Front Range Community College is bringing a new advanced manufacturing training opportunity to Northern Colorado.
FRCC has received a $250,000 grant from the Colorado Community College System that will make it the first community college in Colorado to offer instruction in laser welding. The funding will equip FRCC’s Larimer Campus with technology used by employers in aerospace, medical devices, electronics and advanced manufacturing.
The investment will help connect students with skills Northern Colorado employers are increasingly looking for.
Six local partners supported FRCC’s grant application, highlighting the value of laser welding skills for graduates entering the workforce. Those partners include C&H Solutions, CSU Powerhouse, General Air, Living Design Studios, MGS Inc. and Tanco Engineering.
The grant will allow FRCC to purchase a FANUC collaborative robot, two IPG Photonics laser welding systems and specialized safety equipment. Students will receive training in both handheld and robotic laser welding while gaining greater access to robotics and advanced manufacturing technology.
For Northern Colorado employers, the program represents another connection between education and the evolving needs of our regional workforce. FRCC plans to introduce the new technology in classrooms beginning in fall 2027 after faculty complete specialized laser safety and robotics training.
FRCC also plans to make its new laser welding curriculum available to Colorado’s other community colleges as an open educational resource, extending the impact of the investment beyond Northern Colorado.
Adapted from reporting by Front Range Community College.
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