The Link Lima/Allen County Site Visit Program, launched on Jan. 14 with a visit by 13 seniors studying welding at Apollo Career Center to Diamond Manufacturing, Bluffton.

By Allison Overholt, NOW Marketing Group
When it comes to welding, Diamond Manufacturing of Bluffton, does it for some of the best because Diamond has some of the best welders anywhere. 

Companies like Ford, Honda, General Motors, Braun Industries, and Subaru have come to depend on the racks created and welded by Diamond Manufacturing to stage their parts and assemblies until they get pulled into the assembly process. 

So when it comes to local welding jobs in Allen County, you better know your stuff, and you can’t beat a welding gig at Diamond Manufacturing.

Apollo welding instructor Steve Conner knew the value in letting his students see the operations at Diamond. 

He and instructor Greg Hillard loaded up a bus with 13 seniors from Apollo’s welding program and took them behind the scenes at Diamond Manufacturing. 

The students saw all facets of Diamond’s operations from fabrication to welding to laser cutting to stamping to warehousing and more. 

Apollo students on the visit included Nathanial Alexander, Zachary Carder, Sydney Evans, Nichole Griggs, Robert King, Kyle Krier, Kyle Lange, Aason Page, Dylan Pletcher, Austin Price, William Scott, Ryan Tigner, Jaden Zimmerly. 

 Gene Heitmeyer, general manager of Diamond, was more than happy to open his doors and show the students his operation.  He said, “This is a great way for students to see what is available to them locally.  We’re delighted to have them in our facility.”

 About Link Lima/Allen County
Link Lima/Allen County is a community-wide workforce development framework hosted by Allen Economic Development Group, driven and directed by the region’s employers, and supported by local high schools, career tech schools, colleges, universities, business associations, and service agencies. 

The mission of Link Lima/Allen County is to connect local businesses with the talent they need, and to support the programs that build an employer-ready workforce in Allen County and the surrounding region.