CLEVELAND — Hank Strahan is with the Local 33 Sheet Metal Workers Union.   

Strahan said making a square drum used to be done by hand. Now the union teaches apprentices how to make sheet metal shapes for an HVAC system by programming a machine. 

What You Need To Know

  • The sheet metal workers union is seeing a shortage of HVAC techs 

  • The training at the sheet metal union teaches skills applicable to other fields 

  • The union training program pays students to go to school 

“It would probably take a guy 20-30 minutes to lay out where you just see it and cut it in seconds," Strahan said. 

The union is seeing a shortage in new and younger HVAC technicians, since less want to get into the trades according to Strahan. He is worried that the current pool of technicians may shrink soon. 

“Problems are gonna be like that Intel project in Columbus," he said. "They’re talking 7,000 construction workers on that. Guys will travel and go to that project."

Strahan said the sheet metal union teaches many skills aside from just bending metal. The union uses a virtual welder, but teaches the physical skills as well. 

Strahan said these skills make people more employable for jobs outside of just HVAC. 

“We’re sheet metal workers, we don’t just do HVAC," Strahan said. 

Which is why he recommends learning HVAC through a Sheet Metal Workers Union, since there’s something here that stands out from the other trades.

“We’re one of the last trades that takes a flat piece of metal and makes something out of it," Strahan said.