MATC students perform all wiring and programming of VFDs and PLCs in the Automation Laboratory.
According to Terese Dressel, Interim Associate Dean, School of Technology and Applied Science, the donation is the result of a partnership between the college and ABB.
"Strong partnerships with business and industry, and donations like this help the college offer training on state-of-the art equipment, ensuring that our graduates have the skills necessary for today's workplace," said Dressel.
Mark Porubsky, Electronic Technology Department Chair, believes the equipment ABB donated gives MATC's Electronic Technology department the opportunity to advance its automation program with technology that will provide students an educational platform most representative of current industry standards.
Previously, MATC students interfaced the VFD's and PLC's using discrete wire methods but ABB's donation now allow students to work on interfacing motors, VFD's and PLC's, using both discrete and digital interfacing methods. "The changing automation market now requires our students to be able to interface using digital communications methods such as Ethernet/IP and Modbus/TCP," said Tom Heraly, Electronics Instructor for Automation.
In addition to MATC's automation lab, separate PLC's and motor controls will be an integral part of the Joint Apprenticeship program campus equipment. These controls will provide continuing education opportunities for current students or those entering re-training programs, focusing on re-tooling skills to match today's current workforce requirements.
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