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VirTra Receives $2.3M Follow-On Order for Law Enforcement

VirTra Inc. has received a $2.3 million follow-on order from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) to provide Arizona law enforcement organizations with VirTra’s judgmental use-of-force training and firearms simulators, including virtual firing ranges. In 2016, the Arizona DPS placed an $2.1-million order with VirTra for V-300 simulators, which the company delivered to seven separate law enforcement agencies throughout the state. Under the terms of this follow-on order, VirTra will provide the Arizona DPS with 13 simulators, as well as scenario authoring software, services, maintenance, warranties, and accessories. The Arizona DPS will deploy VirTra’s 300-degree V-300 LE simulator, V-ST PRO marksmanship simulator, or both, to local law enforcement agencies in order to enhance Arizona’s current simulation training programs and expand these programs to additional agencies across the state. VirTra expects to recognize the majority of the revenue from this follow-on order in fiscal year 2020. “When officers are well trained and more confident in their abilities, they are safer and do a better job in the field,” said Lt. Corey Doggett, training commander for Tucson Police Department, who received a simulator through the initial order. “Having our own VirTra V-300 training simulator has helped us improve in these areas [...]

By | 2019-10-23T16:09:46+00:00 October 23rd, 2019|
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Delaware Innovates to Build Strong Talent Pipeline

High school students in Delaware are getting a jump start on careers in growing fields including health care, hospitality, advanced manufacturing and biomedical science. The Delaware Pathways program is part of the national Pathways to Prosperity Network aimed at preparing students for a secondary education and careers in high-demand fields. Delaware Pathways was created to help fulfill the Delaware Promise: By 2025, 65 percent of Delaware's workforce will have a two- or four-year degrees or professional certificates to match the percentage of Delaware jobs that require them. In Delaware, because employers need middle- and high-skill employees, academic degrees and industry certificates are given equal weight. The program is quickly expanding, in part due to a $2 million, three-year grant from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and a $3.25 million, three-year grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. "Pathways is allowing students to explore career paths that heretofore they may have never thought about or considered," said Kurt Foreman, president and CEO of the Delaware Prosperity Partnership, the nonprofit that leads the state's economic development effort. “We know that there is demand for these positions. By giving high school students the training in these fields, Delaware is positioning the students and the state for success. [...]

By | 2019-10-22T21:31:40+00:00 October 22nd, 2019|
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VirTra Launches Driving Simulators for US Law Enforcement

VirTra Inc. will be introducing driving simulators specifically designed for U.S. Law Enforcement at the IACP Conference in Chicago, Illinois. These simulators have been specifically designed to fit the unique needs of U.S. Law Enforcement. The hig- definition environments and decision-making objectives ensure that the focus of training is on the driver’s cognitive learning and decision-making rather than just the operation of a vehicle. The V-DTS combines patented technology with pre-authored or customizable scenarios and Test Facility Tracks designed by internal experts to teach defensive and emergency driving. Instructors can control a trainee’s location, objective, and whether to participate in free drive or work on specific defensive techniques. The graphics utilize technology similar to that in the latest video games, and vibration and an optional motion platform immerses trainees in the experience. The simulated vehicle, as well as all other virtual vehicles, obey the laws of physics so that the weight distribution of vehicles when stopping looks and feels realistic. VirTra has also include real-world hazards such as dust storms, rain, and sun glare. The V-DTS includes multiple screens that help create a 360-degree experience and an on-screen compass which increases trainees’ cognitive skills by helping them learn to monitor [...]

By | 2019-10-18T19:15:39+00:00 October 18th, 2019|
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Aberdeen Drilling School to open four new training centres

  Aberdeen Drilling School (ADS) is inventing more than £1 million to open four new training centres in RelyOn Nutec facilities by the end of the year. The move comes after a fifty percent increase in contract wins in the past six months, said ADS, which is part of the RelyOn Nutec group. The new centres are in Houston, U.S., Cuidad del Carmen in Mexico and Bergen and Stavanger in Norway. The ADS team will operate them independently and deliver the "most advanced simulator-based training currently available on the drilling market." Expanding the services to four new locations will require ADS to hire five new bilingual instructors. It will also double the technical workforce in the coming six months with new instructors, simulator operators and software developers.  The firm currently has a team of 20 based at its Aberdeen facility in Union Glen and 50 staff worldwide. "This is really only the start for us," said Managing director of Aberdeen Drilling School, Jason Grant. "With access to the RelyOn Nutec network of over 30 training centres in 20 countries, we have a great platform for further expansion." Aberdeen Drilling School The training firm’s existing portfolio includes facilities in Aberdeen, Malaysia, [...]

By | 2019-10-16T14:54:14+00:00 October 16th, 2019|
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Varjo Announces Two New Human-Eye Resolution HMDs

Varjo Technologies has doubled its product line offerings with two new state-of-the-art VR headsets – the VR-2 and the VR-2 Pro. These two new products (in addition to the VR-1 and XR-1) are part of Varjo’s ‘Resolution Revolution’, a product line committed to delivering human eye-resolution (over 60 PPD) and fidelity to the professional market. Both the VR-2 and the higher-end VR-2 Pro include support for SteamVR content as well as support for the OpenVR development platform from Valve at ultra-high resolutions (up to 40 PPD/4K rendering per eye) so professional users can quickly and easily access a full range of applications for research, analytics, training and simulation, industrial design, and more. Through Varjo’s visual fidelity, these software tools are now ‘turbo-charged’ for the rigors of the professional market, delivering clarity of 3D models and simulations. The VR-2 Pro also comes with integrated Ultraleap hand tracking technology, which enables more intuitive interactions with high-fidelity VR content. This is especially impactful for simulation professionals who interact with physical controllers and switches as part of their VR training. Building on Varjo’s 20/20 Eye Tracker technology, the new products offer even faster and more accurate calibration performance, giving professionals access to precise eye [...]

By | 2019-10-15T19:26:43+00:00 October 15th, 2019|
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Australian miners Byrnecut partner with Immersive on training technology

Australian underground mining contractor Byrnecut have partnered with Immersive Technologies to fit its technical training centre with new simulators. Immersive has installed two IM360-B simulators to the Perth facility. It also delivered machine modules for a CAT Truck and LHD, Sandvik Truck and LHD and Epiroc (Atlas Copco) Truck. Some 350 new and experienced staff have gone through the centre in the last nine months. "The establishment of this training and induction center very much fits with the Byrnecut philosophy of investing in the industry leading training systems, processes and infrastructure to assist in the personal and professional development of our employees," said Pat Boniwell, Byrnecut Australia Managing Director. "This in turn ensures that we are providing the safest and most productive work places for employees and our clients." Supporting the technology integration is a global best practice training process. It blends eLearning, classroom and simulator training to optimize the learning process for both new hire and experienced equipment operators. "Our approach is carefully considered to provide valuable feedback and targeted training to address the impacts of performance variability on our business," said Dave Kilkenny, Byrnecut Project Manager.  

By | 2019-10-08T19:09:38+00:00 October 8th, 2019|
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CM Labs Hosts Webinar on Reducing Safety Risks

CM Labs Simulations is hosting a webinar on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at 10 a.m. EST to show how simulation-based tools are helping to reduce the safety risks associated with operator training, while at the same time lowering training costs by up to 75 percent. The webinar will be presented by Drew Carruthers, director, Training Solutions, CM Labs Simulations, and the topics include simulation technology, work site safety, and operational productivity. Attendees can learn how to improve training safety and efficiency, use simulation to monitor and measure operator skill sets, estimate the benefits and ROI of simulation-based operational approaches, and how new Smart Training Technology can help develop skills that transfer directly to the work site.  

By | 2019-10-08T13:33:12+00:00 October 8th, 2019|
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Miller Fabrication Solutions Inspires New Generation of Manufacturers

Miller Fabrication Solutions will offer free plant tours to the general public as part of its involvement in the national Manufacturing Day celebration on Friday, October 4. Tours will run every 30 minutes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT at its two Brookville, Pennsylvania locations, Sandy Lick and Maplevale. Guests will be able to watch demonstrations of the fabrication of large metal parts, including robotic and manual welding, machining, painting, and mechanical assembly services. The company’s latest equipment additions, a pair of DMG Mori’s CMX 1100 V machines, will also be on display. The Manufacturing Day activities at Miller will include a job fair for recent and future graduates and skilled workers, as well as an Oculus Virtual Reality (VR) simulation of Miller’s Sandy Lick headquarters. Manufacturing Day is an annual celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. Started in 2012 and sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers, the celebration invites members of the community across the country — including students, educators, business people, media, and politicians — to manufacturing facilities in a collective effort to educate visitors about manufacturing career opportunities and improve public awareness of the profession.    

By | 2019-09-30T17:27:27+00:00 September 30th, 2019|
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Alcoa to use VR training at its Australian alumina refineries

  Aluminium producers Alcoa will use virtual reality to prepare staff for high-risk tasks at its alumina refineries in Western Australia. The company has developed a training module, with a replica of one of Alcoa's refinery sub-stations, to simulate how to safely isolate electrical switches to avoid arc flash incidents. “With safety being our top priority, this training allows our employees to experience high-risk hazards and the steps to mitigate them in a safe environment, so they can take what they have learned back to their workplace," Alcoa’s Pinjarra Refinery Manager, Mark Hodgson said. Alcoa said VR training provided a learning retention rate of 75 per cent. Standard computer-based point-and-click training was 20 per cent, it added. Personnel at Alcoa’s global refining operations will also get to benefit from this training starting from October. Alcoa said it was working on using VR training for high-voltage isolation and other high-risk tasks. Alcoa Australia represent one of the world’s largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting systems.

By | 2019-09-26T12:11:31+00:00 September 26th, 2019|
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CNC Machines Annual Skills-Gap Scholarship Now Open

CNC Machines is accepting applications for a $2500 scholarship for students pursuing a certification, certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree in a manufacturing-related area of study. The company introduced the CNC Machines Manufacturing Scholarship program in 2018 and awarded its first round of scholarships earlier this year. The amount of the award has increased to from $2,000 to $2,500 since then. Over the past several years, the manufacturing sector has been on a growth track leading to creation of more and more jobs. Yet according to a 2018 report from Deloitte, the lack of qualified talent could cause the U.S. to lose as much as $454 billion in GDP by 2028. In fact, that same research shows that in the United States, more than 500,000 manufacturing jobs are currently unfilled. “As American manufacturing continues its resurgence, the focus now needs to turn to aggressively addressing the looming and potentially devastating skills gap. CNC Machines is committed to doing its part and this scholarship, along with other programs we offer, is our way of stepping up to the plate to help the industry grow,” said Curt Doherty, CEO. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must submit a 1000-1300-word essay via CNC [...]

By | 2019-09-27T13:47:28+00:00 September 25th, 2019|
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