A new partnership is providing Richard J. Daley College students with real-life, hands-on experience and Cook County residents with a service to keep thieves from stealing catalytic converters.
A catalytic converter is a part of a car’s exhaust system. Thefts of the auto part have been on the rise for years as catalytic converters are quite pricey, so thieves steal them and try to sell them. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office began offering a catalytic converter ID program to help cut down on thefts. Deputies use heat-resistant spray paint to put identifying numbers on residents’ catalytic converters. The bright numbers signal to authorities and potential buyers of car parts that this catalytic converter is stolen.
But how exactly are the numbers spray-painted on the catalytic converter? That’s where Daley students come in. Initially, the sheriff’s office used plastic templates, but they weren’t sturdy enough. They were short-lived and would crack and melt. Over two semesters, and some trial and error, Daley students in Jaimie Carrasco and Andres Castillo’s Automated Fabrication Classes created five aluminum templates for the sheriff’s office. The students used the turret punch press and brake press equipment in Daley’s state-of-the-art Manufacturing Technology & Engineering Center (MTEC) to create lighter, longer-lasting templates. The aluminum will work much better than the original plastic templates, improving the safety, quality, and speed of the catalytic converter ID program.
“It’s great to see the resources we have available within Daley College being utilized for very practical application,” says Dean of Advanced Manufacturing David Girzadas. “That helps out not only our students, but our sister organizations in the city and the county improve the things that they’re doing and demonstrate how manufacturing affects all the areas of our lives.”
This won’t be the last time the sheriff’s office and Daley College will team up. This summer, Daley will host the Cook County Sheriff’s Office’s Manufacturing Training program. It’s for people in various states of release from the Illinois Department of Corrections. Participants will have the opportunity to take manufacturing courses at Daley for summer credit to help them improve their lives and secure a high-paying job after completion. It will also increase the number of skilled manufacturers in the workforce as employers are actively searching to fill these empty roles.
