Solid Surface Fabricator Association Reaches Industry Consensus Milestone
Henderson , NV . The International Solid Surface Fabricators Association (ISSFA) is proud to announce that ISSFA Total Fabrication Training for solid surface fabricators has now become the industry standard. All major producers of solid surface officially endorse the four-day, hands-on training module as part of their fabricator certification programs.
"This is a major step forward for ISSFA," says Robert Oxley , ISSFA's Executive Director. "Never before have all the solid surface producers come together to endorse a single training curriculum for the industry."
Under the direction of ISSFA Director of Education and Certification, Bill Wolle , ISSFA's Total Fabrication Training program has progressed to become the premier training program in the world for solid surface fabricators. Fabricators travel to Henderson , NV , where they receive classroom instruction on the theory behind
proper solid surface fabrication and apply learned principles on actual, hands-on projects in the shop. Attendees are also encouraged to share best practice principles and labor-saving techniques during any of a number group discussion meetings.
The course includes training on product knowledge, shop safety, basic productivity concepts, material handling, templating, high strength seams, adhesive systems, stress risers, material layout, bowl mounting processes, support systems, edge treatments, basic repairs, cutouts, thermoforming, inlays, backsplash fabrication, finishing, quality control, installation and inspection.
"Most solid surface manufacturers offer at least a 10-year installed warranty on their products, which places a tremendous burden on the quality of fabrication," explains ISSFA President-Elect, Vanessa Bates . "No wonder they have been reluctant to endorse a single industry-wide program for fabricator training. Thanks to the meticulous planning, dedication and attention to detail of Bill Wolle , ISSFA has produced a training program that all manufacturers endorse unconditionally. It is an achievement unheard of in the solid surface industry."
Major producers who endorse Total Fabrication Training are Avonite, Centura, Chemcore Industries (Dovaé), DuPont Corian, Florenata, Formica Solid Surface, Harmony, Hudson Surfaces, Lion ChemTech, LG HI-MACS, Royal Stone Industries, Samsung (Staron) and Wilsonart Solid Surface.
Total Fabrication Training is offered as a benefit of membership to ISSFA fabricators worldwide. Non ISSFA members may attend at the non-member rate. For more information on ISSFA's Total Fabrication Training program or to learn how to become a member of ISSFA, the only association dedicated to furthering the interests of the solid surface fabricator, call 877-GO-ISSFA or go online at http://www.issfa.org/
Founded in February of 1997, the International Solid Surface Fabricators Association (ISSFA) is a not-for-profit trade association established to further the interests of solid surface fabricators. ISSFA Fabricator members are the best in the business. To become a member, a fabricator company must agree to uphold the ISSFA Fabricator Code of Ethics, provide a copy of its certificate of insurance, and be sponsored into the association by a member in good standing.
ISSFA Associate members include distributors, manufacturers and affiliated professionals that provide tools, machinery, supplies and services to the solid surface industry; and allied industry professionals such as interior designers, architects, and specifiers.
Interviews with ISSFA President-Elect Vanessa Bates , Executive Director Robert Oxley , and/or Director of Education and Certification Bill Wolle are available upon request.