Genie Donates Boom Lifts to Fabtech Rental Service Technician Program 

Innovative training program offers hands-on learning.

REDMOND, WASH. (July 18, 2007) – Genie Industries has contributed the use of two boom lifts — an electric-powered Z™-30/20N self-propelled articulating unit and a diesel-powered S™-40 self-propelled telescopic model — to the new FABTECH Service Technician Education Center in Oshkosh, Wis., for use in its Rental Service Technician certification program.

FABTECH is a joint initiative established by FABCO Equipment Inc., a Caterpillar® dealer for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, and Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC). The FABTECH certification program provides students with hands-on learning experiences through four service technician career tracks: Rental, Engine, Construction Equipment and Electric Power Generation (EPG)/Marine Engine. Through the FABTECH Rental Service Technician track, students are trained by experienced FVTC instructors and have the opportunity to work on brand-new rental equipment, such as the Genie® booms, using the latest tools and advanced diagnostic technology. As one of Cat® Rental Stores Preferred Allied Vendors, Genie had the opportunity to donate its equipment and support materials to the FABTECH program.

“Because FABCO locations have an extensive selection of Genie® aerial lift equipment available for rent, it is important for our service technicians to be fully trained on operating, as well as performing field service work and preventative maintenance, on these products,” said Robert Bailey, FABCO human resources manager and one of the architects of the FABTECH initiative. “Genie has been very generous with its donation and support of this program.”

“Finding experienced service technicians can be a struggle for rental dealers, and the new FABTECH Rental Service Technician program is an innovative solution for FABCO,” says Scott Mobley, Genie national account manager, Cat® sales team. “With the FABTECH programs being so focused on equipment-specific training, graduates will be able to apply what they have learned in the classroom directly to real-world situations. That kind of experience is invaluable to FABCO, and crucial to servicing Genie® aerial equipment users.”

According to Bailey, upon completion of the FABTECH Rental Service Technician course, students will receive a certificate of completion and have the opportunity to work in a service technician position at one of the 23 FABCO locations in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Students can also apply the credits from the FABTECH courses to an associate degree in Construction Equipment technology or Electric Power and Marine technology.

About Genie

Headquartered in Redmond, Wash., with branch offices worldwide, Genie Industries manufactures material lifts, aerial work platforms, trailer-mounted booms and light towers, telehandlers, scissor lifts and self-propelled telescopic and articulating booms. For more information, please visit www.genieindustries.com.