Ashley Donates Robots, Training Funds to Technical College

June 2, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

The La Crosse, Wis., school said six robots and three simulator units will be placed in the Ashley Furniture Industrial Automation Lab inside Western’s newly constructed Integrated Technology Center on the downtown La Crosse campus. In addition, a portable training robot will be housed at the Independence Campus of Western to facilitate advanced training in a more rural setting.

“We have a great, advanced manufacturing center, and partnerships with businesses like Ashley Furniture help us keep the equipment as cutting edge as the facility,” said Lee Rasch, Western Technical College president. “We’re thrilled to add Yakasawa robotic certification to our program as well as offer this training to local businesses.”

“We are excited to partner with Western Technical College to provide our region with the robotics education necessary to compete in the global economy,” said Ron Wanek, founder and chairman of Ashley Furniture. “Our goal is to provide students and those in the workforce with the opportunity to increase their skill set by utilizing this state-of-the-art equipment and training.”

In addition to the donation of the robots, the Ron and Joyce Wanek Foundation has made a donation to Western’s Foundation that will allow Western faculty to become certified on the equipment. Officials said Western will be the only technical college in the region with both the automation lab and the instructor certification required to fully train all levels of robotic technicians.

In total, Ashley Furniture’s contributions to the college exceed $470,000, in the form of equipment donations and paid instructor certification training.

“It’s important for our faculty to receive training before we implement it in the classroom, and the cost of that training can sometimes be a barrier to having multiple people certified,” said Rasch. “We are grateful that the Waneks recognized this need and provided Western with the funds to move forward.” 

The robots will be delivered this summer, allowing faculty to earn the certification prior to the start of fall classes.