BMW Manufacturing in South Carolina has donated 42 redundant robots and controllers to the state education department for use in vocational schools.
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The Education Department has identified 16 vocational schools to receive the robots for use in the statewide Vocational Technologies programme.
ABB, the robot manufacturer, has donated sets of training and user manuals and the robots are expected to be installed and operational next month.
The robots are now used in the Z3 body shop, which will end production of the two-seat roadster later this month as the plant tools up for the Z4 replacement which has been recently snapped by ‘spy#; photographers during final shake-down testing on US public roads.
Two BMW workers at the plant suggested that the robots be donated to the vocational schools rather than scrapping them.
“Education is a key to preparing the future workforce, and these robots will be a great asset in developing students’ technical skills and experiences with robotics,” said BMW’s manager for Media and Public Affairs Robert Hitt.
