Controls Engineering for Automation
Benjamin
Experience Information
Employer: Koops Inc.
Job Title: Engineering Co-op
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Koops designs, builds, and supports manufacturing equipment for the automotive and medical industries. They have 120 permanent employees, and the primary departments are: sales, human resources, finance, purchasing, project management, mechanical engineering, controls engineering, launch engineering, machining, and assembly.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
I worked as a controls engineer on several major projects, primarily handling the programming aspects. My projects included a hydraulic edgefold press (in picture) and a medical packaging inspection and placement system. I was the primary person responsible for making the machines execute their operations properly and for making any number of minor changes on request.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained experience in programming and debugging PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces), industrial vision systems, and actuators.
Favorite Part of the Experience
Seeing the machines "come to life" in response to my programs.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
I am more confident that I wish to remain in the automation industry.