University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton recently received a donation of a robotic cell from Tyson Foods. The cell was previously a training device used at their TMAC (Tyson Manufacturing Automation Center) facility. It has an HMI operator station, dual conveyors, vision system, IRB 360 Flexpicker, and IRB 1200 robots. This new robot cell will benefit students by providing them another opportunity to work with equipment that is used in industry. It will allow students to put cross-curricular skills into action on one piece of machinery. This experience would not be possible without the support and guidance of industry partners such as Tyson Foods. A view of the robot arm through the glass enclosure of the cell. The control panel located outside of the cell. A view inside of the machine from the end of the conveyor belt.

 Joey South, second-year UACCM Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology student, has been named a 2021 New Century Workforce Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship.  “Joey’s being named to this honor is a first for UACCM,” said Phi Theta Kappa advisor, Mat Herrman. “His being awarded this honor shows that all students can be acknowledged at any level – locally, regionally, or nationally – when they put forth the effort to demonstrate their best work. We are so proud of his accomplishment.” This scholarship is the first of its kind to support students at associate degree-granting institutions on a national scale as they plan to enter the workforce upon the completion of a degree or certificate. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. New Century Workforce Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities, and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. Over 2,0...

IMMT Instructor Brian Lum demonstrates the ABB robot to student Parker Lee. UACCM’s accomplished Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology (IMMT) program has received a major boost thanks to a gift from Tyson Foods: an ABB Flex Trainer robot. The UACCM Foundation received the donation through a collaborative grant between the company and the Office of Skills and Development and the Arkansas Department of Commerce. The total value of the donation— including the robot, instructor certification, and the licensing software—was $200,000. At UACCM, the robot will provide students an opportunity to train on another piece of equipment that is critical to the workforce. To be fully prepared for an economy that continues to shift to automation, the robot has a plethora of uses present in major companies—Ford Motor Co. uses it to hold pieces into place during vehicle assembly, Mercedes Benz uses it to paint, and Tyson uses it for packaging. In Arkansas, there are many of these ...

To recognize Hispanic Heritage Month, IMMT Student Adan Morales Hernandez shares his background, culture, and passion for technology. IMMT Student Adan Morales Hernandez Adan Morales Hernandez immigrated to the United States from Mexico and quickly found an interest in technology. He has not only found a home but has thrived as a student in the Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology program at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. In many ways, his life story is typical of the American saga about immigrants searching for opportunities and joining a melting pot. At a young age, he learned English, and he adopted new traditions common in the U.S. But even many years after his immigration, his native culture that emphasizes community still drives him, and he is interested about issues that affect Hispanic Americans.  His story is increasingly common at UACCM, which has a growing Hispanic student population. Student's journey to the US...