The Omron Foundation has provided funding for the construction of a cutting-edge engineering laboratory at North Central College that opened this month. The new Omron Design and Automation Lab will give North Central College students many chances to work with technologies currently used in the automation industry.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL., May 10 2018 – North Central College celebrated the opening of a new laboratory in the Dr. Myron Wentz Science Center with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on May 8. The Omron Design and Automation Lab will give North Central College engineering students the exciting opportunity to work with a wealth of cutting-edge technologies currently used in industry while constructing their own working systems at the numerous workstations provided.

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Giving students access to today’s most sophisticated technology is a core purpose of the Wentz Science Center, and the laboratory will play a key role to this effect. The lab was built with funding from Omron Foundation, which coordinates the charitable efforts of the Omron companies in the United States. Omron is an industry-leading provider of automation technology and creative solutions for tackling society’s challenges, and the Foundation supports engineering education as well as STEM initiatives throughout the K-12 education levels.

“Omron prides itself on its long-term focus, so it is our greatest pleasure to help educate the engineers who will solve tomorrow’s challenges,” says Nigel Blakeway,Chairman & CEO of Omron Management Center of America, Inc., and Omron Foundation President. “We are thrilled to be part of the development of such a future-oriented laboratory and to be able to guide students as they begin their engineering journey.”

The Omron Foundation has also granted all North Central College faculty and students unlimited access to its E-learning modules, which are packed full of information on core industry technologies such as vision, robotics, control, motion and safety. They will be an integral part of North Central College’s new four-year bachelor of science degrees in computer, electrical and mechanical engineering beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Omron Foundation has also supported North Central College’s Japanese language program with grants that allow students to visit Japan each year and study there for terms of ten weeks or longer. Omron has supported the Japanese Language program since 2008 with the aim of helping students improve Japanese-American cross-cultural understanding.

About North Central College

Founded in 1861, North Central College is an independent, comprehensive college of the liberal arts and sciences that offers more than 65 undergraduate majors and six graduate programs. With more than 2,900 students, North Central provides a rigorous, student-centered education and fosters a diverse, inclusive and globally engaged community that prepares students for action and leadership in a complex world. Just 30 minutes from Chicago’s Loop, the campus is located in the Historic District of Naperville, Ill.—rated by Money magazine as among the nation’s “Best Places to Live” and by  niche.com as the 2nd “Best Places to Live in Illinois.” Visit northcentralcollege.edu and discover what it means to #Be central.

About OMRON Foundation, Inc.

Founded in 1989, OMRON Foundation, Inc. (OFI) coordinates the charitable efforts of OMRON offices in the US to achieve the greatest positive social impact. The Foundation is funded by OMRON's subsidiaries in the US, which contribute a portion of sales revenue to the Foundation. The Foundation divides its charitable resources among organizations benefiting education, people with disabilities, cultural programs, health, and other social concerns including disaster relief.

About OMRON

OMRON Corporation is a global leader in the field of automation based on its core technology of "Sensing & Control + Think."  Established in 1933, OMRON has about 36,000 employees worldwide, working to provide products and services in 117 countries.  The company's business fields cover a broad spectrum, ranging from industrial automation and electronic components to automotive electronics, social infrastructure systems, healthcare, and environmental solutions.  For more information, visit OMRON's website:  www.omron.com.

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