Falk facility for maintenance personnel now open The Falk Corp. is offering a practical, hands-on training course for gear drive and coupling maintenance. It's a four-day workshop designed to familiarize maintenance personnel with field-practical, factory-approved installation, alignment, maintenance and failure analysis procedures for Falk gear drives and couplings.

Staffed by Falk engineers and senior field service representatives, the school covers its entire product line and combines a field service training environment with exposure to its production, test and quality management functions. An ISO 9001-certified company, the Milwaukee-based Falk Corp. manufactures industrial power transmission machinery, including standard and custom gear drives, shaft-couplings and backstops.

Sessions are scheduled for July through December. For a schedule of classes or reservations, call Falk's field service department at (414) 937-4060 or visit the company's web site, (www.falkcorp.com). Class sizes are limited to eight students with reservations taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. The workshop fee is $945 per student and includes supplies, lunches and local transportation.

EMC establishes education foundation in Stillwater, Okla. The Equipment Maintenance Council established an education foundation on the Oklahoma State University Campus. The foundation will focus on research and development and serve as a resource to undergird the council's mission.

Also, this foundation will attempt to specifically respond to the growing need for professionally prepared individuals who are entering the equipment maintenance field. These professionals will reflect upgraded technical education and research, which the council views as a cornerstone of industrial progress.

Immediate purposes of the Foundation are:

* To provide funding to EMC so programs can be extended to members of the general public interested in this profession.

* To develop scholarships and assistance programs for those who choose equipment maintenance as a career.

* To identify candidates for scholarships, honor them as EMC Foundation Scholars and mentor their progress.

For more information on this foundation contact, EMC: Education Foundation, 2020 Lake Shore Drive, Sanger, Texas 76266; (940) 458-0204.

Bearing maintenance education The SKF USA Inc. Bearing Institute is conducting three-day seminars at its York, Pa. Industrial Services Center and regional seminars throughout the United States, now until the end of the year. Attendees will include engineers, mechanics, oilers and technicians responsible for the reliable operation of bearings.

Subject matter, based on the SKF Trouble-Free Operation principles program, covers rolling bearing mounting and dismounting, lubrication, nomenclature and related bearing maintenance topics. Learning techniques include hands-on practice with bearing maintenance tools and workshops.

Participants learn to identify and interpret the causes of bearing failures. Attendees can bring failed bearings in for examination then return to their workplace with possible solutions for eliminating causes of recurring bearing failure.

Registration fee is $625 and sessions are limited to the first 30 registrants. Extensive literature is provided for permanent reference materials. For more information, contact: SKF USA Inc., Attn.: Market Communications Dept., 1100 First Ave., King of Prussia, Pa. 19406-1352; fax: (610) 265-8047.

On-site repair training Rema Tip Top/North America, Inc. has launched its second Rema Mobile Training Unit (MTU). MTU-2 will provide intensive tire repair training to tire dealers, retreaders, truck fleet and repair specialist technicians, and managers throughout the nation. The 24-ft GMC straight truck contains two complete tire inspection and repair stations to teach nail hole and section repair techniques for car and truck tires and tubes. Onboard are spot vulcanizers and all the necessary pneumatic, electric and hand tools, and repair materials to teach up to 36 technicians per day. For more information, contact: Jay McMillan, Rema Tip Top/North America Inc., 200 Paris Ave., Northvale, N. J. 07647; (201) 768-8100.

Do you have a maintenance tip or program that helps make your aggregate operation run more smoothly or profitably? We're looking for proven advice that can be used for this Maintenance Forum column. The idea does not have to be detailed in a formal paper, although a written description with a photo or slide is the ideal submission form. If you are not sure an idea is worth the effort, give us a call. Contact: Mark Robins, Rock Products, 29 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60606; (312) 609-4238; fax: (312) 726-2574; E-mail: mark robins@intertec.com