The Ontario government recently celebrated the opening of the Mechatronics Simulation and Demonstration Centre at Seneca College. This innovative facility is the first of its kind in Ontario and is designed to help students develop the skills they need to find jobs in Ontario’s manufacturing industry.
Mechatronics is a field of engineering that integrates electrical, mechanical and computer engineering to make manufacturing more efficient. Graduates of this field can be employed in a number of manufacturing industries, such as aerospace, materials processing, machine building, automotive, transportation, building technologies and mining.
Ontario invested $651,000 to support the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for the facility as part of the 2015 Budget. This equipment will be used to help simulate manufacturing scenarios to allow students to practice and improve industry processes in real life. The new equipment includes a mechatronic manufacturing training system; 20 simulation computers; 10 specialized computers; 10 industrial controllers; 10 pneumatic robots; and 24 industrial motors.
“Together we are helping to provide Ontario with the highly skilled graduates the province needs to continue to thrive in the complex and sophisticated world of advanced manufacturing,” said David Agnew, president, Seneca College in a press release. “Our thanks to the Government of Ontario for its investment in this sophisticated teaching and learning environment and to Siemens, a global leader in advanced manufacturing and industry, for its commitment to Seneca in developing the first-of-its kind mechatronics centre in Ontario.”
In 2015, Siemens Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Seneca College and Sheridan College, permitting both institutes to offer the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program. By 2018, close to 1,000 Seneca students across eight programs will benefit from the Mechatronics Centre on an annual basis. Siemens Canada is currently collaborating with Seneca College on curriculum development, research and teaching in this field.
The government’s investment is part of Ontario’s Business Growth Initiative, which helps grow the economy and create jobs.
