October 3, 2014 - New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), 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 (PLCs), network and drive hardware needed to create six new work stations.
The new high tech automation lab will include programming and implementation utilizing ControlLogix Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs), Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), 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 and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Through hands-on learning, students will acquire the high tech automation and process control skills required in these industries, thereby enhancing their professional value to prospective employers seeking NEIT graduates. “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. “ Because of the industry demand for individuals with automation and process control knowledge, NEIT designed its Electrical Engineering Technology program utilizing a unique combination of traditional electronics and electrical skills. The program focuses on microcontrollers, automation systems, electrical design, process control, network communications, data acquisition, SCADA systems, and advanced sensors.
Students utilize a hands-on, practical approach to master the required skills and later in the program develop and synthesize their own design project demonstrating the techniques they have acquired. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). “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.”
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs about 22,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.
About New England Institute of Technology
Under the leadership of President Richard I. Gouse, New England Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit technical college with an enrollment of more than 3,000 students and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. Founded in 1940, the college offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and on-line degrees in more than 40 technical and business programs. Each degree program is taught with a proven combination of technical expertise coupled with hands-on learning.
