06/19/08
Clemson University and Okuma America Corporation Announce Partnership

Clemson University and Okuma America Corporation have announced a partnership that includes investments by Okuma and Morris South, Machine Tool Systems of $1.5 million in the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Consignment of $1.1 million of Okuma machine tools and $400,000 of training and support from Morris South will support post-graduate level education and research including automotive, industrial automation, production launches and proposal development.

Okuma America Corporation is the U.S.-based affiliate of Okuma Corporation, a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls (CNC) and machining technology. Under the terms of the agreement Okuma and regional distributor Morris South will provide equipment and support services for the automotive engineering research and graduate education programs in the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center (CGEC), the academic anchor for CU-ICAR. In addition, Okuma will provide an annual internship with the company for a student enrolled in the automotive engineering graduate program.

CGEC Director Tom Kurfess announced the first Okuma intern, Chan Wong, has already begun working in the company's U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. He noted that with locations throughout the world, Okuma offers students outstanding internship opportunities.

Instead of donating specific equipment, Okuma is providing state-of-the-art equipment in a consignment agreement that will continuously upgrade equipment for new versions as improvements are made. The arrangement also enables the CU-ICAR team to effectively tailor their capabilities to meet industry needs by working with Okuma to identify and provide the best possible equipment for newly initiated research and education projects.

"Okuma is committed to making sure our students and faculty have access to the latest technology," Kurfess said. "They have allowed us to avoid obsolescence, one of the biggest problems we face in terms of equipment. We do not have to dispose of or replace equipment; they will update as new generations of this machinery become available. The assurance that they will be working on the latest equipment from one of the world's most outstanding machine tool companies is extremely important for our current and potential students, and it is also important for those who will be hiring our graduates. We are very grateful for the very generous terms of this agreement."

The Okuma equipment will be used in both research and education programs, according to Kurfess. Research applications will include machining, metrology and machine integration research projects, as well as serving as available resources for developing new proposals. The equipment will be integrated directly with graduate engineering classes such as automotive manufacturing processes, production preparation and launch, and industrial automation. Faculty will use the equipment to provide demonstrations and data to reinforce class concepts.

After spending many years in the automotive industry Bob Kral, Vice President of Operations for Okuma America Corporation, sees extensive value in automotive industry research. "As a car guy, I know how important it is to find those new innovations that break through the technological barriers we are particularly facing now in the domestic market. Okuma appreciates the opportunity to be a part of a premier, global initiative that supports research for advanced manufacturing, and promotes higher learning."

Kurfess said the partnership with Okuma and Morris South will improve the automotive engineering graduate program significantly by providing practical reinforcement of modeling and control concepts. "It improves our capabilities to enable research in advanced machining and machining control areas, which is critical to automotive manufacturing. Through the expert support the companies will provide, students will also interact with some of the machine tool industry's top control system developers. Additionally, domestic and international internships are a critical part of our graduate program, and this partnership offers our students tremendous opportunity. We look forward to working with these outstanding companies."