ESAB Supports Technical Education with Commitment to Northern Tool + Equipment’s Tools for the Trades™ Program

The multi-year partnership kicked off today with a donation event featuring X Games legend Ronnie Renner.

To give students in continuing technical education (CTE) programs the tools and encouragement to shape the world they imagine, ESAB today announced a long-term commitment to support Northern Tool + Equipment’s Tools for the Trades™ program. ESAB made the announcement during a partnership event on April 19 where ESAB donated welding and cutting to Lecanto High School, Lecanto, Fla.

 “ESAB is pleased to recognize National Welding month with our support for the Tools for the Trade program because skills such as welding open the door to a multitude of fulfilling, diverse and financially rewarding careers,” says Ashish Jani, Vice President of Marketing for ESAB, speaking at the event. “Welding careers are great for individuals who enjoy working with their hands, want to express themselves artistically, dream of starting their own business or who want to make a good income without a lot of school debt. And according to the American Welding Society’s Welding Workforce Data website, the United States will need 360,000 new welding professionals by 2027.”

Northern Tool + Equipment also made a generous donation of professional-grade tools. ESAB and Northern Tool + Equipment plan to donate equipment to more high schools during the year. The names of the schools selected will be announced throughout 2023. ESAB anticipates its partnership with Tools for the Trade will continue beyond 2023 and will benefit schools across the United States.

To create a memorable day for the students, new Tools for the Trades partner Ronnie Renner, a 10-time gold medal winner in the X Games Moto X Step Up jump event, rode his motorcycle into the shop class, met the students and performed stunts outside (download images and B-Roll). Renner (@ronnie_renner) was born in Florida and now lives in nearby Floral City. According to Official Guinness Records, Renner holds the record for greatest height ever achieved for a Step Up jump at 47 ft.

“My dad pushed me to learn the skills needed to work on my own bikes,” says Renner, addressing the students. “I hope I inspire you today and you leave here feeling great about exploring the trades and proud of being able to work with your hands.”

Renner is in the process of setting up an at-home workshop. His tools include ESAB equipment, and he is now learning to weld.

“I get the goosebumps thinking about what we did here at Lecanto High School, and it's an honor to be a part of it,” says Renner. “This is just cool to see these kids checking out the welding equipment, the smiles on their face and knowing that it makes a difference in people's lives is cool. I’m a dad, and I see in the evolution of my own kids how important the trades are. And then to come here to and see kids that are actually psyched about and to be able to hook them up — I'm here for it, baby.”

Perfect for Schools

The ESAB equipment donated to Lecanto High School includes a Rebel™ EMP 215ic multi-process welder, a HandyPlasma 25i manual plasma cutter, three Swarm™ A30 auto darkening welding helmets, a Victor® G-150 Portable Tote for oxy-acetylene cutting and welding and 40 lbs. each of Sureweld 6010 and Sureweld 7018 Stick electrodes along with additional ESAB swag.

“ESAB offers welding and cutting equipment well suited for every type of educational institution, from high schools to four-year welding engineering programs,” says Jani. “For example, the Rebel welder we donated will enable Lecanto High School students to learn the MIG, Stick and TIG welding processes. Rebel features a graphical control panel that students will find similar to a smart phone. There are functions that help students learn to weld faster, as well as help them learn about the types of welding controls they will find out in industry.”