Tennessee Tech College of Engineering receives new laser welder | Education | herald-citizen.com

A major new gift to Tennessee Tech University’s College of Engineering is, quite literally, laser-focused on student success and hands-on learning.

ATC Automation and Robotics, a leading custom machinery manufacturer headquartered in Cookeville, donated a 480-volt laser welder to the college’s Department of Manufacturing and Engineering Technology.

The equipment, valued at $350,000 and emblazoned with the Tech logo, is housed in Tech’s Lewis Hall and will be utilized as part of the department’s metal manufacturing technology course, among other uses. It represents the latest act in a long history of support from ATC for Tech engineering causes.

“ATC has been a fixture of this community for about 50 years,” said Ethan Bernhardt, automation segment president and general manager of ATC’s Cookeville facility. “As we’ve grown, we always tried to find ways to give back to the community. We want to invest in higher education and vocational programs, and we’ve been partnering with Tennessee Tech for about 15 years now to develop a relationship that supports the university, invests in students and, in return, gives us a great pool of graduates who are potential applicants for employment within our facilities.”

Liz Humphrey, director of labs for Tech’s College of Engineering, adds that the equipment will allow Tech to bring modern technology to the age-old art of welding.

“ATC is a great partner because they invest in our students by providing modern equipment that reflects the ongoing innovation of manufacturing processes in industry,” said Humphrey. “Welding is an ancient discipline, but the laser welder allows students to learn the nuances of modern technology in welding at a smaller scale. This state-of-the-art design produces welds and cuts with great precision and repeatability, which gives limitless possibilities for its use.”

The laser welder’s arrival on campus comes as Tech’s College of Engineering has seen an explosion of activity and growth in recent months.

This semester alone, the college has set an all-time enrollment record, launched its new nuclear engineering degree program — only the second in the state — convened the inaugural World Nuclear Forum and held a grand opening for its state-of-the-art Ashraf Islam Engineering Building, the college’s first new engineering building in 50 years.

“The College of Engineering is stronger than ever thanks to the support of our donors, who continue to inspire us to lead engineering and computer science education in Tennessee,” said Joseph C. Slater, dean of Tech’s College of Engineering. “Beyond this technology investment to provide valuable training for our students, ATC’s deep partnership with the College of Engineering helps us ensure we are delivering a next-generation manufacturing workforce that is critical for the state’s collective future. We especially appreciate ATC as the college’s premier industry partner for continued strong support of our students’ needs.”

Learn more about the Tech College of Engineering’s Department of Manufacturing and Engineering Technology at tntech.edu/met.

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