Steam MACHINE
JACKSON TWP — The Steamfitters Technology Center already is a bastion on Wise Road, with 70,000 square feet of trades training space.
Now, Steamfitters Local 449 looks to construct a union hall and move its business offices from Pittsburgh to Jackson.
Ken Broadbent, the local’s business manager, said Steamfitters hopes to take advantage of the Jackson Township location’s centrality to its 15-county area.
“From Erie, you can get here in an hour and 20 minutes. From the West Virginia border, probably an hour. From Pittsburgh, 30 minutes,” Broadbent said. “That’s why we moved to this location; it’s centrally located.”
Broadbent added he believes there’s going to be a greater need in the near future for workers to complete the tasks of Steamfitters. This work includes process piping, refrigeration, air conditioning, medical gas and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, among many others.
“The temperature’s going up. Air conditioning, when I was younger, wasn’t in cars or in houses. Now, people need air conditioning as much as they need heating,” he said. “Look out west, when the temperatures are 112, 115 degrees. You’ve got to stay indoors and do stuff early and use air conditioners, so people that can do heating and air conditioning, refrigeration, there’s going to be a shortage of them and you’re going to need more and more people to do it.”
A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.
