Wynright Corporation and sister company Jervis B. Webb to help Lansing Community College train a new generation of mechatronics technicians

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wynright Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daifuku North America Holding Company and a leading U.S.-based provider of intelligent material handling systems, today announced that it and its sister company Jervis B. Webb have received a contract to provide automated warehouse technology for an innovative technical education program at Lansing Community College (LCC) in Lansing, Michigan. The college will use the Daifuku technology, including automated storage and retrieval (AS/RS), conveying and sortation systems, for a new robotics and automation training center supporting a new mechatronics technician degree program.

"As Michigans skilled workers retire, and the advances in technology continue, we will depend highly on the specialized workforce," said LCC President, Dr. Brent Knight. "In planning for the Colleges new Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME), we assembled an advisory board of 35 area industry leaders to ensure incorporation of cutting-edge technical tools and training for in-demand jobs. Daifuku technology was recommended for the supply chain realm."

Development of the CME began in the spring of 2015 when the Michigan Economic Development Corporation awarded the college a grant to purchase new technology and create a space necessary to meet the growing demand for highly skilled automation technicians in the area. The grant has enabled LCC to modify its engineering labs and expand its overall learning space from 14,000 square feet to nearly 27,000 square feet.

The CME, slated to open in the fall of 2016, will feature a real-world training environment with a robotic assembly line. The Daifuku warehouse technology will extend the training environment into the supply chain maintenance area, helping students gain skills and a deeper appreciation of the role of logistics in the manufacturing field.

Jervis B. Webb and Wynright, both subsidiaries of Daifuku Co., Ltd. are developing a manufacturing solution that will integrate Webbs inverted monorail, Automatic Guided Carts (AGC) and AGC software, with Wynrights Automotion® brand conveyor, and Fanuc, ABB, and Universal collaborative robots utilizing machine vision and various gripping techniques. The closed loop system will utilize conveyor and AGCs to transport parts between robotic stations where collaborative robots assemble, disassemble, load and unload product within the closed loop.

This project will allow LCC to develop a maintenance-focused curriculum around material handling equipment commonly found in an automotive manufacturing facility. The intent of this equipment is to provide a system that will function as a stand-alone closed loop system as well as individual modules able to run independently of one another.

"We are proud to be part of this important STEM initiative and especially pleased that the new LCC degree program will address automation issues beyond the plant floor. Getting the product from the plant floor to the eventual end user, efficiently and profitably can be as complex as producing it. Many new employment and business efficiency opportunities are emerging in this space and we are looking forward to working with LCC to help automotive and other industries to benefit from them," said Kevin Ambrose, CEO Wynright.

About Wynright Corporation

Wynright Corporation, a subsidiary of Daifuku North America Holding Company, is a leading provider of intelligent material handling systems. With more than 200 engineers in-house, the company designs, manufactures, integrates and installs a full spectrum of intralogistics solutions, offering both Wynright-branded and third-party equipment to meet client needs. These include leading-edge conveyor and sortation systems, voice- and light-directed order fulfillment equipment, a suite of warehouse controls & execution software, robotics, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), mezzanines, and structures, all backed by critical round-the-clock service and support.

Since its founding in 1972, Wynright has been a trusted partner to some of the worlds largest and fastest-growing companies, showing them how to use their space more efficiently to deliver improved productivity, today and tomorrow.

About Daifuku North America Holding Company

Daifuku North America Holding Company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with sales and manufacturing locations throughout the continent. It is comprised of Daifuku America Corporation, Jervis B. Webb Company, Elite Line Services, Inc. (ELS), and Wynright Corporation and is a global leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and service of innovative material handling technology such as automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyors, baggage handling systems, bulk handling systems, cleanroom systems and airport maintenance services. Daifuku North America specializes in integrated systems used in the automotive, airport, semiconductor, LCD equipment, food/beverage, bulk, warehousing and manufacturing industries.

About Jervis B. Webb Company

"Jervis B. Webb Company, a subsidiary of Daifuku North America Holding Company, is a leading developer of innovative material handling technology such as Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), conveyors, and baggage handling systems. For nearly a century Jervis B. Webb has been at the forefront of the material handing industry continuously developing innovations that have changed the way products are manufactured, moved and warehoused. Jervis B. Webb is headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., with manufacturing locations throughout North America."

About Lansing Community College

Lansing Community College is Michigans third largest community college with nearly 15,000 students attending each year. LCC offers courses in general education for those interested in transferring to a university, career and workforce development, developmental education and personal enrichment. To meet the professional development and training needs of regional employees, the college offers customized programs for credit, non-credit and continuing education. The University Center at LCC offers students the opportunity to earn bachelors and masters degrees from six partner universities on the downtown LCC campus. For more information, visit lcc.edu.