Procurement News Notice |
|
| PNN | 7378 |
| Work Detail | A $1.5 million construction and equipment project by Baxter International Inc., is helping Arkansas State University-Mountain Home expand its mechatronics program at the Technical Center. Money was not being exchanged between the school and Baxter International Inc., ASUMH Chancellor Robin Myers said. The expansion is on the north and west side of the Technical Center, where 4,300 square feet will be added to the approximately 21,700-square-foot facility, totaling about 26,000 square feet when finished. “They’re making a huge commitment,” Myers said. The project is set to come to completion by the end of the month — and most of the equipment will be in and installed by early October. School officials plan on hosting a ribbon-cutting open house by mid-October. The programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and robotics will be located in the front area. On the side room, there’ll be a machining center. Baxter International Inc. is looking at five years to 20 years from now, and it realizes the project is benefiting the company in the long run because the people who are trained at the college will be working for them in the future, Myers said. This is a partnership where the college is attempting to respond to the needs of Baxter International Inc., he added. The Lab is increasing its workforce, creating a need for highly skilled employees. There are 85 students who are taking mechatronics this semester: A group in the morning, one during the day and one at night. Sixty of these students work at Baxter International Inc. A total of 16 students are taking automotive classes, 42 in the welding and 15 in the heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) classes. All of these students are in the postsecondary program. This will allow Baxter International Inc., to have a workforce that can complete the tasks it needs to get done, Myers said. In the end, there will be more people employed — and more people employed will be making money because of their skillset, he said. “They see this benefiting them across a whole generation of employees,” he added. Mechatronics is the combination of electronics and the use of mechanization, which could be robots or just automated equipment that’s not actually a robot but at least has movements and the use of a programmable logic controller. “A mechatronics person is someone who’s capable of troubleshooting or working on equipment,” Myers said. That person also has the technical skills to diagnose a programming or electrical problem. Myers said he’s “pleased” to be partnering with Baxter Lab and “thrilled” that it chose to support education in the area. “They’re looking at this as a long-term investment,” he said. Dean of the School of Business and Technology for ASUMH, Karen Heslep, said the job outlook for the mechatronics degree is “actually very good in our area.” Heslep added the school is “confident” to produce graduates who meet employers’ needs. While in school, students have the option to enroll in the employment strategy course, which has an emphasis on developing professionalism in the workforce and building resume. Students are also encouraged to have their resume on file at the career placement office in case an employer wants to hire. Some local employers include Eaton Corp., Micro Plastics, Inc. and Actronix Inc. For the 2015-216 school year, 13 students received a certificate of proficiency in mechatronics, a one-semester program, five obtained a technical certificate and three received an associate of applied science, a two-year degree. |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Construction |
| Entry Date | 15 Oct 2016 |
| Source | http://www.baxterbulletin.com/story/news/local/2016/09/06/baxter-international-helps-asumh-expand-technical-center/89933100/ |
