Connected Smart Manufacturing System (CSM™) integrates FANUC robotics, CNC machining, Rockwell PLC/HMI control, and APT integration training to teach Industry 4.0 manufacturing, automation, and troubleshooting skills.
Operators need to be prepared for these challenges—and simulation training must be capable of recreating real-world machine behavior in high detail to help them do so. Unfortunately, not all simulators accurately replicate real-world behaviors like:
- Complex cable movements
- Container landing precision
- Customized yard layouts
Training with less-than-accurate simulators can leave operators underprepared—and your operations at risk.
CM Labs pushes the boundaries of simulation technology to solve real-world challenges. From the powerful Vortex Studio platform to cutting-edge research partnerships, we deliver flexible, high-tech solutions for industries that demand precision. In this first episode of CM Labs; Innovation Showcase, discover how they're shaping the future—because when it comes to simulation, the sky is the limit.
Selcat, a program created by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), is dedicated to training apprentices and journeymen across the Southeast.
By integrating CM Labs simulators into their curriculum, Selcat provides a safe, lifelike training experience that builds confidence, enhances safety, and prepares participants for careers as linemen, URD techs, and future industry leaders. This video highlights how Selcat’s innovative approach is shaping the future of workforce development in the electrical industry.
With CM Labs simulators, Selcat has unlocked the ability to train multiple people at the same time—safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively—all while reducing environmental impact.
“No one can get hurt on these machines. And instead of one-on-one training in the field, we can train multiple apprentices simultaneously with one instructor,” said Danial Hadid, the Executive Director at Selcat.
With its simulators, Selcat is preparing the next generation of linemen and technicians with quality training.
With CM Labs’ Walkaround Inspection exercises, trainees can master pre-use inspections for tracked excavator, mini excavator, wheeled excavator, bulldozer, backhoe, wheel loader, motor grader, and articulated dump truck—all while real equipment stays productive and earns money.
Get the most out of each training session:
- Minimize Equipment Downtime: No need to monopolize real equipment for lengthy demonstrations.
- Train for the Unexpected: Randomized machine faults challenge operators to identify common and rare real-world issues.
- Boost Training Efficiency: Objective scoring provides clear benchmarks for skill development.
This hands-on, simulation-based approach helps operators develop safer habits, improve their awareness, and enhance machine longevity.
CM Labs believes training should be more than just practice—it should be measurable, scalable, and effective. That’s why they developed Intellia, an Intelligent Training System designed to deliver authentic machine behavior, real-time progress tracking, and actionable insights.
With Intellia, organizations can go beyond training—they can strategically develop their workforce with insights they can trust.
By leveraging a controlled training environment with CM Labs’ simulators, Selcat can focus on teaching safety and precision in ways that traditional methods can't match.
“It’s a lot easier to teach in a controlled environment without the noise and distractions of the machine. Students can truly understand the concepts before heading out into the field,” shared Jeffrey Norton, Selcat's Substation Assistant Director.
Simulation training not only enhances the learning experience but also prepares apprentices to handle complex equipment with confidence and skill.
Learn how Selcat is prioritizing safety and efficiency in its workforce training.
With the CM Labs Intellia Overhead Crane Training Pack, it’s all about real results—tracked performance metrics, interactive training scenarios, and hands-on skill-building that prepares operator muscle memory and safety awareness before heading onto the real equipment.
From multiple control schemes to real-time data tracking, this isn’t just simulation—it’s the future of industrial training.
Watch the video to see what next-level training looks like in action.
At Selcat, the mission is clear: to train apprentices and journeymen on the latest and greatest tools and techniques. With 900 apprentices at various stages of their training and 100 – 150 graduates per year, Selcat works hard to make sure that the next generation of workers is skilled, confident, and safe.
Simulation is an essential part of that process.
“Thanks to simulation training, we expose them to the operation before heading out into the field. It's not the first time I’m putting them in that seat,” said Danial Haddad, Selcat's Executive Director.
By using CM Labs simulators, Selcat can grade students and deliver training on a mass scale while enhancing safety and optimizing resources. Selcat’s simulators are a game-changer for workforce and industry training.
Not all simulators provide the same training value. It’s essential to ensure that the one you choose truly prepares operators for real-world challenges.
To help you identify what sets a high-quality training simulator apart, we’ve created a blog post that highlights key factors to look for. These include:
- Accurate cable physics to ensure safe and efficient container handling
- Realistic bulk material handling to teach operators precision and control
- Vehicle handling characteristics to help trainees understand load distribution
Picking a simulation training solution that gets these machine behaviors right is critical to making sure you're training operators with skills and muscle memory that will transfer to real operations.
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Item Number:CSM -
The Construction Electrical Hazard awareness simulation is ideal for future employees and supervisors who work in or around active construction sites. The primary goal of this course is to teach workers safe work procedures to follow while working around electrical hazards in a construction environment. -
Item Number:DVI/100, DVI/300Explore the Pignat DVI/100 Continuous Distillation unit – a compact, glass-based educational system for studying thermal separation and column hydrodynamics in chemical engineering programs. -
Item Number:255DAC Worldwide’s Control Valve Cutaway, .75"-1.5" (255) supports realistic classroom training in the operation, construction, and maintenance of a pneumatically-operated control valve used in industrial process systems. The complete internal configuration of the valve’s actuator and body is exposed and showcased through carefully-planned sectioning and color-coding. -
Item Number:255KDAC Worldwide's dissectible (255K) is a realistic, hands-on valve sample that supports realistic classroom training in the disassembly, inspection, and reassembly of a full-size industrial diaphragm-actuated control valve. -
Item Number:273-810DAC Worldwide’s Control Valve Positioner Cutaway (273-810) is a detailed, sectioned, professionally-crafted control valve positioner cutaway that depicts a common control valve positioner. -
Item Number:ABR/3000The regeneration process is observed on the second column, which is continuously fed. An energy‐saving heat exchanger is placed between the two columns to optimize energy usage. With this unit, students are able to study various control loops, determine mass balance, and process efficiency. The unit also includes a LabView monitoring system. -
Item Number:OTP-DCPignat's Controlled Distillation Unit (OTP-DC) is an automated, controlled, continuous distillation pilot plant. This industrial-scale unit allows students to study unit operations, maintenance, and process supervision. -
Item Number:839-PACDAC Worldwide’s Coupling Sample Board (839-PAC) is an introductory hands-on teaching aid designed to supplement courses in coupling selection and maintenance. It includes samples of eight industrial-quality couplings for users to learn to identify. -
Item Number:208-PACDAC Worldwide’s Coupling/Shaft Alignment Plus (208-PAC) is a heavy-duty, precision learning aid that allows for convenient, realistic training in shaft alignment. When paired with a variety of hands-on exercises, the training system creates a complete performance-based course in the maintenance of shaft alignment.
