Nercon purchases equipment for Oconto High School

Nercon Engineering and Manufacturing Inc. of Oconto and Neenah has recently purchased a CNC-controlled press brake and supported training for the Oconto High School technical education programs.

A press brake is a machine pressing tool for bending sheet and plate material, most commonly sheet metal. The machine is a Baileigh Hydraulic Press Brake with a 63-inch, 33-ton capacity with a retail value of over $15,000.

The purchase was part of a state-of-the-art expansion and upgrade of equipment at Nercon’s Oconto plant, said Anindita Anaam, outreach and communication coordinator for the Oconto Unified School District.

“The initial plan was to donate some of the used equipment to help modernize and add training capabilities to the high school’s programs,” Anaam said. “As this plan evolved, Nercon recognized the unit that was planned to be donated would benefit greatly from technology and safety upgrades to ensure the best learning environment.”

With safety as a primary motivator, the decision was made to instead purchase and install a new machine with state-of-the-art controls and safety systems, she said.

Nercon has taken in OHS students for youth apprenticeships on a number of occasions, including this year, and donates several thousand dollars worth of materials for students to work with each year. In the past four years, no student has had to pay for materials that were used in their metals classes at OHS, Anaam said.