Rockwell Automation Connected Enterprise Lab Opens at Cleveland State University

CLEVELAND, October 18, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Cleveland State University’s Washkewicz College of Engineering celebrated the grand opening of the Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) Connected Enterprise Laboratory on Sept. 28.

The university described the Rockwell-designed lab as an ultra-modern, high-tech, and hands-on learning environment providing students with access and instruction on the same types of advanced manufacturing equipment used across industry today.

“The relationship with Rockwell Automation goes back many years,” said Joanne Belovich, interim dean of the College of Engineering. “Our goals are really the same: to provide updated equipment for our students to learn the newest and best technologies, and to graduate students with skills that could be applied to many industries and employers, including Rockwell Automation.”

Belovich touted the lab as “fully Industry 4.0, connecting manufacturing automation and the Industrial Internet of Things” and the college’s latest component to fulfill its mission to produce ready-to-go engineers.

The lab includes a lecture space filled with cutting-edge electronic teaching tools, programmable logic controllers, human-machine interfaces, and more. With 14 workstations accommodating 28 students, the lab’s automation equipment and programming environment allows students to write code, upload it to controllers, wire inputs and outputs, and then utilize the system to control and automate a wide range of applications in real time.

“This is an opportunity for all engineering students – freshman to seniors, to MC2 STEM High School students – to do their best learning about automation, advanced manufacturing, and robotics,” said Rockwell’s Jeff Petro, senior manager of business operations, Software and Control.

Petro has been Rockwell’s executive sponsor of the  CSU relationship since 2014 and is a CSU alumnus. Marzell Brown, a member of Rockwell’s Global Academic Organization and IoT engineering and academic enablement manager, coordinated the lab’s development and implementation and led training sessions for CSU staff on how to use equipment.

“This is a proud day for CSU,” said Cleveland State President Harlan Sands. “When leaders of colleges and schools engage in great creative partnerships with the business community and with Rockwell investing in us and our students, that creates momentum.”

Read more about the Rockwell Automation Connected Enterprise Laboratory at CSU and how Rockwell Automation is helping to prepare the workforce of tomorrow.