Last week, AYVA’s Jason Peng visited the University of the Fraser Valley’s (UFV) Automation and Robotics Lab where he had the opportunity to see two of KUKA’s KR6 Robots in action.

The pair of KR6 robots await orders from a remote computer with a programmed script of their operation.

UFV’s robotics instructor Avner Bachar awakens one of the robots to showcase what his students have programmed. In a matter of seconds the robot boots up and begins motioning, the actuators can be heard working the 6-degrees of freedom, and the sound of pneumatic hisses activating the vacuum gripper that Avner and his team cleverly devised using a 3D printed adapter. The robot then begins its job of picking and placing cups on a bottling station where it puts an empty cup onto a conveyor, waits for the cup to be filled, empties it into a reservoir tank and stacks it.

Avner notes that graduates have gone on to work in industry, anywhere from brewing companies to PLC control for egg-sorting in local farms.

Who knew robots could have such a delicate touch.

After a tour of the Trade Fair Didacta in Stuttgart, AYVA’s President, Dianne Beveridge, headed to Bosch Rexroth’s training facility, along with representatives from more than 20 countries.  The focus was on Bosch’s new i4.0 Mechatronics System with Open Core Engineering and an Active Cockpit to better support the Internet of Things (IOT) – all of which can be found in their factories around the world.  There was also considerable excitement around the APAS, Bosch’s new collaborative robot which has been winning numerous awards and accolades.

Emerging countries like India and Mexico, as well as Thailand and England, shared stories of Government, Industry and Academia coming together to create Centres of Excellence to better prepare students for highly skilled careers in Industry 4.0.  Unfortunately, Canada appears to be lagging behind with respect to such initiatives.  But just last month a Canadian delegation went to Gujaret in India to visit Smart Cities and institutions who are focusing on Industry 4.0 and IOT.

We at AYVA look forward to identifying and partnering with Colleges and Universities in Canada who would like to take the lead on this front.

We also explored ways to maximize student laboratory time and to drive project-based learning outcomes.  Several educators who were transforming their teaching labs using products from the NI Ecosystem were in attendance to share their successes.

It was a first-class event and we hope to identify a few academic thought leaders who can accompany us next year for NI Week 2018!

Kuka’s KR 3 AGILUS is ideal for use in 600 x 600 mm automation cells since it enables automation in confined spaces and reaches maximum performance in minimum space.

Thanks to its intelligent design, the KR 3 AGILUS is cost-effective, requires minimal maintenance and is highly reliable. The KR 3 AGILUS is optimized for the production of the smallest components and products. For example, for applications such as the assembly of small parts, Pick & Place, screw fastening, brazing, adhesive bonding, packaging, testing & checking and much more.

Wherever minimum cycle times and maximum output in production are needed, the KR 3 AGILUS – one of the fastest robots in its class – is ideally suited for the task.

Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) Instrumentation students now have access to a brand new process controls lab, fully outfitted with 12 PIGNAT CEB/2000 units.

The multi-process control trainers were installed and commissioned earlier this year by PIGNAT engineer Regis Rodriguez.

The equipment will move to the brand new Industrial Training and Technology Center once it is completed in 2018.

The CEB/2000 unit was custom-designed for the needs of TRU’s Max Tinsley and is now available as a standard model from PIGNAT.

TRU’s Instrumentation and Control Technician Apprenticeship Faculty Member Max Tinsley

New trades apprenticeship cuts BC wait time

Last week, Regis Rodriguez, the product specialist from Lyon, France was onsite to commission the new Mixed Adsorption Desorption: Gas & Liquid Adsorption, the latest addition to their state-of-the-art labs. Paige’s labs already boast a Spray Dryer and a Controlled Reverse Osmosis from this world-class industrial manufacturer.

AYVA has partnered with PIGNAT to equip Chemical Engineering as well as Environmental Engineering Labs at colleges and universities across Canada. Customers appreciate the quality and industrial components but what impresses them most is PIGNAT’s willingness to customize the products to best suit their needs. Educators can choose whether to be trained in France or to have an experienced chemical engineer from PIGNAT conduct on-site training.

Click here for an overview of PIGNAT’s training equipment.

Mixed Adsorption Desorption: Gas & Liquid Adsorption
Spray Dryer
Controlled Reverse Osmosis

(Originally Published in the Bosch Rexroth Canada Newsletter)

Technology is changing at a rapid rate and institutions of higher learning must keep pace to remain relevant in this changing industry. Mohawk College in Hamilton, ON has risen to this challenge by partnering with Bosch Rexroth Canada to keep up to date with technological changes in the manufacturing industry.

The relationship between Mohawk and Rexroth began in the mid 80’s, when the Fluid Power Program was developed with the aid of training systems and curriculum from Rexroth. This original training hardware has served over 6,000 students at the college over the past 30 years. Recently, Mohawk College recognized that it was time for a technology update and reached out to Bosch Rexroth Canada to supply new hydraulic and pneumatic training systems.  This will ensure that the students at Mohawk College learn on equipment from the leading edge technology supplier in the industry.

These new systems will facilitate training on manual, electrical, and PLC control of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. The hydraulic training systems will also accommodate open and closed loop proportional position control and are expandable to additional technologies to facilitate future program growth. All of these changes are in anticipation of the fourth industrial revolution which will create a gap in the industry. Bosch Rexroth, an industry leader, has partnered with Mohawk College to ensure that they are adequately prepared to help fill the gap that will be created.

AYVA is proud to partner with this best-in-class manufacturer to provide industry-grade training systems to Canadian Colleges and Universities.  Our President, Dianne Beveridge, will be traveling to Stuttgart, Germany next week to visit Bosch Rexroth’s Drive and Control Academy and to attend the Trade Fair Didacta.  Stay tuned for updates on her visit!

Pictured above are the Bosch Training Stands at Mohawk College.