Bonnell Aluminum apprenticeship proves crucial in carving potential workers' future

Bonnel Aluminum, a subsidiary of Tredger Corporation, has collaborated with the United States of America Department of Labour and Aluminum Extruders Council(AEC) to introduce an apprenticeship programme specially designed to upskill the potential aluminium extrusion workers.

With national accreditation and potential funding from the DOL, the programme is also available to existing employees who want to focus on a specific trade career path.

The initial programme came in 2023 with an agenda to recruit and groom industrial maintenance technicians in a two-year apprenticeship regime. Later this year, the second phase of the programme was announced, specifically designed to train the aluminium extrusion press operators and die shop technicians. The second phase is all set to roll out in 2025.

Bonnell also plans to add skilled trades such as CNC operation, robotics, and welding to its upskilling initiative shortly.

"The AEC Apprentice Programme is beneficial not only to its participants but to our company as well," Carl Czarnik, Vice President of Operations for Bonnell Aluminum, explained, continuing, "The AEC Apprentice Programme is a win-win for individual participants and aluminium extrusions companies like Bonnell. This innovative programme will help us identify, develop, and retain talent while allowing apprentices to learn a skilled trade at no cost to them."

Bonnel is one of the top manufacturers of custom-fabricated and finished aluminium extrusions serving the building and construction, automotive and transportation, consumer durables, machinery and equipment, and electrical and distribution markets. Branded products include TSLOTS and Futura Transitions. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Newnan (Georgia), Carthage (Tunisia), Niles (Michigan), Elkhart (Indiana), and Clearfield (Utah).