Spring & Summer 2025
The Heavy Equipment Institute at Ferris State University is pleased to announce our workshop courses for the spring/summer 2025. These highly effective workshops have been developed for today's busy truck, heavy equipment, and diesel engine technicians.
Each course is delivered by highly qualified instructors from Ferris State's Heavy equipment or Welding programs. As with all of our trainings, these courses are practical and emphasize hands-on applications.
The workshops are ideal for mechanics, technicians, operators and supervisors looking for a better understanding of components and systems or to update knowledge and skills.
- Upgrade your skills and technical knowledge
- Learn from field tested instructors
- Hands-on learning
- Compact, easy to schedule workshop courses
| Title/Facility | Dates | Times | Day | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Systems | May 12, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Monday | $450 |
| Electrical Systems Troubleshooting | May 13, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Tuesday | $450 |
| Fundamentals of Hydraulics | May 14, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Wednesday | $450 |
| Hydraulic System Troubleshooting | May 15, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Thursday | $450 |
| Electronic Fuel Systems | May 19, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Monday | $450 |
| Heavy Duty Air Conditioning Systems | May 20, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Tuesday | $450 |
| Advanced Electronic Control Systems | May 21, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Wednesday | $450 |
| Diesel Engine Emissions Tier 4 Control Systems | May 22, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Thursday | $450 |
| Welding for Maintenance & Repair | TBD | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Tuesday - Thursday |
$1000 (24 hrs) |
| Fundamentals of Welding Fabrication* | TBD | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Tuesday - Thursday |
$1000 (24 hrs) |
| Advanced Welding and Repair Welding** | TBD | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Tuesday - Thursday | $1000 (24 hrs) |
*Prerequisite: Welding for Maintenance and Repair
**Prerequisite: Welding for Maintenance & Repair PLUS Welding Fabrication Training
Location: Unless otherwise indicated, courses are held on the Big Rapids Campus of Ferris State University. Most trainings will occur at the Heavy Equipment Technology Center located just west of the Ferris Ice Arena (220 Sports Drive). Welding trainings will occur at the Swan Technical Building (915 Campus Drive). Ferris Campus Map
*Lunch and snacks provided
Participants should arrive with proper safety equipment which always includes: enclosed leather shoes/boots and safety glasses. See course descriptions for other equipment that may be required or provided.
Electrical Systems
- Basic theory of electricity and electronics as applied to the heavy equipment industry. Instruction will include use of instruments for measuring current, voltage, and resistance. Hands on exercises will focus on calculating current draws, voltage drops, and resistances of series, parallel, and a combination of series and parallel systems.
Electrical Systems Troubleshooting
- Relationship between voltage, amperage, and resistance; the function and operation of charging systems; and to perform basic battery testing, troubleshooting and maintenance. Instruction will include the construction, testing, and troubleshooting of basic electrical systems and testing and diagnosing of charging systems used in a variety of diesel and gasoline powered vehicles. Hands on exercises include: determining the relationships between voltage, current, and resistance and diagnosing circuit conditions by interpreting voltage and voltage drop measurements.
Fundamentals of Hydraulics
- Theory and practical application of fluid power principles as applied to the heavy equipment industry. Instruction will include testing, diagnosing, and troubleshooting of mobile hydraulic systems and their components.
Hydraulic System Troubleshooting
- Mobile pumps, pump controls, mobile proportional valving, load sensing systems and troubleshooting using schematics, electronics controls, and interface of electronics to hydraulic controls.
Electronic Fuel Systems
- This course provides a working knowledge of electronic diesel fuel systems. Course topics include the operating principles of diesel fuel system hydraulics, electronic and electronic over mechanical injection systems, tune-up procedures, and servicing of electronic fuel systems. An emphasis will be placed on the use of electronic diagnostic tools to properly diagnose and maintain diesel electronic fuel systems.
Heavy Duty Air Conditioning Systems
- This course provides a basic understanding of the theory of mobile equipment air conditioning systems. Course topics include the basic refrigeration cycle, air conditioning control systems, proper diagnosis and repair of mobile A/C systems, and safe handling of refrigerants.
Advanced Electronic Control Systems
- This course provides a working knowledge of electronic control systems on heavy duty trucks and mobile equipment. Course topics include the operating principles of interactive electronic control systems, on-vehicle networking systems, sensing circuits, and actuation devices. An emphasis will be placed on the use of electronic diagnostic tools to properly diagnose and maintain computer management and CAN Bus systems. Hands-on exercises target the identification, location, and testing of electronically controlled mobile equipment systems.
Diesel Engine Emissions Tier 4 Control Systems
- Practical knowledge needed to perform routine maintenance, diagnose, and repair of diesel engine tier 4 emission systems. Instruction will include the operation, testing, troubleshooting and repair of tier 4 emission system technologies. Instruction will also include the specific maintenance processes and procedures required by tier 4 emission systems. Lab exercises will focus on required testing equipment, on-board diagnostics, and system controls.
Welding for Maintenance & Repair (Prerequisite to Welding Fabrication Training)
- Theory and practical application of common welding and cutting operations used for maintenance and repair operations. Discussion will include safety, process fundamentals and techniques to perform welding and cutting operations in multiple positions using oxyacetylene, shielded metal arc (STICK), gas metal arc (MIG), flux core, gas tungsten arc (TIG) and plasma arc cutting. Hands on activities will allow participants to setup and operate equipment while developing and refining process techniques and control.
Fundamentals of Welding Fabrication (Prerequisite to Advanced Welding and Repair Welding)
- Theory and practical application of common fabrication techniques used for maintenance and repair operations. Discussions will include basic welding metallurgy, fabrication process fundamentals, distortion controls, punching, shearing, flame shrinking and bending, project design techniques. Hands on activities will allow participants to fabricate small projects utilizing different equipment while developing and refining process techniques and control.
Advanced Welding and Repair Welding
- Theory and practical application of common advanced welding techniques used for maintenance and repair welding on different material types and thicknesses. Discussions will include advanced welding techniques, advanced process fundamentals, casting repairs, stainless steel and aluminum. Hands on activities will allow participants to develop a higher skill level necessary when welding different material thicknesses and types.
Contact
1020 Maple Street, CPD 101Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 591-5811
[email protected]
If you have a disability and require accommodation to participate in any event organized by Corporate & Professional Development, please contact us at (231) 591-5808 or [email protected] to request accommodation at least 72 hours in advance of the event.