WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Pennsylvania College of Technology students will continue to have access to a high-tech manufacturing system, thanks to an entrustment renewal.
Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik and Bihler of America Inc. have renewed for two years their entrustment of a Bihler 4 Slide-NC metal stamping and forming center.
The system combines state-of-the-art servo technology with four-slide forming. Four slides – driven by servo motors and controlled by a central computer – form metal coil stock into finished parts, such as brackets, fasteners, springs and electronic components. The production rate for the Bihler 4 Slide-NC can exceed 250 parts per minute.
“It’s an impressive machine that combines two manufacturing processes utilized in a wide variety of manufacturing applications,” said Howard W. Troup, assistant professor and co-department head of automated manufacturing and machining. “It allows the students to see how each process impacts the other. They can literally dissect each function. Our students design and build the tooling for the machine. Working with the system prepares students for what they will experience in industry.”
Students seeking a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology use the Bihler 4 Slide-NC in a variety of classes. For a current project, students are designing and building a die to make a set of tweezers in the unit, located in the college’s 12,200-square-foot Gene Haas Center for Innovative Manufacturing.
Based in Halblech, Germany, Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik is the world’s leading system supplier for automated manufacturing in stamping, forming, welding and assembly technology. Bihler of America is its U.S. distributor of automated manufacturing machines. Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik provided elements for the entrusted machine that was built by Bihler of America.
“Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik and Bihler of America are proud to announce our continued support of Penn College’s manufacturing engineering technology program,” said Karl Reed, project director for Bihler of America. “We are honored to partner with a premier technical education organization to help develop the next generation of skilled manufacturing professionals. We look forward to seeing students’ innovative tooling projects running on our Bihler 4 Slide-NC machine, which will provide them with valuable hands-on experience using industry-leading technology.”
According to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, the U.S. manufacturing industry may need up to 3.8 million new employees by 2033, and 1.9 million of those positions could be vacant if manufacturers fail to address the skills and applicant gaps.
“We are very grateful for our continued partnership with Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik and Bihler of America,” said Shanin L. Dougherty, senior corporate relations officer at Penn College. “Our students have benefited greatly from working on the metal stamping and forming center, so we are very excited to have access to this cutting-edge equipment for an additional two years. The generous entrustment helps put our students in the best position to succeed.”
Otto Bihler Maschinenfabrik and Bihler of America are members of the Golden Society ($500,000-$999,999) on the college’s Donor Wall. Bihler of America is also part of the college’s Corporate Tomorrow Makers program.
For information on manufacturing-related degrees and other programs offered by Penn College’s School of Engineering Technologies, call 570-327-4520 or visit www.pct.edu/et.
Penn College is a national leader in applied technology education. Visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.