Machine Nation News Team
April 11, 2025 at 10:15:00 AM
St. Louis Community College Celebrates The Opening Of Its New Advanced Manufacturing Center On The Florissant Valley Campus
St. Louis Community College (STLCC) celebrated the grand opening of its $51.8 million Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) on April 1, 2025, at the Florissant Valley Campus in Ferguson, Missouri, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Governor Mike Kehoe and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page. The 96,000-square-foot, three-story facility, funded by the 2021 Proposition R tax levy and a $3 million federal grant, consolidates nearly 20 programs, including robotics, engineering technology, welding, HVAC, and Boeing’s pre-employment training for sheet metal and composites. Featuring state-of-the-art labs, a drone piloting enclosure, and a dedicated suite for early college high school students, the AMC prepares over 7,000 students annually for high-demand careers in a region that employs 85,000 manufacturing workers. The facility, designed by JEMA and built by Kadean Construction, includes glass-walled 3D printing labs and welding booths to inspire prospective students.
For the precision machining industry, the AMC’s opening signals a surge in demand for computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) expertise. The center’s labs rely on precision-machined components, such as CNC-machined fixtures and robotic arm mounts, produced with 5-axis milling and laser cutting to ensure micron-level accuracy for automated systems. Manufacturing these components requires advanced CNC programming and real-time monitoring, skills now taught at the AMC to support employers like Boeing, which has hired over 1,100 STLCC graduates. The facility’s focus on robotics and 3D printing drives local machine shops to adopt CIM technologies, integrating CAD/CAM software and IoT sensors to streamline production. As St. Louis aims to lead in high-tech manufacturing—evidenced by a 7% rise in regional manufacturing jobs since 2023—this center fosters innovation in a $50 billion precision manufacturing market, creating opportunities for suppliers and upskilling the workforce.
Source:
St. Louis Community College Press Release, April 1, 2025
Source:
Social Media Buzz (powered by X):
X is abuzz with STLCC’s AMC opening, with posts on April 20, 2025, calling it a “manufacturing powerhouse” for Ferguson. Users praised its cutting-edge labs, with one noting it “preps students for Boeing jobs,” while another hailed it as a “win for St. Louis tech.” The excitement underscores hopes for job growth and regional innovation in advanced manufacturing.
What is the Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)?
This is one of many key terms of our broad Machine Nation Essential Modern Precision Industries Guidebook (MPIG). Click here to get a copy straight to your inbox.
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) - A manufacturing approach that uses computer systems to control and optimize production processes, integrating precision machining, robotics, and automation for efficient, high-quality output.
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#STLCC #AdvancedManufacturing #FlorissantValley #CIM #PrecisionMachining #WorkforceTraining