The park currently consists of two buildings, with a third planned for groundbreaking this summer. The first training center opened in November 2010. The Robotic Maintenance Training Center is dedicated to teaching technicians to work with and operate on the leading industrial robotics and automation software in the world. The highlight of the facility is the manufacturing floor, which consists of more than 30 industrial robots, an automated welding lab, and a mock-up automated manufacturing line used to explain the purpose of robots in manufacturing to students.
Phase two of the Alabama RTP is the 43,000-square-foot Advanced Technology and Research Development center. Think of this facility as a cutting-edge R&D facility focusing entirely on high-end robotics and automation projects. Some of the early companies involved in Phase II are creating and testing robotics for military and civilian applications as well as first responder needs. In some instances, the 9/10- mile test track can be used for testing drone takeoffs and landings as well as remote-control mine searchers.
Phase III consists of the Integration, Entrepreneurial and Paint Center, which is under design now; a groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for summer 2014. This facility will allow companies to train in manual paint spraying techniques and robotic dispense training.
Last year, the Alabama RTP debuted a mobile training lab that is used for outreach and to help teach k-12 students about careers in robotics and automation. The RTP mobile lab is a 53-foot semi-trailer outfitted with the latest and greatest in robotics and automation. Since June 2013, nearly 55,000 kids have explored the Mobile Robotics Training Lab.
The RTP is just one of the many incentives Alabama has to offer when it comes to landing economic development projects. “With new companies moving to and existing companies expanding in Alabama, AIDT is continuously upgrading its services as a training organization,” says AIDT’s Executive Director Ed Castile. “By staying on top of new technologies and advanced production processes, AIDT is able to keep producing a highly skilled, well-trained workforce and keep our clients safe, productive, and profitable. We will continue to find ways to be innovative in our approach to training, developing, and recruiting the workforce these industries require.”
