Niagara College welcomed 25 cutting-edge manufacturing simulators to its Media, Trades and Technology division this 2018/2019 school year.
The division recently secured a $500,000 grant through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities Skills Catalyst Fund which supports projects that build stronger links between skills development and the demands of the new economy.
Students play with spinning tops created by the CNC lathe from a solid block of plastic.
The recent additions to NC, including Fanuc robots, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine, 3D rapid-prototyping printers, a CNC lathe, and PLC trainers, will play an important role in NC’s new outreach initiatives to engage a younger generation in advanced manufacturing.
“By introducing youth to state-of-the art mechatronics, robotics and automation technologies and concepts, we’re helping to ensure Niagara has a new generation of skilled, talented and passionate young professionals to maintain a competitive edge in advanced manufacturing,” said Vincent Shaikh, dean of Media, Trades and Technology at NC.
The project aims to encourage students to enter the industry and provide them with the skills to do so. Some of the simulators and training equipment will be used to demonstrate advanced manufacturing skills at Niagara’s elementary and high schools, with a focus on encouraging women and other traditionally under-represented groups to pursue a career in the industry.
“Part of our agreement for the funding was that we would take [the equipment] to recruitment events in the community to showcase them to younger students in the hopes of getting them interested in technology early on,” said Zoe McGhie, School of Trades program coordinator and project liaison for Skills Catalyst for the School of Technology.
Students learn how the CNC lathe’s computer program is programmed to cut and grind an object to the desired size and specifications.
The project began on Jan. 24 at the Niagara Launch Centre at Seaway Mall with an interactive exhibit of advanced manufacturing equipment for students of St. Mary Catholic Elementary school. Students witnessed a demo of a CNC machine and learned how the machine operates and what it is used for. Instructors demonstrated how the CNC lathe’s computer is loaded with a program that tells it which cuts and grinds to make to a block of plastic to create a spinning top. Through a discussion about the industry, students explored programs and future careers in technology and advanced manufacturing.
“Many students don’t see these kinds of career opportunities in their everyday life and it gets them thinking about what the possibilities are for their future,” said Deanna Desson, teacher at St. Mary Catholic Elementary school.
By fostering a passion for this industry, NC’s outreach project is the first step towards developing Niagara’s next generation of advanced manufacturing industry experts.
Through the unique exposure to state-of-the art technology, Niagara’s future industry experts will enter their advanced manufacturing education and workforce with a better understanding of industry needs and trends.
On Jan. 17, over 100 industry representatives attended the monthly Niagara Industrial Association meeting hosted by NC’s Media, Trades and Technology division to tour the labs containing the state-of-the-art equipment.
“We also show the CNC lathe off to industry partners so they can see what we’re doing at the College and show them that our students are working on the same machines they work on in their shops. We’re training our students on exactly the same machines they will use in the workforce,” said McGhie.
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- Industry representatives tour the labs at Niagara College during the Niagara Industrial Association meeting.
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- Co-op student Nathan Robert from the Mechanical Engineering Technology program assists with a demonstration.
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- President Dan Patterson addresses industry partners.
