Manufacturing demand

APPLETON - These students are part of the package and label printing program at Fox Valley Tech. Many of the students are laid off workers from the NewPage paper mill in Kimberly. They are updating their skills so instead of operating machines to make paper, they are now learning the machines that print on the paper they once made.

"Well I'd like to stay in something related to the paper industry and I knew printing was a growing industry," said Ed Van Asten, who worked at NewPage for 28 years. He's enrolled in a program that will have him back on the job market in less than a year, with skills that are in demand.

"The outlook looks good, there has been some postings in the breakroom showing where jobs are available," said Van Asten.

"The industry is strong that almost all or our graduates get placed. We take 12 students max to our program in one section," said program dean Gary Kilgas.

Printed packaging is something that continues to be used and updated even in a down economy. Growth in the industry has fallen off a bit, but education leaders say it's still in the positive range, and the demand for skilled workers remains strong.

"There are so many new products coming out every week somebody has to create those and somebody has to print those so we're involved in educating the students who do that," said Kilgas.

Fox Valley Tech has a 44-week program and a two year degree program in package and label printing.