Keywords
Citation
(2002), "BMW manufacturing donates robots for educational use", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929fab.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
BMW manufacturing donates robots for educational use
BMW manufacturing donates robots for educational use
Keywords: BMW, Robots, Education
BMW Manufacturing Corp. has donated 42 robots and robot controllers to the South Carolina Department of Education to be used in vocational schools throughout the state (see Plates 1 and 2).
The Education Department has identified 16 vocational schools to receive the robots for use in the statewide Vocational Technologies program. ABB, the robot manufacturer, has donated sets of training and user manuals.
The robots were used in the Body Shop for the Z3 roadster, which ended production in June 2002. Two BMW associates suggested that the robots be donated to the vocational schools rather than scrapping them.
Plate 1
BMW manufacturing Corp. have donated 42 robots and robot controllers to 16
vocational schools throughout South Carolina in the US
Plate 2
“Education is a key to preparing the future workforce, and these robots will be a great asset in developing students’ technical skills and experiences with robotics”, said Robert Hitt, BMW’s manager for Media and Public Affairs.
“This is a great partnership between BMW and South Carolina’s secondary schools”, said B.T. Martin, who works with vocational school programs at the Department of Education. “It is an opportunity for schools to get state-of- the-art technology while preparing kids for the work force. It is an excellent opportunity”.
BMW Manufacturing Corp. is a subsidiary of BMW AG, Munich. In addition to the South Carolina manufacturing facility, BMW’s North American subsidiaries include an information technology consulting and systems integration firm in South Carolina; sales, marketing and financial operations in the United States, Canada and throughout Latin America; a production facility in Mexico; and a design firm in California.
For further information, contact: Bunny S. Richardson of BMW Manufacturing Corp., Tel: +1-864-989-5523; Fax: +1-864- 989-5527; E-mail: bunny.richardson@bmwmc.com