28 November 2006
MINISTER PRAISES CROSS-BORDER ROBOTICS PROJECT
Minister for Employment and Learning, Maria Eagle, today helped celebrate the achievements of a robotics project at the North East Institute.
The North East Institute of Further and Higher Education, through its Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing Engineering, is involved in the EU INTERREG-funded RIM 21 project (Robotics and Integrated Manufacture for the 21st Century). The project created a successful cross-border partnership for manufacturing excellence between the North East Institute and the Institute of Technology, Sligo and has opened up the field of robotics manufacturing in the college.
The aim of RIM 21 was to assist engineering companies on both sides of the border to develop expertise in emerging technology areas. North East Institute and the Institute of Technology, Sligo have given manufacturers in their regions an advantage over global competitors through using robotic and computer integrated production to increase productivity.
Speaking at the celebration event, the Minister said: "What has made this robotics project so distinctive and such a resounding success is the combination of cross-border collaboration with positive strategic partnerships and the effective use of resources in bringing industry and education together."
As a result of the success, two engineering companies, FG Wilson Ltd and Motoman Robotics (UK) Ltd, have recently donated robotics equipment to North East Institute. Minister Eagle added: "The recent investment by local companies is clear evidence of the confidence that industry now has in the Further Education sector to deliver quality training."
Earlier at North East Institute, the Minister met three apprentices who were awarded gold and bronze medals in the recent UK Skillbuild competition, for Brickwork, Copper Pipework and Sheet Leadwork, respectively. The Brickwork apprentice Michael Broadley was also named Skillbuild 2006 UK Apprentice of the Year and now has the opportunity to go to Japan next year to represent the UK in the World Skills Competition.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- To deliver this project North East Institute and the Institute of Technology, Sligo secured funding from the INTERREG IIIA programme, administered by ICBAN, and is valued at approximately €1.9million.
- Since May 2005 a total of seven lecturing staff and 39 students have successfully completed an exchange programme between North East Institute and Institute of Technology, Sligo. To date the RIM 21 project has delivered in excess of 40 industrial training programmes providing training to 136 participants in both locations.
- Having utilised the highly competent technical staff and training resources in North East Institute, FG Wilson have now invested a Robotic Welding Training Cell within the Centre of Manufacturing Excellence in Ballymena.
- Michael Broadley recently won the UK Skillbuild Brickwork Competition with the opportunity to represent the UK at the World Skills Competition in Japan next year.
- Philip Beattie has recently won the British Plumbing Employers Confederation (BPEC) Plumbing Skills competition and is Young Plumber of the Year 2006.
- Neal Houston recently won the Bronze medal for Sheet Leadwork at the BPEC Plumbing Skills competition, his first time competing at National finals.
- Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
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