Hoffman Estates, IL – At the first general session of NTMA’s annual meeting in Tucson, Chris Kaiser, president/CEO of BIG KAISER, presented a donation for $6,675 to benefit the NTMA’s National Robotics League (NRL). This was an increase of more than 27 percent over the prior year.
The donation was the result of a year-end promotion by BIG KAISER, giving back to the association a percentage of every order by an NTMA or AMT member company. Manufacturers placed orders for cutting tools, tool holders, workholding and tool measurement systems, earning funds for the NRL at the same time.
“We all know it is critical for us to engage the next generation in manufacturing at the company, community and national levels,” explains Mr. Kaiser. “This year-end promotion is one way for BIG KAISER to show support for the NTMA and to promote workforce development and STEM programs.”
“The NRL is all about the community collaborating together to engage manufacturing's next generation. We truly appreciate BIG KAISER's generous contribution and their continued leadership in supporting initiatives to close the manufacturing skills gap,” said Bill Padnos, NTMA workforce development manager. “We are also grateful to all of the NTMA members who participated in this program.”
The National Robotics League (NRL) is a manufacturing workforce development program of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) where students design and build remote controlled robots (Bots) to face-off in a gladiator-style competition. Through the manufacturing process of Bot building, students’ imaginations are captured as they design, build and compete with their own robotic creations. Through this hands-on effort along with industry partnerships, students gain practical knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) – all essential skills for manufacturing.
Related Glossary Terms
- robotics
robotics
Discipline involving self-actuating and self-operating devices. Robots frequently imitate human capabilities, including the ability to manipulate physical objects while evaluating and reacting appropriately to various stimuli. See industrial robot; robot.