CraneTech and Steel River Break Ground on Texas Industrial Training Hub

The facility, located at the companies' Cleburne headquarters, moves away from traditional lecture-based instruction in favor of hands-on field exercises. By integrating classrooms with practical training labs, the center aims to replicate the real-world pressures of manufacturing, energy production, and steel processing. Instructors, drawing on a century of combined field experience, will guide participants through more than 40 certification programs, including overhead crane operation, rigging, and aerial platform safety.

Eric Factor, CEO of CraneTech and Steel River, described the project as a move to secure the backbone of domestic infrastructure. The campus is built as a complete learning destination, featuring on-site lodging and dining to allow students from across North America to focus entirely on technical skill acquisition. Dave Fisher, CEO of Steel River Foundry, noted that the investment targets the long-term sustainability of the industrial workforce, ensuring that incoming technicians are prepared for the safety and procedural demands of modern facilities. Construction is ongoing, with further details on curriculum and grand opening dates expected later this year.