Amatrol Skill Boss Manufacturing

Amatrol’s Skill Boss Manufacturing is a portable, hands-on training and assessment system designed to meet the rigorous standards of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC). Built for the Certified Production Technician (CPT+) program, this system evaluates over 60 essential skills across safety, quality practices, production processes, and maintenance awareness.

The Skill Boss system replicates real-world manufacturing tasks, including assembly, machine operation, and troubleshooting. Learners gain practical experience with components such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), electro-pneumatic systems, sensors, mechanical drives, and robotic pick-and-place systems. By completing CPT+, individuals prove both their technical knowledge and applied competency, making them job-ready for advanced manufacturing careers.

• Assess and train in Safety, Quality, Production, and Maintenance
• Hands-on demonstrations in electrical, fluid power, mechanical, and electronic systems
• Supports MSSC’s Certified Production Technician Plus (CPT+) certification
• Portable design for classrooms, training centers, and workforce development programs

With its real-world finishing and sorting process, Skill Boss Manufacturing automatically feeds, sorts, and polishes parts, while learners control and monitor operations. The system’s design provides educators and employers with a reliable way to both develop and validate critical advanced manufacturing skills.

Gateway Technical College (GTC) is helping shape the workforce of tomorrow with its Smart Factory lab located at the SC Johnson Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology (iMET) Center in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. As the first publicly funded technical college in the United States, GTC continues to lead by preparing students with the skills needed for Industry 4.0.

This advanced lab simulates a real-world production line where students gain hands-on experience in “lights out” manufacturing, automation, and data analytics. Learners work with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), industrial controllers, and smart sensors to understand how modern factories operate. By integrating connectivity and data analysis, the lab demonstrates how to unlock siloed information and apply it to real-world decision-making.

One of the lab’s most exciting features is its development of a digital twin—a virtual replica of the physical environment that collects and processes real-time data from robotics, machinery, and sensors. This allows students to explore artificial intelligence, advanced automation, and smart technologies that are rapidly transforming the manufacturing industry. By engaging with this innovative environment, students are better prepared to become the highly skilled employees industry partners need today and in the future.

Solid–Fluid Adsorption Principles for Engineering Labs

Hands-On Solid–Fluid Interaction Experiments

Adsorption plays a vital role in chemical engineering and industrial applications, from gas purification and pollution control to water treatment and chemical recovery. Pignat’s adsorption training units enable students to study surface phenomena, adsorption isotherms, and regeneration techniques.

These versatile systems demonstrate the behavior of gases and liquids when interacting with solid surfaces, offering real-world insight into adsorption processes that industries rely on daily.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Understand adsorption isotherms and kinetics
• Examine breakthrough curves and column design
• Study regeneration and reuse of adsorbents
• Apply adsorption theory to environmental and industrial challenges