Nephron donates equipment to Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College

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Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corp. has donated welding equipment to Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College as part of a partnership aimed at helping students compete for advanced manufacturing jobs.

Nephron, a West Columbia-headquartered developer and producer of generic respiratory medication, purchased and donated a state-of-the-art orbital welder to the school. The orbital welder, from N.C.-based Liburdi Dimetrics Corp., is used for stainless steel piping.

Orbital welding is a method of connecting piping using a continuous, 360-degree rotating process.

“OCtech is one of our state’s real treasures and a workforce development powerhouse,” Nephron CEO Lou Kennedy said in a news release. “As our manufacturing footprint continues to grow, Nephron is looking for the very best employees, including skilled orbital welders. OCtech is an invaluable resource for these employees, we are excited to offer students the chance to train on a piece of equipment we donated, and we look forward to working with OCtech for years to come.”

Nephron, which also operates a 503B outsourcing facility and recently opened a diagnostics lab, has a warehouse in Calhoun County.

“Lou Kennedy and Nephron have been good corporate partners in South Carolina for many years, and OCtech is excited to be among them,” Walt Tobin, president of Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, said. “We have a long history of preparing our students for good jobs and great careers, and the addition of the orbital welder helps our college continue that legacy.”