TOMCAT USA celebrated 13 years of industry training courses with another successful Hoist and Rigging Workshop in Midland, TX.
Top-notch instructors and 62 industry professional participants from all over the United States, and even Mexico attended the workshop as well as the all new Advanced Workshop.
Don Dimitroff of Columbus McKinnon, as well as TOMCAT’s own Dave Sowa, coached participants through the Lodestar electric chain hoist. Rocky Paulson of Stage Rigging Inc. a Freeman Company and Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances stressed safety in rigging techniques and fall protection equipment, while Keith Bohn, TOMCAT Design Manager, and Will Todd, TOMCAT Project Manager, offered a course in truss theory and design. Not only did participants receive four days of power-packed, informative classes, but also four nights of fun-filled entertainment, including the traditional factory night at TOMCAT USA, with extensive tours, demonstrations, contests, and a graduation ceremony.
In addition to the traditional curriculum, the all new Advanced Workshop was held this year for the first time. Since TOMCAT USA began its annual Hoist & Rigging Workshop, there has been a demand for more training so the company put together a tough two day course designed for even more in depth training.
Bohn taught a one-day course on advanced concepts in truss usage, including: grid design, applying loads, ground support system considerations, structural design concepts, inspection techniques plus live demos of truss destruction. Dimitroff led this intense, one day course. Dimitroff discussed hoist design and theory as well as what’s new for the Lodestar. Participants were also able to disassemble, inspect then reassemble a 1-ton CM Lodestar and work on advanced troubleshooting scenarios.
With it being such a smashing success, TOMCAT will continue to add the Advanced Workshop to the curriculum in 2006.
Recognized worldwide as the most comprehensive training course of its kind, the TOMCAT Hoist and Rigging Workshop is a unique learning opportunity for those new to the entertainment industry, as well as veterans of the business.
