Indiana’s Vincennes University (VU) opened the facility in March to support its two-year associate degree program in computer integrated manufacturing and robotics as well as robotic training courses in its workforce development program.
ABB will supply ICAT with industrial robots and related peripherals, including eight FlexArc welding cells, four IRB 260 palletizers, three IRB 4600s, 12 IRB 140s and two used IRB 140s for service and maintenance training. ABB will also provide software and controllers. ABB equipped eight of the IRB 140s with TrueView, the company’s vision system.
Students at ICAT will receive training in robotic welding and plasma cutting; picking, packing and palletizing; machine tending, material handling and product assembly; and advanced vision-related programming.
ICAT will be ABB’s third authorized training center in the U.S., joining the headquarters location in Auburn Hills, Mich., and an auxiliary facility in Birmingham, Ala.
In addition to the equipment, ABB will also provide unlimited training for VU staff at its flagship training facility in Auburn Hills, full design and electrical engineering support of the robotic installations at ICAT and potential field training of VU students at trade shows, new industrial system installations and other industry-related activities.
“VU has been at the forefront of advanced manufacturing education and training for many years and was one of the first schools to offer a degree in robotic technology back in 1983,” says Dick Helton, president of VU. “We couldn’t be more excited about our new relationship with ABB; they understand our educational goals and have been a great partner in helping shape the vision for enhancing our programs and making the ICAT one of the finest facilities of its kind in the nation.”
