The five participants of the Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration program at Sampson Community College hit the training facility last week as part of a 40-hour class that will provide prospective technicians the foundational skills needed for future employment opportunities.

Sampson Community College and Lanier Technical College have announced their partnership to bring Lanier’s world-class ammonia refrigeration training to a facility at SCC’s campus. The partnership will provide even more in-demand, ammonia training opportunities for the industrial refrigeration business community.

“We are very excited about this unique partnership in part because it enables us to continue to honor the training commitment we made to our supportive industry partners when SCC’s Ammonia Refrigeration facility was built in 2010,” Ann Butler, dean of continuing education, said. “Equally, we are excited to bring to Sampson the vast expertise of Lanier’s faculty who will help us competently address the training needs of agribusiness and other industries that utilize ammonia refrigeration in and beyond North Carolina.”

According to Butler, the Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration program at Sampson Community College is among a small number of specialized training facilities in the country that provides operators a hands-on approach to learning. Not only does the unique training facility provide prospective students the skills essential for employment opportunities, but it expands on the foundational education and skills with greater emphasis on the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to safely operate more sophisticated industrial ammonia refrigeration systems.

As the demand for refrigerated food continues to globally increase, the demand for training locations like Sampson is increasing and training classes fill quickly. The Lanier Tech and SCC partnership expands the available training locations and enables last minute scheduling flexibility for the industry customer, an idea SCC president Dr. Paul Hutchins says he is happy about.

“Our partnership with Lanier Technical College brings a recognized leader in ammonia refrigeration training and instruction to North Carolina,” Hutchins said. “We look forward to working with Lanier Technical College to meet the training needs in ammonia refrigeration for industries in North Carolina and beyond.”

The partnership, according to Katie Brown, director of NCWorks Customized Training and Workforce Development Programs at SCC, is very important.

“Sampson Community College’s partnership with Lanier Technical College created an economic catalyst to enhance affordable education and training opportunities in an agri-business region,” Brown shared. “The affordable cost allows more businesses and industries to participate in sending employees to the ammonia refrigeration program of study. With this being stated, the NC WORKS Customized Training Program (CTP) under the auspice of SCC provides opportunities for the business industry to enroll employees in the strategic training course at no cost to the business, which is advantageous to upgrades skills and build a stronger workforce in the ammonia field.”

According to Amos Clark, Lanier Tech’s lead ammonia refrigerator instructor, the college has over 15 years of world-class, hands on training in its live, three systems facility, and will take the lead for both institutions in class registration and operator certification.

By working together, Lanier Tech and SCC will provide the industrial refrigeration community with multiple training locations, professional consistency, plus the added benefits of flexibility and potentially reduced expense for the community. Lanier Tech continues to provide its full lineup of basic to advanced training at its Oakwood, Ga. facility, while expanding at the SCC campus.

“It’s been very rewarding to be at Lanier Technical College the past four years and to have the opportunity to pass many years of learning experiences on to our students,” Clark said. “I am very excited about working with SCC to expand our reach and to better serve the needs of customers in North Carolina.”

According to Butler, Level I of the Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration program provides students with a comprehensive overview of the foundational skills necessary to observe refrigeration operations, record pertinent operation parameters, and take control actions under direct supervision of operational level personnel or a supervisor.

Class topics include process safety information as it applies to the handling of ammonia, industrial ammonia refrigeration fundamentals, the refrigeration cycle, the properties of refrigerants, saturated refrigeration tables, types of refrigeration compressors, operation and maintenance of compressors, lubrication, evaporators and cooling units, condensers and high pressure receivers, and purging.

The class meets Monday-Thursday, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Industry professionals wanting to register for Ammonia Refrigeration Level I and/or PSM/RMP for Ammonia Operator at the Clinton location should contact Tim McDonald, Vice President of Economic Development at Lanier Tech at 770-533-6992.

Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.

Ammonia program offers advantages

By Kristy D. Carter

[email protected]

Ammonia refrigeration instructor Amos Clark shows equipment that is used in the training facility at Sampson Community College.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_AmmoniaRefirg_Instructor.jpgAmmonia refrigeration instructor Amos Clark shows equipment that is used in the training facility at Sampson Community College.

Students are taking advantage of the partnership between SCC and Lanier Tech’s Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration program.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_AmmoniaRefrig.jpgStudents are taking advantage of the partnership between SCC and Lanier Tech’s Industrial Ammonia Refrigeration program.