Bosch Rexroth helps opens new lab at Texas A&M

Bosch Rexroth was part of a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening of Bosch Rexroth-R.C. Womack Fluid Power Laboratory at Texas A&M University in College Station.

The lab, created in conjunction with Womack Machine Supply, is a newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility which will showcase eight new fluid power trainers including pneumatic and industrial hydraulic systems from Bosch Rexroth.

Bosch Rexroth Corporation president and CEO Berend Bracht joined Texas A&M educators and students as they officially opened the lab for the 2007-2008 academic year.

“Bosch Rexroth is proud to partner with Womack Machine Supply and Texas A&M University to bring its fluid power expertise to the forefront of engineering technology and education,” said Berend Bracht. “With the number one ranked industrial development program in the world, we at Bosch Rexroth cannot think of a better environment to showcase our products and experience than Texas A&M University.”

The laboratory was proposed by Texas A&M to Womack and Bosch Rexroth in April 2006. The primary mission of the lab is to educate students using the newest technology in hydraulics, pneumatics and advanced control methods.

Its secondary mission is to attract industry sponsored projects and to provide professional training or continuing education to engineers, distributors and managerial professionals working in the fluid power market place.

“This laboratory models the integrated engineering business environment where multiple technologies converge to solve customers’ problems,” said Dr. Walter W. Buchanan, head of the Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution at Texas A&M. “We are grateful to Bosch Rexroth and Mr. R.C. Womack for this facility, which blends technologies taught in all programs of our department.”

The Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution programs at Texas A&M University have 600 students and serve distributors and manufacturers from maintenance, repair, and operations channels, and channels serving construction, high tech distribution and manufacturing. ET/IT students are the most highly recruited at Texas A&M and are hired by many distributors like Womack Machine Supply.

'This lab is a powerful teaching tool that provides our students with hands-on experience to better prepare them for industry applications,” added Dr. Barry Lawrence, laboratory director and program director of industrial distribution. “The continuing relationship between Bosch Rexroth, Womack Machine Supply and Texas A&M will continue to advance education for fluid power channels through cutting-edge teaching and new knowledge creation through research.”