Comau Pico Dedicates New Southeastern Regional Training Center

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Comau Pico–a leading automation systems integrator and supplier that is based in Southfield, Michigan–has announced the Education and Training Partnership for Workforce Development between with the Central Alabama Community College (CACC) in Alexander City, Alabama. The grand opening celebration of the new Betty Carol Graham Technology Center, which houses the robotic automation cell from Comau Pico, was held last September. There was a ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremony to mark the opening of the center and the CACC’s partnership between Comau Pico (CP) and Rockwell Automation (RA).

The facility will jointly host various industrial training programs for college students, continuing education students, and corporate training programs from Comau Pico and Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley and Reliance Electric), which will prepare young men and women for technical careers throughout the state.

Dignitaries from local, state, and federal governments attended the event hosted by the college, in addition to executives from CP and RA. CP Chief Operating Officer Andrea Pappagollo hoisted the CP flag and Vice-President Ray Kauffmann spoke during the ceremony. "This is truly an amazing accomplishment," said Kauffmann, who is vice president of body assembly. "We’re so proud to be associated with this magnificent facility. It’s a great day for Alexander City. It’s a great day for Comau Pico, and it’s a great day for Alabama because here we will illuminate the workforce and help displaced workers."

During the opening ceremony, state representative Betty Carol Graham moderated a panel discussion on the economic and educational growth of the state. The panel consisted of Charles McCrary, president of Alabama Power; David Bronner of the RSA; Jim Hayes, of the EDPA; and Roy Johnson, chancellor of the Alabama College System.

In association with the grand opening, the college and its partners hosted 2,500 high school students who toured the facility.

Comau Pico is the North American subsidiary of Comau, S.p.A., a global industrial automation company with sales exceeding $2 billion and ranked as one of the largest global suppliers of manufacturing equipment, systems, and robotics. Comau Pico primarily designs, builds, and installs integrated manufacturing systems for the transportation industry, specifically production of vehicular body structures and powertrain components servicing the automotive, heavy truck, agricultural/construction, aerospace, glass, and on/off-road recreational vehicle markets.

Comau Pico is one of North America’s largest systems integrators, shipping over 2,100 robots annually on integrated systems. To date, over 16,000 Comau Robots have been installed and are running in many different applications worldwide, such as spot welding, material handling, machining and press tending, assembly, adhesive applications, glass and rubber, and body welding assembly.

Comau Pico’s products include body welding and assembly systems, dies and molds, laser cutting and welding systems, paint systems, assembly systems, metal cutting systems, testing equipment, weld guns, roll beds, conveyors and pin clamps, material handling systems, robotics, and a full line of post-sale professional services products. Comau Pico Services Group provides professional technical and maintenance services, education and training products and services, industrial materials and management, and staffing and outsourced services, as well as retrofit and refurbishment services. Comau Pico celebrates it’s 65th year in this business during 2004.

For more information contact Robert S. Iossi at (773) 785-9086 ext. 4305, or send e-mail to bob.iossi@comaupico.com.