First Students Graduate from Aggreko's SelecTech Program
Inaugural Group Prepared for Careers in Temporary Power and
Temperature Control
Houston (August 23, 2010) – Aggreko,
the global leader in
rental power,
cooling,
heating and
oil-free compressed air, is pleased to announce the graduation
of the first group of students from the Aggreko
SelecTech program, developed in association with Oklahoma State
University Institute of Technology (OSUIT) in Okmulgee. The
successful graduates all achieved an Associate in Applied Science
degree in Diesel and Heavy Equipment from the Aggreko program.
SelecTech is a two-year, six-semester
technician training program combining classroom-based learning with
internships at some of Aggreko's 50 North American service centers.
These internships give the students hands-on experience in a
variety of challenging and exciting environments. Aggreko is
particularly gratified that all of the 16 graduates have chosen to
begin their careers with the company.
The course covers the latest developments in
diesel engine systems, engine electronic systems, power generation
systems, electric motors and motor controls, electrical
distribution synchronization and load sharing, diagnostic
procedures, compressed air basics and event-specific equipment. In
addition to the technical curriculum, the course included modules
in math, technical writing, psychology, U.S. history
and government, and business, as well as
developing the students' aptitude for the effective
communication of ideas, and inter-personal skills.
The course also covers all aspects of
Aggreko’s business – from disaster relief during the recent
flooding in Nashville, to industrial work in the refineries along
the Gulf coast, and special events. For 14 weeks the students
helped load in and service the company’s equipment at the
Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, for which Aggreko was the
official supplier of temporary power and temperature control.
“These graduates received experiences that are
impossible to duplicate anywhere else,” said Kurt White, Director
of Learning and Development, Aggreko North America. “We are a
global leader in our industry as a result of having the
best-trained employees. The SelecTech program is the best
investment we could have made to ensure we have the right people in
place for the future, and if this class is any indication we are
well positioned.”
About one-third of the classes were
taught by Aggreko employees, with the other two-thirds evenly
distributed between Steve Stroud, the lead SelecTech instructor,
and other OSUIT staff.
“The Aggreko SelecTech program has changed me
from an ordinary twenty-year-old to an extraordinary Aggreko
technician,” said James Love, who spent part of the course as an
intern at the Pearland, Texas service center. “SelecTech has opened
doors and opportunities that most high school graduates will never
have.”
Editor's Notes
Aggreko plc is the world leader in the supply of temporary power
and temperature control solutions. Aggreko employs over 4,000
people operating from over 133 locations. In 2008 we served
customers in over 100 countries, and had revenues of approximately
£950m (USD $1.6bn or Euros €1.1bn). Aggreko plc is listed on the
London Stock Exchange (AGK.L), is a member of the FTSE-100 index,
and is headquartered in Scotland. For more information, please
visit the company website at www.aggreko.com.
Aggreko provides power and temperature control solutions to
customers who need them either very quickly, or for a short or
indeterminate length of time. Examples would be the supply of power
to an industrial site which needs to service its permanent power
supply, supplying a whole city in times of power shortage, or
providing a major sporting event with power and cooling systems. We
serve our customers either through 120 service centres, which we
call the Local Business, or globally through our International
Power Projects business.
In the Local business, which accounts for about 60% of our
revenues, we hire our equipment to customers, who then operate it
for themselves, although we retain responsibility for servicing and
maintaining it. In the
International Power Projects business, which accounts for about
40% of revenues, we operate as a power producer. We install and
operate power plants and we charge our customers both for providing
the generating capacity, and for the electricity we produce. We
design and manufacture equipment specifically for these
requirements in our factory in Dumbarton, Scotland.
Recent customers include the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
Winter Games and the power utilities in over 50 countries
including the UK, France, Angola, Kenya,
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Chile, Brazil and the USA.
For more information, please visit the company
website at www.aggreko.com/northamerica
or www.aggreko.ca.
For more information, contact:
Shanta Mauney or Claire Caton, Ward
Creative Communications
Tel: 713-869-0707
E-mail: smauney@wardcc.com or
ccaton@wardcc.com
Amy Stine, Communications Specialist, Aggreko LLC
Tel: 281-985-8266
E-mail: amy.stine@aggreko.com
Simon Lyons, Global Director of Marketing & Communication,
Aggreko Plc
Tel: + 44 141 2255900
E-mail: simon.lyonsATaggreko.co.uk