Mark your calendar today for the best professional development event of the year, Nov. 17-19 in St. Louis. Registration is open!

As the world’s leader in skills-based, interactive technical learning, Amatrol is proud to announce that we’ll be exhibiting at the 2011 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) show in St Louis on November 17th and 18th. If you’d like to stop by and see some of our learning systems—including some new, ground-breaking trainers—we’ll be in expo booths 602 and 603.

Learn more about the ACTE Conference.

Some of the equipment we’ll be displaying includes our Alternative Energy Learning System (850-AEC) and our new Portable PLC Learning System (990-PS712). The 850-AEC helps students accumulate the skills necessary to enter the burgeoning green energy industry, specifically the small wind and solar industries, while the 990-PS712 teaches programming, operation and troubleshooting of modern PLC systems that use HMI panels, networking, and a variety of basic and advanced program commands. We’ll also be displaying our very popular Electric Motor Control Learning System (85-MT5) with its matching Virtual Trainer. The 85-MT5 teaches students industry-relevant skills including how to operate, install, design, and troubleshoot AC electric motor control circuits for various applications.

In addition, we’ll have our eLearning system and Virtual Trainers set up so you can test your skills, go through a demo course, and see our new eAssessment program.

We’re looking forward to visiting with you and showing you all of paths we’ve developed to lead students down the road to a brighter future!

Date: Friday, July 22, 2011, 12:22 AM EDT

Amatrol did its best in 2010 and expects to do still better this year despite the down economy.

The Jeffersonville company defies by redefining, ever eager to be relevant. It adds products and markets and accepts no excuses for not turning on a dime. While some 75 employees make things, the other 60 make plans.

“I spend a lot of my time asking, ‘Where are we going next?’” said Paul Perkins, the president.

Amatrol, which is near Port Road, has roots in engineering design, but 30 years ago Amatrol linked itself to education and has not looked back. It helps schools and businesses teach and train, selling them an ever-wider range of intricate ware, hard and soft.

Interest swells in alternative energy, so Amatrol also now provides goods and guidance for others to make more from wind and the sun. And as manufacturers increasingly go global, Amatrol increasingly goes global with dozens of far-flung clients.

“Our whole approach is to develop relationships with clients,” Perkins said. “Our No. 1 goal is to make them successful.”
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce named Amatrol the state’s small business of the year in 2010. Business First also saluted it last year. Being honored reflects the firm’s ability to change in stride with technology. “That’s what makes it fun, too,” Perkins said.

Perkins’ late parents, Don and Bobbi, started both the firm and its ability to be flexible. Paul’s sister, Suzanne Allen, is chief financial officer. Brother Todd is chief operating officer. Being private, Amatrol worries less about quick profit. Instead of knee-jerk changes, Amatrol makes thoughtful ones.

Rita Hudson Shourds, chancellor of the Ivy Tech Community College campus in Sellersburg, is impressed by “the foresight it has to spend time on what is to be in the future.” The college relies on Amatrol products plus Paul Perkins serves on its regional and state boards.

Bronson Ellis, energy training coordinator of the High Plains Technology Center in Oklahoma, said Amatrol helps him teach skills applicable to the real world. Ellis said Amatrol indeed sells what he most needs to buy. “They’re willing to look at anything,” Ellis said. “They listen. That’s how they stay ahead.”

Amatrol has mostly homegrown work force, testimony to the Louisville area’s brainpower. Once at Amatrol, people stay, on average, a decade or more. The staff grows because orders do, and Amatrol expects to add on to its building on Centennial Boulevard.

What is ahead for those workers is whatever must be. Amatrol is set in its ways about being flexible. “Our folks work on new stuff all the time,” Perkins said.

Dale Moss’ column appears on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Comment on this column, and read his blog and previous columns, at www.courier-journal.com/moss.

View this entire article and photos on the Courier Journal website

Date: Friday, July 15, 2011, 3:00pm EDT – Last Modified: Friday, July 15, 2011, 3:43pm EDT

Louisville ranks 38th among U.S. metro areas in terms of its “green” jobs count, according to a study released this week by the Brookings Institution.

The Washington, D.C., institute tallied 14,447 green/clean jobs in the Louisville area — 2.4 percent of the region’s jobs. It defined such jobs as those in “the sector of the economy that produces goods and services with an environmental benefit,” listing sample clean economy employers as Amatrol Inc., General Electric Co., Graphic Packaging International, Summit Energy Services Inc., and Winston Industries Inc.

The area added 1,668 clean jobs between 2003 and 2010 for an annual growth calculation of 1.8 percent, the report said. Those jobs earn a median annual wage of $37,313, compared with $35,007 for all jobs in the metro.

See the full article here.

Download the full clean economy report here.

By JEROD CLAPP

JEFFERSONVILLE — After calibrating hydraulic systems and writing programs, the students watched robotic arms perform tasks to see if any adjustments were needed.

They weren’t college juniors or seniors — these students just finished the eighth grade.

Students from Southern Indiana area attending the Summer Robotics Camp sponsored by Amatrol in Jeffersonville, the Prosser School of Technology, Ivy Tech Community College and Purdue University. The camp gave students the opportunity to do what mechanical and software engineers might do on a daily basis.

Anthony Harper — instructor for the camp and laser engraving teacher at William W. Borden High School — said students participating in the camp were essentially taking an entry-level college engineering course.

“We don’t adapt the curriculum at all,” Harper said. “Some students catch on faster than others, but it’s all hands-on.”

Harper said students work at their own pace with machinery and lessons provided by Amatrol. He said their lessons focus on programming, assembly of the machines and creating circuits to make the machines work. Amatrol provides training for engineers in companies like Ford Motor Co. and others.

The camp costs students $40 for two weeks of instruction. It continues until Friday.

Sam Worth, a 14-year-old who is getting ready to start his high school years, said getting a chance to work with real machines instead of toys really drew him into the program.

“I just like the ability to work with and program robotics that aren’t homemade,” Worth said. “I’ve actually build robots with simple gear systems.”

He said though working with the machines is fun, he prefers to stay on the back end with programming. He said he’s had some experience with software that allows him to write his own programs before he attended the camp.

“I’m always afraid I’m going to break something, but on the computer, the worst I can do is create an error,” Worth said.

About 12 students attended the camp this year. Harper said he’s been the instructor for four years and loves seeing students work hard on putting together the projects.

“Once the kids get here the first day, they’re here up until the last day,” Harper said. “That’s the great thing about these kids, I don’t have to motivate them — they motivate themselves.”

He said many of the students he teaches in the camp push themselves to learn more. Students also work in collaboration with one other student to get everything in working order.

Worth said participating in the camp gave him a better idea of how he wants to model his high school career so he can plan his college path for software engineering.

He said instead of opting for electives that might allow him to relax a little, he plans on filling up on more math and science courses.

“It’s focused a lot on engineering, but I think it can do two things,” Harper said. “I think it can help them figure out if they want to be an engineer and what kind. I had one kid tell me he wants to be an electrical engineer and get a master’s in software.

“It can not only help them plan their college career, but their whole future.”

To see the whole article and photos please go to The News and Tribune Website

Oxygen Education now offers green technology training course developed by Purdue University

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., and JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. – Through a licensing agreement with the Purdue Research Foundation, Oxygen Education will provide green technology online training that can help a company improve environmental sustainability.

The Green Generalist training examines key environmental issues facing manufacturers and identifies ways to redesign business practices using environmentally friendly techniques. A case study simulation included in the training provides learners experience in analyzing business processes and adopting sustainable practices.

The online program is geared for educational institutions, manufacturers, businesses, industry and work force development initiatives interested in environmental business management practices.

“Making Green Generalist training available online will provide the opportunity to learn about green technology, global sustainability and the associated cost-cutting practices,” said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation. “Interest in environmentally friendly methods is booming, and people trained to understand how to address sustainability issues will be able to market themselves better to prospective employers.”

Oxygen Education collaborated with Purdue University’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to develop the green technology online training.

“Oxygen Education is very pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with Purdue in green technology,” said Paul Perkins, president of Amatrol. “Practical, accessible essential training on green technology to benefit business and education has been sorely lacking. Providing high-quality online training allows educational institutions to extend programming without incurring the time and expense required to build a curriculum locally.

“Industry and work force development initiatives also save time and money when they offer skills development training in a 24/7 accessible online environment.”

In addition to the Green Generalist Training, Oxygen Education offers a library of more 100 ready-to-implement content modules for technical education and work force development. For information about Green Generalist training contact Oxygen Education at 812-283-1588.

For more information about TAP’s Green Enterprise Development Program call 800-877-5182.

About the Purdue Research Foundation
The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. The Purdue Research Foundation oversees the Purdue Research Park, which is the largest university-affiliated business incubator in the country. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana that include Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

About Oxygen Education
Oxygen Education, a division of Amatrol Inc., develops high-quality, interactive content for online technical education and work force development. Our staff of experienced manufacturing and technology industry personnel works closely with our highly trained instructional and graphic design teams translating complex, technical concepts into engaging online learning experiences. Our methodology affirms learner competency with thorough activities and end-of-chapter assessments. Educational institutions, manufacturers and work force development programs around the globe choose Oxygen Education to train the world’s evolving work force. To learn more about Oxygen Education, please visit us at http://www.o2ed.com

Date: Friday, December 10, 2010, 10:06am EST

About 300 Louisville-area businesspeople attended a gala Thursday night at the Kentucky International Convention Center to recognize businesses and leaders that reported significant achievements in 2010.

The event was part of Business First’s annual Business of the Year awards program. A special publication highlighting the achievements of the winners and finalists was published with the Dec. 10 print edition of Business First.

Amatrol was selected as the Small Business of the Year. This competition covers all businesses in an 8 county local area, 4 in Indiana and 4 in Kentucky.

Visit Business First recognizes Businesses of the Year to view more information.

Short for Automated Machine Controls, Amatrol develops skills-based, interactive technical learning systems for the education market, as well as industry and workforce training. The company enables teaching institutions to prepare students for successful employment in a modern workplace by teaching them relevant technical skills.

In the time since its parent company’s founding as a small industrial automation design operation in the basement of a home in 1964, Amatrol has grown to over 130 employees. And, not one employee has been laid off in the company’s history.

Accolades include garnering national recognition in 1997 by the U.S. Department of Labor; and in 2006, Siemens selected Amatrol from a worldwide search as its partner to develop mechatronics training. This year, the company has launched a new utility-scale wind and solar technology training program and is on track for international sales to account for 20% of total sales.

The company has given back to its local community through scholarships, capital contributions to universities as well as equipment and space donation to local schools.

“Amatrol has demonstrated impressive year-over-year growth as well as good corporate citizenship while adapting to a new business model and markets. Though a small company, Amatrol has the potential to have a big impact on Indiana. There may be no more important issue for the long-term prosperity of our state than constant improvement of Hoosiers’ technical job skills. Amatrol is on the front lines of this issue delivering remarkable results,” offers Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.

Companies recognized as finalists for the 2010 Small Business of the Year were: DeKalb Molded Plastics of Butler; Matrix Integration of Jasper and Unified Group Services of Anderson. This marked the third consecutive time Unified Group Services has been a finalist; all others were newcomers to the list.

Semi-finalists for the award were: Home Health Depot of Indianapolis; Med-Mizer, Inc. of Batesville; Schmidt Associates of Indianapolis; and Scorpion Protective Coatings, Inc. of Cloverdale.

“All of our Small Business of the Year honorees represent companies that impact all of us. Small businesses drive the economy and provide the jobs vital to our communities and quality of life,” Brinegar states. “We were pleased and impressed to see the many and varied ways these companies are pushing forward in today’s economic climate and at the same time taking care of their employees.”

The Small Business of the Year award is open to all Hoosier companies with 250 employees or fewer.

Visit Indiana Chamber of Commerce Website to view more information.

Mark your calendar today for the best professional development event of the year, December 2-4 in Las Vegas. Amatrol will be front and center (booth 700 & 701) as you enter the expo hall. Plan to visit us and view our new Wind Turbine Technology and Solar PV and Thermal trainers as well as other Career and Technology highlights.

Amatrol’s new Oxygen Education product line is exclusively software based. The Oxygen Education curriculum engages learners in a wide array of technical concepts and skills critical to today’s evolving manufacturing environment. Through the AME21 product suite, Advanced Manufacturing Education for the 21st Century, Oxygen Education offers training in lean manufacturing which teaches learners how to find ways to identify and eliminate waste in order to improve quality, reduce production time, and decrease cost.

While Amatrol is well known for CNC Machine Operator Training associated with the NIMS certification for CNC Machine Operators, they will now also be able to offer specific training for a variety of Haas CNC machine tools via the Oxygen Education product line. These courses teach operation and programming for a broad number of Haas mills, lathes, routers, etc. To learn more about this, go to CNCSkillsTraining.com for additional detail.

Adding Oxygen Education to Amatrol’s already strong family of eLearning, software, and lab products creates additional resources for customers. Oxygen Education customers benefit through the continued market offering and expansion of these fine technical education products. Likewise, Amatrol customers can now have access to learning topics such as lean manufacturing, safety, etc. Synergy is often an over used term, but in this case, it is real. To find out more information about Oxygen Education’s product line, visit our website at www.O2ED.com.

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Media Contact
Amatrol Inc.
2400 Centennial Blvd.
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
812.283.1588
877.263.2178

Jeffersonville, Ind. – August 3, 2010 – Amatrol Inc., the world’s leader in skills-based, interactive technical learning, has been selected to receive the award of being an Indiana Company to Watch. This award recognizes companies that demonstrate their ability to generate sustainable growth based on outstanding strength in key areas such as innovation, leadership, competition, philanthropy, and financial results among others. In addition to excellent sales, judges look for exceptional entrepreneurial leadership that results in sustainable competitive advantage. Amatrol was selected from 300 nominees as one of 41 companies to receive the award.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation and its Small Business Development Center network, Purdue University and the Edward Lowe Foundation, sponsor the award. It recognizes the state’s privately held businesses employing up to 150 employees and having between $750,000 to $100 million in annual revenue or capital. The nominees represent diverse industries such as alternative energy development, food production, industrial gear makers and technical education program development. These companies have combined revenues in excess of $500 million and created nearly 1,000 new jobs this year. The revenue projections for these companies represent an increase of more than $100 million from 2009.

Amatrol, short for Automated Machine Controls, was founded in 1978 and formally incorporated in 1981. Since that time Amatrol has grown significantly, becoming a leader in its primary market segment.

“We are honored to be recognized for our innovation and growth. I believe this recognizes the talents of our employees and the leadership they show in creating educational learning systems that make both Indiana and the U.S. technically strong. We believe that our customers’ success is our success – and this award recognizes the strong business results that come from that philosophy. All of us at Amatrol are very proud to be an Indiana Company to Watch!”

Paul Perkins, President of Amatrol Inc.

Amatrol emphasizes total learning systems that are skill based and include subject matter ranging from traditional technical areas of hydraulics, robotics, electronics, mechatronics and others to vital green energy areas such as wind and solar. These learning systems incorporate the right materials to make organizations successful in achieving education and training goals. The materials can include interactive multimedia as well as print-based student learning materials, virtual trainers, teacher’s guides, industrial quality hands-on training equipment, web-based courses and instructor training.

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Media Contact
Amatrol Inc.
800.264.8285