RCC’s Mechatronics program receives $30,000 in equipment from Kuraray

By Staff Report, posted Jan 23, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

RCC received a major donation recently form Kuraray, a Japanese manufacturer of chemicals, fibers and other materials. The equipment donated adds up to almost $30,000 and will make a significant impact on the training that RCC is able to provide through their mechatronics program. Photo provided by RCC.

The Mechatronics Engineering Technology program at Robeson Community College has received a donation from Kuraray, thanks to a student with a contact at the facility.

Kuraray is a Japanese manufacturer of chemicals, fibers and other materials. The company is the sole worldwide producer of Vectran liquid crystal polymer (LCP) fiber. With its headquarters in Japan, the global corporation also has many locations in the United States, including a facility in Fayetteville.

“We received six used variable frequency drives, four standard and two larger drives” stated Heath Worriax, the lead instructor for the Mechatronics program at RCC, in a press release.

The variable frequency drives are valued at $4875 each, making this a significant donation with almost $30,000 in equipment received.

“The drives will be used in the program so students can program what industry is currently using,” Worriax said in a press release. “This benefit will allow students to have greater success when hired by industries in our local and surrounding areas.”

Students are excited about the new gear in the lab and have already started utilizing their knowledge to program the machines.

“We are thankful for the donation from Kuraray,” Worriax continued in a press release. “We believe the future is mechatronics and this donation will make a big impact on our program, allowing us to provide state-of-the-art lab equipment for students as they work towards their degree.”

RCC President Melissa Singler agreed, stating in a press release, “Thank you, Kuraray for this tremendous gift to our Mechatronics program at Robeson Community College. Your generosity will help spark interest and ignite the curiosity of our students in a growing field of engineering, allowing them to grow and flourish as they gain hands-on experience using the tools of the trade that meet industry standards.”

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