Graco recently donated an InvisiPac hot melt glue machine — one of its’ latest technologies — to Dunwoody’s Robotics & Manufacturing department. The InvisiPac donation came about as the result of a visit late last year by Graco Engineering Manager Mark Weinberger.
During the visit “one of the students told me about the working assembly lines at Dunwoody that included glue machines,” Weinberger explained. After looking over the assembly line, he approached Senior Instructor Jeff Bixby about replacing the old glue machine with the InvisiPac.
Graco InvisiPac gives students hands-on, industry-standard experience
Automated Systems & Robotics students use the Graco InvisiPac hot melt glue machine for sealing cartons after an MGS Cartoner fills them in Dunwoody’s packaging lab. The automated packaging line then uses these cartons to demonstrate a “product to pallet” approach to machine troubleshooting.
By replacing the older glue machine with Graco’s InvisiPac, students will have hands-on experience with the latest tools currently being used in their field. The InvisiPac is one of the newest technologies to come from Graco and sets a standard for state-of-the-art packaging plants. Here are just a few of the upgrades that students will benefit from:
Graco’s InvisiPac is ready to use in 10 minutes versus 35-60 minutes for the older system.- It has a superior hose design that minimizes glue charring.
- Its’ applicators have plug-free modules, eliminating unplanned assembly line downtime.
- The InvisiPac has an easy-to-use high-tech display, along with glue use tracking and reporting with wireless connectivity.
Graco serves as a great industry partner
In addition to their recent donation, Graco has also supported Dunwoody students by providing internship opportunities and job placement after graduation.
“Two recent hires, Jake Whiteoak and Justin Weldon work in my division. They both worked as interns for Graco before graduating last year. Jake and Justin are doing excellent work. We appreciate Dunwoody’s willingness to allow their students to work as interns,” Weinberger said. “This is valuable experience for both Graco and the students.”
Associate Director of Career Services Rob Borchardt noted that Graco hired five Dunwoody graduates just last year in addition to hosting several interns.
Click here for more information on the Robotics & Manufacturing department.