Training in Spanish: Astec translates sessions for Central, South American buyers

photo With the help of language interpreter David Rueda-Williamson, right, Mike Varner, left, director of thermal systems for Astec Inc., describes the workings of a double-barrel cut away for visiting trainees Wednesday at the Jerome Avenue training facility.

A Chattanooga machinery producer is literally and figuratively bridging cultural divides with asphalt.

Astec Inc. hosted its first Spanish language training session this week, teaching 45 asphalt manufacturers from Mexico, Central and South America how to use and maintain the enormous equipment produced by the Chattanooga manufacturer.

Astec's business is booming south of the border. International markets have been on the rise for the world's largest manufacturer of asphalt production equipment. The growth strength of Latin America spurred Astec to bring in translators and expand its training program.

Those translators worked hard Tuesday morning, straining their ears to catch an instructor's explanation on how to adjust a giant rotating machine to keep the asphalt turning rather than spiraling out of the tank.

But translators were able to keep up, conveying the lesson to the attentive group.

"The training center is excellent," Luis-Fernando Cano, a consultant engineer from Medellin, Colombia, said in Spanish between classes Tuesday. "The trainers have great experience and knowledge."

Cano's company is buying its first Astec equipment, and he said the processes he learned would be invaluable back home.

Training courses have been part of Astec's culture since its founding. The company sends experts to help set up equipment after a purchase and provides extra training to customers for a fee.

At first the extra training classes were meager, with experts lecturing in the railroad cars at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Today, the company has a state-of-the-art, 23,000-square-foot facility with functioning equipment for hands-on learning.

Over the course of a year, Astec puts between 400 and 500 of its customers from all over the world through the program.

After class, Astec instructors take the groups to see Chattanooga sites, go bowling, or do whatever fun activities they can think of that help them get to know one another.

As participants loosen up, they tend to get more out of their classes.

"The more they ask, the more they learn," said Troy Norris, the school administrator and a 27-year Astec veteran.

Getting to know participants provides Astec invaluable feedback.

The more time instructors have with participants, the more they can learn about how their products are being used, what's working and not working and how the company can improve.

"Not only do you have a good time with them, but you find out what's going on at their plant," Norris said. "As much as they want to learn from us, we want to learn from them."

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