KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee College of Engineering has received a $50,000 equipment grant from the Denso North America Foundation.
The grant will be used to purchase a full-sized computer-controlled lathe for the college’s Manufacturing Laboratory.
Denso Manufacturing Tennessee, based in Maryville, is an international manufacturer of automotive components and is one of East Tennessee’s largest employers.
Jim Woroniecki, senior vice-president of Human Resources and Administration, said Denso North America Foundation has a tradition of supporting and nurturing community high schools, colleges and universities nationwide.
“The University of Tennessee has a wonderful engineering program, and it is our honor to help the future generation of engineers,” Woroniecki, who also is a board member of DENSO North America Foundation, said.
Cathy Dodge, Engineering Development Director, said the lathe would provide students with valuable hands-on experience using state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and technologies.
About 175 students benefit from access to the lab, Dodge said.
“We are deeply grateful to Denso for their generous and timely gift,” Dodge said.
“In funding this vital acquisition for the Manufacturing Lab, they are not only
continuing their long-standing tradition of supporting higher education, but also are providing students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience that will be beneficial to them in their future workplaces.”
The Manufacturing Laboratory, established in 1998, is run by the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Industrial Engineering.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering also was involved in the initial development of the lab.