UNI Economic Development Administration University Center educates manufacturers on the possibilities of cobots
As a joint effort between UNI’s Institute for Decision Making, Strategic Marketing Services and Advance Iowa, the US Economic Development Administration University Center (UNIUC) focuses on enhancing the support system for business innovation and entrepreneurship development across Iowa.
On Tuesday, June 27, UNIUC will cohost an automation summit at the Hawkeye Community College Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center in Waterloo on cobot automation. The event is presented in collaboration with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI), Hawkeye Community College and Kinetic Technologies and will center around cobot robots.
Local manufacturers, workforce organizations and national cobot leaders will take part in a one-day informative and interactive deep-dive into how businesses can bring cobot automation to their daily operations. Cobot automation can address a range of areas in manufacturing from welding, quality control, palletizing, boxing, gluing and sealing to machine tending, polishing, bin picking and placing.
The event is geared toward manufacturers of any size as well as those interested in workforce solutions and automation. Attendees will get hands-on experience with cobot exhibits, solutions for their workforce challenges, best practices, and an opportunity to ask experts how they are implementing these technologies in their industries. Visit the Iowa ABI website to register.
“I am continually impressed at the resourcefulness of our Iowa manufacturers,” said Mike Ralston, ABI President. “The first Cobot Automation Summit held in Algona attracted participants from over two hours away. Solutions for workforce and efficiency are often a major draw, but the strong interest for this event demonstrates manufacturers’ willingness to innovate, evolve and compete."
UNI became a University Center in 2013. Awards have focused on creating regional entrepreneurship initiatives, business retention and expansion, and strengthening the network of statewide service providers working together to support innovation. The focus has been to work with economic developers in the Cedar Valley and has recently expanded to include statewide economic development initiatives, including the Iowa Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium. Learn more at https://bcs.uni.edu/eda-university-center.