The material handling industry recently took an important step in its efforts to bring young workers into the fold. On April 30, the Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) dedicated the Don Frazier Material Handling Technical Training Program in Rock Hill, S.C.—an event that coincided with the opening of the Don Frazier Supply Chain Training Center.

Named for Don Frazier, founder of Frazier Industrial Co., the pilot program provides an entry-level material handling education for high school, technical school, and community college students. MHEFI says the students will gain practical skills and experience in state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution training centers across the nation. The Frazier program is modeled after the program at the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute near Allentown, Pa. The Rock Hill facility is the first fully functioning laboratory established in the program.

"Out of respect for Mr. Frazier and his long and generous leadership of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) and MHEFI, member companies of MHIA have offered needed equipment and expertise to the program," said Victoria Wheeler, MHEFI's executive director, in prepared remarks. Those companies include Atlas Material Handling, Bluff Manufacturing, Bushman Equipment, Demag Cranes & Components, Diamond Phoenix, Hamilton Caster, Hanel Storage Systems, Hytrol Conveyor, NACCO Material HandlingYale, Southworth International, Spanco, Steel King Industries, and Unarco Material Handling, she said. Wheeler also noted that several local companies, including West Marine, Ross Industries, State Farm Insurance Co., Black & Decker, and US Foods, have helped fund the program's startup costs.