Resource Center (NWIRC) and NEFF Automation as the premier sponsor, is thrilled to announce two exclusive events to learn about the latest developments in the  manufacturing industry.

Join Leading Marks LLC on April 30th a Red Fern in Kersey, PA, and May 2nd in Erie, PA, at the Ambassador Center, for the Manufacturing Advanced Expo 2024. These events offer a unique platform for manufacturers and job shops to explore the latest advancements in automation technology, robotics, manufacturing processes, and their role in enhancing the skilled workforce in Northwest Pennsylvania.

​A Glimpse into Tomorrow’s Manufacturing
With a focus on educational sessions that spotlight advanced technology and applications, attendees will gain invaluable insights into how the industry is evolving. Experts will delve into topics that are at the forefront of manufacturing innovation, including 3D Robotic Guidance, Deep Learning Machine Vision, Robotic Palletizing, Welding, and Machine Tending, as well as Industry 4.0 Solutions. These discussions are designed not only to inform but also to inspire action and innovation within your operations.

BotsIQ is a manufacturing workforce development program of the Pittsburgh Chapter National Tooling & Machining Foundation whose goal is to provide a pathway for youth to learn about rewarding career options in manufacturing.

Identifying and developing a career plan is a challenge for students.  BotsIQ holds a pivotal position as a workforce development program that attracts smart, capable students who love to build things and solve problems — exactly the type of people that will comprise the future manufacturing workforce.
Through BotsIQ,

• Students work together in a fascinating real-world professional manufacturing model.
• Students gain in-demand technical skills like mechanical engineering and design, electrical engineering, machining, 3D printing, and more.
• Each participating school is paired with a local manufacturing company to serve as their industry mentor and learn about the potential for a career in manufacturing

Come and see what these high school students can accomplish or better yet, volunteer to help out.

You can also meet with Laurie Barcaskey, President of Leading Marks. Laurie is volunteering at this event that runs from April 28-29, 2023, 7:30AM – 6:00PM

Laurie Barcaskey, President of Leading Marks LLC, will be at the 3rd Annual Associate Night for NTMA Akron and discussing solutions for marking machine components. There will also be several products on display as a focus of the discussions:

• Laser Marking
• Tapmatic Marking Heads

The event, held on March 20th from 5:30pm to 8pm will be held at the Hilton Fairlawn on 3180 W Market St, Akron, OH 44333. 

The mini-tradeshow style event is free for NTMA members and $15 for non-members. 
Drinks will be available and light appetizers will be provided.