SuperPower Inc. officially launched its collaboration with Schenectady County Community College and Union College to develop the technical work force that SuperPower will need to produce second generation high temperature superconducting wire.
New York state Sen. Hugh Farley (R-Schenectady) secured $5 million in funding in the 2006 state Legislative Budget to purchase capital equipment and to complete facility upgrades.
The project is designed to train workers for specific jobs. SCCC will train workers in manufacturing the superconducting wires used for transmitting electricity. Union College, located in Schenectady, will build a clean lab and help create the equipment needed for conducting quality control on the wires.
SuperPower, based in Schenectady, expects to grow from 50 people to 150 by 2010.
Glenn Epstein, chairman and CEO of Latham-based Intermagnetics General Corp. (Nasdaq: IMGC), SuperPower's parent, called the program unique and innovative and would “provide practical experience and training for locally based students in engineering and technology who we envision will augment the highly skilled workforce required at SuperPower and other related high tech industries in the Capital Region.”
Farley said the most exciting aspect of the program is it puts “skills in the hands of people in our community. These skills will mean that 'Made in Schenectady' will be the global standard of quality for HTS wire.”
Superconductors are those materials that, when cooled to very low temperatures, can conduct electricity without losing energy. The wire SuperPower is developing is expected to carry about 140 times the current of conventional copper conductors of the same size.
The company said the new wire technology allows for lighter, smaller, and more environmentally friendly electrical equipment such as generators, motors, power cables and transformers.
SuperPower president Philip Pellegrino said the project includes: obtaining quality control equipment at all three institutions; renovation of existing lab space at SCCC and Union College; renovation of existing manufacturing space at SuperPower; and building of new lab space for expansion of course work in quality control processes at SCCC and Union College.
It also involves developing new curricula to provide the education and training needed by future employees who will manufacture the wire.
“The partnership reflects what is possible when business, education and government share a common goal,” he said.