HOUSTON – NACE International, the corrosion society, has announced that its new 15,000-square-foot training center at the headquarters in Houston, TX, has been named “The Elcometer Building at NACE International”.

 

Through the generosity of Nanette Sellars, in memory of her husband Ian Sellars, and with her son, Elcometer President and CEO Michael Sellars, Elcometer, a worldwide manufacturer of inspection equipment, has become the building’s sponsor.

 

The $2.4 million facility is the first freestanding training center in North America dedicated exclusively to advancing corrosion education.

 

Corrosion is an ongoing and costly threat to assets in the energy, transportation, water, defense, and marine and shipbuilding industries. According to a recent study commissioned by the U.S. Government, the cost of corrosion in the United States alone is over $276 billion, or more than 3 percent GDP, annually. In addition to the financial consequences, corrosion can cause significant safety and environmental issues.

 

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the lack of professionals entering the field, according to the 2008 NACE International Corrosion Career Survey. In the next five-to-ten years, it is expected that a significant percentage of the corrosion industry’s workforce will be retiring, creating an unprecedented demand for skilled corrosion professionals.

 

“The Elcometer Building is the cornerstone of NACE International’s commitment to develop the next generation of skilled workers,” said Tony Keane, Executive Director, NACE International. “We will prepare them for a comprehensive career in corrosion prevention and mitigation and help open the doors for job opportunities and greater earning potential as the world steps up its effort to maintain its aging infrastructure.”

 

The new training center will help NACE International accommodate more than 3,000 students annually in the United States, as they earn world-recognized certifications in coatings, cathodic protection and other professional endeavors related to corrosion identification, prevention and mitigation. Additionally, NACE International estimates that more than 4,500 others will attend classes in more than 20 countries outside the United States in 2009.

 

Courses are available for educational levels from high school graduate, or equivalent experience, to senior engineer.

 

The Elcomter building is a key part of the stated mission of NACE International: to protect people, assets and the environment from the effects of corrosion.

 

Along with Elcometer, the following companies and individuals made significant contributions or material donations to the facility: American Innovations, Bass Engineering, Carboline, Champion Technologies, ConocoPhillips, Elaine Byerley, Sherwin-Williams and Tinker & Rasor.