News Article

College opens automation lab


12/6/2000 4:27:29 PM


College of the North Atlantic, in partnership with Seimens Canada Ltd. and ACOA, recently opened its automation lab in St. John's.


Daniel Groulx, Eastern Regional Manager for Seimens Canada Ltd., presented college President Pamela Walsh with a cheque for $2,000 to be used for scholarships.

December 4, 2000 - With the support of Siemens Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Canada-Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement, the global power of innovation has come to College of the North Atlantic with the opening of its new Electrical Automation Lab at the St. John’s campus.

On hand for the official opening were: Pamela Walsh, president, College of the North Atlantic and Moya Cahill, chair, Board of Governors; Sandra Kelly, Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology; Gerry Byrne, MP, Humber - St. Barbe- Baie Verte, representing ACOA; and D.L. Leslie, Siemans Canada.


The new facility – a simulator of equipment used by such industries as paper making and mining – will prepare students to operate automation equipment for companies in these industries. Automation products are no longer solitary devices in the industrial environment – the lone on/off buttons on plant equipment. Instead, in order to maintain production and profitability, they must be capable of transmitting information immediately and accurately to company databases. This communication capability is a requirement of every type of automation system used in the world today.

Training students to deal with today’s industry requirements is a priority of College of the North Atlantic and now the college has one of the finest and most modern automation training laboratories in Canada.

“It will provide our students with the ability to connect, program, test, debug and monitor complex automation circuitry in a controlled, multi-networked environment,” says Ms. Walsh, College president.

Industry, Trade and Technology Minister Sandra C. Kelly said: “It is exciting to see this new Electrical Automation Lab being established at the College of the North Atlantic. This is sure to open up a world of possibilities as our students will be better prepared for opportunities in growing industries, such as mining, oil and gas and manufacturing.”

“Innovation is the key to economic success for small businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Mr. Byrne. “ACOA is committed to supporting innovation with investments such as this new lab. By investing in the College we are supporting the infrastructure necessary to produce skilled workers for the new economy.”

D. L. Leslie, Corporate Communications, Siemens Canada, recognizes this facility as one of the best in Canada. “This facility is capable of delivering the broad spectrum in programmable logic controllers, variable speed drivers, human-machine interfaces and data-communication networks,” he says.

Electrical, Electronic, Instrumentation and Mechanical Engineering Technology students throughout the province will be able to make use of this facility located at the Engineering Technology Centre (St. John’s). Other users will include technicians and technologists associated with the offshore, pulp and paper, fishing, mining, local manufacturing and clients of Siemens.

The College recently had groups from China and Peru interested in hooking up to the lab to train their students. All they need to connect is the software and a computer terminal. The lab is designed so that students anywhere in the province can use it.

Instructors from Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation will complete four weeks of comprehensive training over the next year (which began on November 6).

Funding for the lab was provided by ACOA ($231,250), Siemans Canada ($160, 721), the College (in kind), and the Canada-Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement which is administered by the Department of Industry, Trade and Technology and ACOA ($231,250).



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For more information contact:

Stephen Lee
Communications Officer
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7928
email: stephen.lee@northatlantic.nf.ca