You only get out of something what you put into it, says the president of a leading supplier of automation, tele-operation and remote-control technology to the mining industry. Hard-Line President Walter Siggelkow unveiled a $250,000 investment over five years to boost the Bharti School of Engineering's mechatronics program.
The funds will be used to upgrade what will now be called the Hard-Line Mechatronic and Automation Lab with new computer work stations and furnishings, multimedia equipment for interactive teaching and student field trips to Hard-Line facilities.
“If no one invests in our university to get the students the right tools and the best labs in which to study and practice, then we aren't going to get the students we need,” Siggelkow said at an Oct. 24 press conference to announce the partnership.
Hard-Line has already utilized students from Laurentian. There are more than 100 people working for the company in Sudbury alone, and many of those employees come from a number of different departments at Laurentian, not just engineering.
“The faculty at the university in the engineering department are really doing great things with the money we invest,” Siggelkow said. “Really, what we're doing is investing in the people. “At the end of the day, I want a return on my investment, and the return in this instance is the students who come to work for me. We already have a partnership with the university, and we're hoping this investment just helps provide even more access for the students.
The Bharti School of Engineering has experienced tremendous growth and success over the past decade. Mechatronics graduates with specialized skills in engineering software and electrical systems are in increasing demand by leading companies such as Hard-Line, said Markus Timusk, director of the Bharti School of Engineering.
“Establishing our relationship with a leading company like Hard-Line, we're starting to collaborate more, and I look forward to great success in the future,” Timusk said. “Walter runs a tight shop, he has high expectations, and I think those expectations will be met by our students.”
“This donation shows a commitment to the Bharti School of Engineering and a confidence in Laurentian's students. Established in 1996, Hard-Line in Sudbury has a factory in Dowling. The company has recently purchased property in downtown Sudbury to accommodate an expansion, and to allow even more students to work there without having to commute to Dowling, Siggelkow said.
