OPCMIA’s Crafts are Both Time-Honored and On the Cutting Edge of Technological Change

Concrete

OPCMIA members place and finish concrete in a wide range of structures. The proper use of this rock-solid material requires skilled workers who are trained to be artisans.

Famous concrete structures include the Hoover Dam, the Panama Canal, and the Roman Pantheon. Concrete and its related products are all around you and are often taken for granted. Today, it is the most widely used human-made material (measured by tonnage). It is the foundation of your home or office, it is used to make the sidewalks and roads that transport you, and it lends its strength and versatility to build dams and power plants to light your way.

Plaster

OPCMIA members apply various plaster products in a wide range of settings. The use of the varied forms of this product in the wall and ceiling industry requires skilled workers who are trained to be artisans.

As durable as the ancient pyramids of Egypt, and as decorative as the Palace of Versailles, plaster is not just an old fashioned product. Thousands of years after its refinement as a building material, plaster still provides durable interior and exterior walls, it decorates our shopping malls and amusement parks, and it provides fire resistance and durability in our offices and schools. It is even used for props and scenery on Hollywood sets.

Are You Interested in a Career in One of the OPCMIA Crafts?

The OPCMIA ITF provides essential training both for workers entering our trades and for mid-career journeypeople. Combining classroom teaching and hands-on experience, it involves learning the skills and techniques specific to each craft, understanding the properties and uses of materials, maximizing productivity, and ensuring safety on the job.