New England Tech Establishes New Automation Lab in Response to Workforce Needs

New England Tech Establishes New Automation Lab in Response to Workforce Needs

Douglas H. Sherman, Senior Vice President and Provost at New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), has announced that the college has collaborated with Rockwell Automation, Inc. in the development of a new automation lab to be utilized by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree program in Electrical Engineering Technology (ELT).

Beginning with the start of the fall quarter on October 6, 2014, students enrolled in the ELT program will have the opportunity to learn high tech skills on the latest equipment found in industry. Rockwell Automation personnel and New England Tech faculty worked together to procure the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), network and drive hardware needed to create six new work stations.

“NEIT’s new automation lab will prepare students to design, operate and maintain advanced manufacturing systems. These systems integrate control and information, enabling customers to connect their enterprise,” said Blake Moret, senior vice president, Rockwell Automation and chair of the Manufacturing Institute. “NEIT is providing students with the skills required to compete successfully in a global market."

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The new high tech automation lab will include programming and implementation utilizing ControlLogix Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC’s), Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s), power monitoring, and multiple industrial networks, including EthernetIP.

It will also give students the opportunity to develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens for local operator interface andSupervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.

Sherman stated, “We are grateful to Rockwell Automation for the support and expertise provided to New England Tech in establishing our new automation lab.  Our students now have the opportunity to train on the same state-of-the-art equipment used in the automation and process control industry. These skills will allow our graduates to hit the ground running as they enter the labor market.”

For more information on NEIT’s Electrical Engineering Technology program, contact the Admissions Office at 800-736-7744 or by email at [email protected].