The American Welding Society says 320,500 new welding professionals will be needed by 2029, and Greenville Technical College says there are currently 400,000 openings for welders nationwide. It hopes to meet that demand with a state-of-the-art facility on its Brashier Campus in Simpsonville.
The 44,000-sqft Center for Welding and Automation Excellence broke ground on Monday, April 28. When it opens in fall 2026, it will increase the college’s capacity from four robotic welding stations to 16 and the total number of welding stations from 90 to 140.
The goal isn’t just to train the next generation of welders. It’s also to retrain those currently in the industry and arm them with skills to utilize the latest technology.
How is it funded? The SC General Assembly provided $15 million for the new building + a $2.9 million grant came from the federal government.
