College of Lake County

The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Gurnee is a world-class facility created by CLC to strengthen Lake County’s manufacturing workforce by providing industry-relevant education in high-demand, high-tech fields.

Since opening in fall 2022, the ATC has offered two associate degrees and nine certificates focused on Industrial Technology and Welding Fabrication Technologies, where students learn in immersive environments that replicate modern factory floors.

In the Industrial Technology program, students build high-wage skills by mastering the mechanical and electrical systems essential to today’s manufacturers, including hydraulics, pneumatics, and the programming of logic controllers used to troubleshoot complex automated machinery.

Simultaneously, the Welding and Fabrication program allows students to work with their hands in Illinois' largest training lab, acquiring versatile techniques in MIG, TIG, and stick welding. By learning to translate digital sketches and blueprints into masterfully manufactured steel using advanced tools like CNC plasma cutters and press brakes, students gain the precision skills necessary to transform raw materials into the essential products that drive the local and global economy.

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Verified as of 01/2026