YPSILANTI - More than 1,500 United Association pipe trades instructors descended on Washtenaw Community College again this year, during the annual week-long Instructor Training Program Aug. 14-18.

"This year we added something new, we're bringing in owners and users from all over the country to show them how good our training is," said host Business Manager Ron House of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 190. "You see how well things operate around here, and how the UA spends more than $100 million on training every year, and they can't help but be impressed."

This is the 11th year that the United Association has set up shop at Washtenaw Community College. Local union trainers received instruction in everything from the latest in backflow prevention, to downhill welding, to setting up a curriculum at an apprenticeship school. The instructors then go back to their home locals and incorporate their knowledge into their training program.

One graphic demonstration of plumbing and pipe fitting techniques on display for owners, users and trainers could be seen in a mobile trailer hosted by William Bailey of San Jose, CA Local 393 and Doug Van Der Tip of Hamilton Local 67. Fixtures include a water-hammed demonstration with clear pipes and colored water, a steam trap and thermal shock demonstration, plus displays of a hydronics board, a heat exchanger and orbital welding, among others. All were situated on a mobile trailer, with the display by Kinetic Systems costing about $350,000.

"That's the value of this system," Bailey said. "People have a hard time grasping what you're talking about unless they can see what's going on inside the pipe."

Kevin Zeigler, of UA Local 290 in Portland, Ore., working on a backflow prevention device, was part of a contingent of six trainers from that local - the largest group to come to Michigan.

"This is the sixth year I've been here, and I enjoy the heck out of it," he said. "You learn that there's a lot of knowledge to be had out there."

United Association General President Martin Maddaloni said in addition to the traditional training, the union is advancing its distance learning program, which was established a few years ago. Through the use of computer CD-roms, instructors who aren't close to a traditional brick-and-mortar training center are able to improve their knowledge on their own time on their own computers.

"We've moving into the digital age, because that's where the future is," Maddaloni said. "But we'll never turn our back on the traditional training, the latest in plumbing, welding, medical gas, and environmental work."

The UA uses existing space at Washtenaw Community College every year for the training program, but plans are in the works to add 14,000 square-feet to the facility's welding area to institute a permanent regional UA training facility on the site. It will be one of four across the country. It won't change the annual pipe trades train-the-trainer program, but will bring in UA instructors from the region, year-round.

KEEPING AN EYE on the proceedings at the United Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Instructor Training Program are (l-r) IU Rep. Joe Sposita, IU General Secretary Thomas Patchell, IU President Martin Maddaloni and host Local 190 Business Manager Ron House.