Posted on Thursday February 25, 2016 by Vanessa Lenz
Allan Integrated Control Systems recently donated $50,000 to the East Troy Community School District for the purchase of a Fanuc 6-axis training robot along with associated advanced manufacturing equipment.
The robot, one of only a few used for education in the entire country, will be used in the Fab Lab at East Troy High School’s new Innovation Center.
Allan ICS, owned by Ann and Ted Zess of East Troy, will also provide an accompanying education program, allowing students to explore and learn the world of advanced manufacturing. Students at ETHS will be able to get college credit for learning how to program industrial robots to fulfill a number of roles.
“We wanted to make sure East Troy’s students could have this exceptional opportunity. We are proud to contribute to the new Innovation Space,” said Ann Zess, president of Allan ICS.
This is the first of many initiatives that the East Troy School District is exploring and expanding to promote Project Based Learning throughout the district, including SmartLabs (eventually in K4-8th grades) and Project Lead the Way (grades 9-12).
Allan ICS designs and builds automated control systems for a wide range of customers and applications throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. The family-owned business has been headquartered at 2021 Beulah Ave. in East Troy since 2007. For more information, visit www.allan-ics.com.
About the renovation & addition at ETHS:
Updates to East Troy High School were among the referendum projects approved by voters in April of 2015. According to district officials, the high school project has a completion date of August 2016.
“The foundations have been dug and walls are being erected for the additional classrooms, fitness center, and new band room addition,” the district said.
Renovations to the following will begin in the coming months: Innovation Center area that includes a metal/technical education lab, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) lab, robotics classroom and media lab, new band room, five new classrooms, lecture hall updates, and locker rooms/bathroom updates. For more information, visit www.easttroy.k12.wi.us.