Delivery and set-up of eight ABB motor drives to the electronics lab at Waukesha County Technical College (Pewaukee, WI) “provides students hands-on access to the latest drives technology, as part of the program's focus on industrial electrics and drive applications," said Diane Sutton, of the Wisconsin Technical College Foundation (WTCF).

"We are extremely pleased to receive these; state-of-the-art equipment is critical to helping us prepare our students for using the latest technology as they enter the workplace." The unique ACS 600 drives feature open-loop Direct Torque Control (DTC) technology, which eliminates the need for installing encoders on the machines that plant personnel build, noted Chuck Kalin, director, industrial sales, ABB Inc. (New Berlin, WI), automation technology products division, drives and power electronics.

WCTC Electronics instructor Jesse Stuller said the drives would be used as part of teaching the general electronics curriculum that comprises the college's two-year program. Dennis Miller, a WCTC instructor and a senior technical instructor at ABB University at ABB's New Berlin facility, noted the motor controllers will be critical for the course he teaches on drive applications, specifically, as well as the course on industrial electronics.

"It is such a pleasure to watch these students learn, Miller said, "and, especially, to have them learn and use hands-on, real-world equipment.” This transfers directly to the kind of training and experience needed in the workplace."