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November 24, 2008

Date for Robotics Technology Park Groundbreaking Announced

Decatur, AL -- Governor Bob Riley, Calhoun Community College, and Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) today announced that Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at 1:30 p.m., has been selected for the groundbreaking ceremony for the state’s new Robotics Technology Park to be located off Highway 31 North across from Calhoun’s Decatur campus.  Riley, AIDT Executive Director Ed Castile, State Board member Dr. Mary Jane Caylor and state elected officials are scheduled to attend the groundbreaking event, which is open to the public.

The selection of Calhoun as the site for the new robotics park and plans for its construction were announced earlier this year by Governor Riley.  The Park will be a collaboration between the state of Alabama, the two-year college system, AIDT, and robotics industry leaders.  Plans call for three buildings to be built on the 53 acre site across from Calhoun’s Decatur campus. Phase 1: The Robotic Maintenance Training Center will house an industry training program.  Phase 2: The Advanced Technology Research and Development Center will feature a test facility for companies currently in the robotics manufacturing industry.  Phase 3: The Integration and Entrepreneurial Center is expected to be a collaborative consolidation of technology involving higher education and industry. 

“This (Park) will make Alabama the nation’s leader in robotics research and development.  It will make Alabama the national leader in robotics technology education.  The benefits will be remarkable for our economy, for our workforce and for our future,” commented Governor Riley.

In choosing Calhoun as the site for the robotics complex, the Governor stressed it met all the needed requirements, including proximity to Huntsville.  “Our vision from the beginning was a state-of-the-art robotics campus affiliated with a two-year college that is close to Huntsville’s aerospace research hub and easily accessible to our manufacturing industries.  Calhoun Community College is a perfect fit for what we envisioned,” he said.

Robotics manufacturers have pledged to provide $42 million worth of robots for the robotics campus.

The robotics campus will consist of three individual training facilities each targeted to a specific industry need. The first building, scheduled to be completed within the next 18 months, will be a 40,000 square foot facility where technicians will be trained to work on robotic machinery.  It will be staffed by trainers supplied by top robot builders.  The first plant will be home to several major robotics and automation brands and each will have a significant space for training and product demonstration. Plans are for 450 people to be trained at the facility each year.

The second facility will be used by NASA and the U.S. Army Missile Command for the purpose of research, development and testing of leading edge robotics used for military projects and space exploration.  The structure will have appropriate infrastructure to support these activities with substantial outdoor areas for testing in a variety of environments.

The third building of the robotics campus will allow companies to build and adapt robots for new industries.  Start up plants will be able to set up manufacturing lines to integrate software and equipment, test systems and train maintenance and production staff. 

All three buildings will have an investment of approximately $71 million including robotics equipment.

For more information on the groundbreaking ceremony, call 256-306-2560.  To RSVP for the event, call 256/306-2562 or email to sgr@calhoun.edu. (See news release about the Robotics Center announcement.)

Janet Kincherlow-Martin
Director of Public Relations
(256) 306-2561

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