Chicago has the largest industrial real estate square footage in the nation, making it a prime outlet for careers in the industry and mechanical field. Students in Moraine Valley’s mechanical systems courses will have an edge for acquiring those jobs through training on the college’s new, state-of-the-art laser alignment tool.
Moraine Valley adjunct instructor Jeff Burk, left, demonstrates the college’s state-of-the-art laser alignment machine.
Thanks to a grant, Moraine Valley was able to procure this machine from a German company. The hi-tech system allows users to align motors, pumps and pulleys to near perfect accuracy—a significant innovation. Normally, operators would have to attain years of training to yield that kind of precision. Students can now learn this advanced technology to simplify an otherwise complex process while saving businesses thousands of dollars, said Neil Barker, instructor/coordinator of Integrated Systems Technology and Electronics.
Mechanical and fluid power maintenance adjunct instructor Jeff Burk developed the training and materials to use in the classroom, which can be learned in two class sessions. He recently demonstrated the tool to fellow instructors, and students started using it this semester.
“It’s sophisticated, but accessible to students. We’re ahead of our competitors in special skills training like this—a planned engineering tool,” Barker said. “Power stations use this, and we’re demonstrating it to students on this smaller machine. This machine is crucial for automated warehouses, which is the field we’re targeting. It’s today’s technology.”
For news media inquiries, contact Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley public relations generalist, at (708) 974-5742 or VizzaM@morainevalley.edu.
