We Made the News: York County’s New Automation Training Center Is Open

We are so excited to share that the ribbon has officially been cut on the new BAE Systems Automation Training Center and Weldon Solutions Robotics Lab right here in York County, and the local news took notice. Both ABC 27 and FOX 43 covered the story, and we think it is worth talking about why this moment matters so much for Central Pennsylvania’s manufacturing future.

A Facility Built Around a Real Workforce Need

This is not just a new building. It is a direct response to a genuine skills gap in the defense manufacturing industry. Right now, defense companies in the Midstate need 400 workers, and that number is only going to grow. As Tom Palisin, Executive Director of the Manufacturers’ Association of Central PA, pointed out, the defense manufacturing base needs to hire roughly 150,000 manufacturing workers over the next ten years to support the Navy and the construction of the nuclear submarine program.

That is a big number, and it is exactly why facilities like this one matter. BAE Systems relies on these advanced technologies across its combat vehicle and submarine manufacturing operations, and Weldon Solutions brings its robotics and automation expertise to help train the next generation of workers. As Weldon Solutions President Travis Gentzler put it, the goal is to take those “dark, dirty, dangerous” jobs out of the equation and replace them with roles that are more rewarding and skills-based for the people doing them.

How TIDE Is Making It All Possible

The funding and the vision behind this facility come from the Central PA Talent and Innovation Defense Ecosystem, or TIDE. This initiative received support from the Department of War’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), the PA Department of Economic Development, and industry in-kind contributions.

What makes TIDE especially powerful is the way it reduces the barrier for employers. Grant funding is available to help cover the cost of training for companies that send their employees to the center. That means businesses across the region can upskill their workforce without shouldering the full financial burden on their own. If you want to see what training classes are available, you can check out the full schedule at centralpatide.org.

What the Manufacturers’ Association Means for This Region

The Manufacturers’ Association of Central PA is the organization operating this facility, and that is a big deal. They have long been one of the most active advocates for the region’s manufacturing workforce, and this training center is one more example of that commitment in action. By bringing together partners like BAE Systems, Weldon Solutions, state agencies, and federal funding, the Association has created something that is bigger than any one company could have built on its own.

Both ABC 27 and FOX 43 showed up to cover the ribbon cutting, and that kind of local media attention reflects just how significant this opening is for the community. This is the kind of investment that keeps manufacturing jobs here, grows the workforce pipeline, and positions Central PA as a serious player in the national defense manufacturing conversation.

We are proud to be part of it, and we cannot wait to see what comes next.

Full Coverage Links

• ABC 27: Automation Training Center and Robotics Lab Opens in York County
• FOX 43: York County’s New Training Center Boosts Skills for Next-Gen Manufacturing Workers