New Pig gives The Rivet $20,000 to add laser welding tools

New Pig announced a $20,000 sponsorship for The Rivet at Discovery Space in State College, Pennsylvania, to add handheld laser welding equipment and safety training. The investment expands access for teens and adults to hands-on learning and skilled-trades career exploration in Central Pennsylvania.

Why it matters: - The donation gives Central Pennsylvania teens and adults access to a new pathway into welding and skilled-trades training. - The investment is designed to make a technical trade feel more approachable for beginners while still teaching real equipment, safety practices and workforce skills. - The sponsorship adds to local maker-space resources that support career exploration in manufacturing, fabrication and construction.

What happened: - New Pig Corporation announced a $20,000 sponsorship of The Rivet at Discovery Space during Maker Faire Happy Valley in State College, Pennsylvania. - The funding will bring a handheld laser welding system to The Rivet community makerspace. - New Pig also received recognition as a sponsor of Maker Faire Happy Valley for its ongoing support of The Rivet’s programs.

The details: - The sponsorship will fund a Theo MA1-35 handheld laser welding system and the complete setup needed to use it at The Rivet. - New Pig’s investment includes specialized helmets, laser safety curtains, operating supplies and professional equipment-operation and safety training for The Rivet team. - The system’s compact design and wire-feeding capability reduce some of the coordination required in traditional welding. - The welder will become a permanent resource at The Rivet. - The equipment will support hands-on instruction, workforce-development programming and career exploration. - New Pig also donated $10,000 in 2025 to help The Rivet buy two Bambu H2D 3D printers and materials. - New Pig is headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania. - Discovery Space is a nonprofit science center in State College, Pennsylvania, and The Rivet is its community makerspace.

Between the lines: - The sponsorship extends New Pig’s push to expand access to modern manufacturing tools in Central Pennsylvania. - The laser welding setup broadens The Rivet’s role from a general makerspace to a more direct workforce-development venue. - The earlier 3D-printer donation and the new welding investment suggest a longer-term strategy to build hands-on technical confidence among local learners.

What's next: - The Rivet will add the laser welding system to its permanent tool set. - The Rivet team will use the new equipment and training to support programming for teens and adults. - New Pig and Discovery Space are likely to continue positioning The Rivet as a place for practical skill-building and career discovery. - More information is available in the company's announcement.