Six-figure automation line to bolster advanced engineering
A £200k automation cell is set to boost the Marches’ advanced engineering capability.
The system was unveiled at In-Comm Training’s Telford Technical Academy last week, to give learners access to component nesting and sensing, robotic operation, PLC programming and interfacing systems.
Funded through the Local Skills Improvement Framework and the Marches Education Partnership, the new facility was demonstrated for the first time in front of more than 45 industry leaders from Collins Aerospace, HS Marston, Magna Cosma Casting, Autoneum, CEL Sheet Metal and VA Technology.
It is anticipated that hundreds of learners will be trained on it every year in four courses ranging from one-day Level 3 Cell Operator and 4-day Level 3 Robotic Programming to an extensive EAL-accredited Industrial Robotic Technology qualification and a BTEC Level 4 in Automation, Robotics and Programmable Logic Controllers.
A further £75k private investment will soon be made by In-Comm Training which will create a dedicated fluid power training suite.
Paul Hodgetts, Business Development Manager at In-Comm Training, commented: “Our approach has always been to listen to what companies want and we’ve been hearing for a long time that they need flexible and modular courses that can deliver automation skills that have a real impact on the shop floor.
“We held an industry meeting earlier this year and, due to further feedback we received, we tailored the cell and its operations even more.
“With the help of the Marches Education Partnership, we now have an unrivalled six-axis robotic automation line that you would only normally find in industry-leading businesses.”
He continued: “Located at our Telford Technical Academy, this will be available to SMEs, large businesses and OEMs in the Marches and West Midlands Combined Authority area, who need support in upskilling or training new staff in some of the latest robotic and automation skills. There was so much interest, we actually took several bookings for the courses on the Day.”
Installation of the robotic and automation cell has been completed by Telford-based Bauromat, who has worked with In-Comm Training to ensure the line represents what learners will be working on now and in the future.
The latest addition to the T54 facility will help existing engineers upskill or reskill in a new engineering discipline, providing companies with a more agile workforce and one that is prepared for the move to more automation and digital transformation.
