Mike Duffy of Keystone Automation in Duryea and John Mele of Jam Works Robotics Solutions in Forest City are both Harley-riding Navy veterans. The companies they founded, Keystone in 1999 for automated machinery, and Jam Works in 2007 for robotics, collaborate frequently. "There's nothing that can't be done with these two systems," says Mele.
Now the two are joining forces on Bots & BBQ, a fun-sounding, two-day robotics open house with some ambitious goals in mind. From 9-5 on Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19, Duffy and Mele hope to make Pennsylvania manufacturers aware of the huge advancements in robotics and automation and generate orders, sure. But equally important, they want to impress upon students and educators the appeal of a job in modern manufacturing.
"There's a major problem with the perception of manufacturing," says Duffy. "We want to showcase that it's not working in a dirty, nasty foundry … You're going to be using your mind, as well as your hands." Most advanced manufacturing jobs today, he adds, require a two–year degree and they pay far more than most jobs available to those with just a high school diploma.
On both days, the agenda includes plant tours for students, seminars on topics ranging from pneumatics to data collection and seven demonstration robotics work- cells, performing typical operations such as measuring, palletizing and high-speed handling. Fanuc, a major robotics maker for whom Jam Works is an exclusive integrator and distributor, will be on hand, along with Rockwell Automation, Penn-Air & Hydraulics, Norgren and Bimba.
The BBQ part? The organizers will be bringing in roast pig each day for lunch.
Source: Mike Duffy, Keystone Automation, and John Mele, Jam Works Robotics Solutions
Writer: Elise Vider
