Industry News

NovaTech donates controls to USC Aiken lab

March 8, 2018

The company donated its D/3 Process Control System to the Control Systems Laboratory at the University of South Carolina Aiken to give Industrial Process Engineering (IPE) students the opportunity to experience a more hands-on approach.

NovaTech LLC reported Feb. 26 that it's donated its D/3 Process Control System to the Control Systems Laboratory at the University of South Carolina Aiken. The system will give Industrial Process Engineering (IPE) students the opportunity to experience a more hands-on approach to designing, building and managing control systems.

System To the Lab

NovaTech and USC Aiken officials celebrate NovaTech's donation of its D/3 Process Control system to the university's Process Control Laboratory. The group included (l. to r.) Chris Gepfert, regional sales, NovaTech; Dr. Daren Timmons, dean, College of Sciences and Engineering, USC Aiken; Dr. Sandra Jordan, chancellor, USC Aiken; Anita Donath, projects administrator, NovaTech; Stephanie Pendarvis, assistant to U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.); Jeff Zola, vice president of process marketing, NovaTech; and Jerry Hughes, process technical instructor, NovaTech

“When NovaTech asked how it could help, we jumped at incorporating D/3 into our curriculum,” says Dr. Daren Timmons, dean of the USC Aiken College of Sciences and Engineering.

Dr. Titan Paul, assistant professor of engineering, adds, “This control system is the key component of the control systems laboratory, which is a required part of the curriculum for all IPE majors at USC Aiken. Students apply theoretical knowledge to configure, run and monitor the industrial processes controller."

The university's IPE program gives students the technical knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, engineering and management to analyze and solve problems in today’s team-oriented environments. This rigorous curriculum also provides them with multiple opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills they've learned in the classroom and laboratory in real-world settings.

“NovaTech is proud to support USC Aiken’s newest engineering program and its students," adds Jeff Zola, vice president of marketing at NovaTech. "Our donation will equip the next generation of engineers with valuable hands-on experience using our innovative D/3 process control technology. This will assure USC Aiken graduates a path to meaningful employment in the region.”

In addition, through the IPE Capstone Projects, NovaTech is mentoring three seniors in the program at USC Aiken.