LU Engineering hosts industry leaders for the grand opening of the Emerson Advanced Technology Center
November 19, 2021 | by Haley Strahan
The Lamar University College of Engineering hosted representatives from Emerson Solutions and Scallon Controls for the dedication of the Emerson Advanced Technology Center on Nov. 4. The event included remarks from industry leaders, a round table discussion between industry and LU faculty, and culminated in the ribbon cutting for the new space located in the Center for Industrialization, Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship on LU’s campus.
Arif Mustafa, Emerson’s Vice President for the Gulf Coast, shared a message about Emerson’s Workplace Development initiative in the region and their continued commitment to close the gap on process operations and instrumentation skills shortfall. Keith Bellville, director of Platform Business Development at Emerson discussed the forward direction of technology and its impacts on industry and academia. Joe Herink, president of Scallon Controls, highlighted their role in bringing these technologies to the Golden Triangle, and Peter Mondello, vice president of Scallon Controls, shared what skills local industry is requiring today and moving into the future with regards to process automation.
Each speaker and representative emphasized the significance of the Emerson Advanced Technology Center to train engineering students on the cutting-edge process systems that they will encounter on the job. “The goal is to reduce the time it takes for a new engineer to become fully capable and operational on the job,” said Mustafa. “In addition, the EATC can provide development training for workers already in the field.”
The Emerson Advanced Technology Center is the result of an over $1.5 million investment in LU’s training capabilities. The center houses two Performance Learning Platforms – fully instrumented and operable process skids that provide hands-on training – and TerminalManager™ software teaching students how the industry manages the entire terminal business process. The space also features four DeltaV™ distributed control system process trainer panels – allowing students to learn control system fundamentals in a safe and controlled environment – as well as lifecycle services and support for LU’s engineering labs that host Emerson equipment.
“The Emerson Advanced Technology Center will greatly advance the ability of the College of Engineering to provide our students an advanced and unique education, giving our graduates a competitive advantage in the job market and adding additional value to the process industry by producing more job-ready engineering and technology graduates,” said Brian Craig, dean of the College of Engineering. “The Emerson ATC will provide the backbone for many of our advanced certificates and vastly improve our ability to upskill or reskill the incumbent workforce in our region through our Golden Triangle Industries and LU Engineering Partnership. We are thankful for our ongoing friendship with Emerson and their local impact partner Scallon Controls and are excited to see these relationships strengthen.”
Arif Mustafa, Emerson’s Vice President for the Gulf Coast, shared a message about Emerson’s Workplace Development initiative in the region and their continued commitment to close the gap on process operations and instrumentation skills shortfall. Keith Bellville, director of Platform Business Development at Emerson discussed the forward direction of technology and its impacts on industry and academia. Joe Herink, president of Scallon Controls, highlighted their role in bringing these technologies to the Golden Triangle, and Peter Mondello, vice president of Scallon Controls, shared what skills local industry is requiring today and moving into the future with regards to process automation.
Each speaker and representative emphasized the significance of the Emerson Advanced Technology Center to train engineering students on the cutting-edge process systems that they will encounter on the job. “The goal is to reduce the time it takes for a new engineer to become fully capable and operational on the job,” said Mustafa. “In addition, the EATC can provide development training for workers already in the field.”
The Emerson Advanced Technology Center is the result of an over $1.5 million investment in LU’s training capabilities. The center houses two Performance Learning Platforms – fully instrumented and operable process skids that provide hands-on training – and TerminalManager™ software teaching students how the industry manages the entire terminal business process. The space also features four DeltaV™ distributed control system process trainer panels – allowing students to learn control system fundamentals in a safe and controlled environment – as well as lifecycle services and support for LU’s engineering labs that host Emerson equipment.
“The Emerson Advanced Technology Center will greatly advance the ability of the College of Engineering to provide our students an advanced and unique education, giving our graduates a competitive advantage in the job market and adding additional value to the process industry by producing more job-ready engineering and technology graduates,” said Brian Craig, dean of the College of Engineering. “The Emerson ATC will provide the backbone for many of our advanced certificates and vastly improve our ability to upskill or reskill the incumbent workforce in our region through our Golden Triangle Industries and LU Engineering Partnership. We are thankful for our ongoing friendship with Emerson and their local impact partner Scallon Controls and are excited to see these relationships strengthen.”