Sinclair, Motoman partner on robotics training

Sinclair Community College and Yaskawa Motoman Robotics announced a partnership Wednesday to develop new advanced manufacturing and automation training programs for the region’s workforce.

The agreement will bring together technology experts from Sinclair and Motoman to create job-focused certification training on intelligent systems, including robotics, advanced manufacturing and additive manufacturing, said Deb Norris, vice president for Sinclair Workforce Development.

“Advanced manufacturing is still our leading industry here in the Dayton region and it has some of the best, highest-paying jobs,” Norris said.

College officials said the programs are being developed for Sinclair’s non-credit corporate college that opened in May at Austin Landing, near local technology companies such as Motoman Robotics and Teradata Corp. The programs also will extend to Sinclair’s academic campus in downtown Dayton.

Norris said the partnership will involve the investment of human resources and facilities from both Sinclair and Motoman.

“This partnership with Sinclair will leverage our combined industrial and education expertise to develop new advanced robotic manufacturing initiatives and robotics training and certification models that will address the increasing demand for talent now and into the future,” said Steve Barhorst, Motoman Robotics president and chief operating officer, in a statement.

Motoman Robotics, a division of Yaskawa America, is a global robotics manufacturer headquartered in Miamisburg. The company employs more than 350 people locally.

Sinclair’s proposed new 1-mill levy to go before Montgomery County voters in November would include funding for information technology and advanced manufacturing programs, said Adam Murka, a Sinclair spokesman.

“Sinclair is always looking for ways to put resources into these areas because that’s where the jobs of the future are going to be,” Murka said.

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