BTD Mfg. becomes pipeline dual-training employer

Custom metal fabrication manufacturer BTD Manufacturing, Detroit Lakes, Minn., has been named a dual-training employer by Minnesota’s Private Investment, Public Education, Labor and Industry Experience Program (PIPELINE). The dual-training program pairs a classroom-style curriculum with structured, on-the-job learning to give employees an accelerated path to certification in a variety of areas, including welding, CNC, and quality.

The program awards businesses in the state grants to train and certify employees with skills that would otherwise take months to achieve. Sixteen BTD employees at the Detroit Lakes and Lakeville, Minn., locations have participated in the dual-training program since its start in October 2019. The employees contributed 80 hours over two weeks in both classroom and hands-on training on-site to earn their AWS certification.

The company plans to implement a similar program at its Washington, Ill., Dawsonville, Ga., and Buford, Ga., locations.