ROCKFORD, IL -- Rockford Systems, LLC, announced a pledge to provide the safety management program at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA, with classroom training in machine safeguarding, course content development, and fully safeguarded metalworking equipment, including a mechanical press and vertical mill, as an in-kind gift over the next five years.

"Rockford Systems is proud to assist Slippery Rock University as it works to develop the next generation of safety professionals," said Matt Brenner, Vice President and General Manager, Machine Safeguarding at Rockford Systems LLC. "We hope that this investment allows students to experience real-world industrial machinery and safeguarding systems in action before they enter the workforce."

Since its inception in 1982, the Safety Management program at Slippery Rock University has graduated over 2200 students, with alums working for companies across multiple disciplines, including insurance, construction, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, automotive, and oil and gas, to name just a few. The current student enrollment in the Safety Management program stands at approximately 410 students.

"We are incredibly thankful for Rockford Systems LLC's support, expertise, and commitment to the success of our students," said Michael Adamczyk, Assistant Professor, Safety Management Department at Slippery Rock University. "This relationship will undoubtedly have a long-lasting positive impact on our students as we help them gain the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in this field."

Donated Safeguarded Machines 
As part of its pledge, Rockford Systems has donated a mechanical press fully safeguarded with an SSC-1500 press control, custom-engineered guards, and a presence-sensing light curtain system that reduces or eliminates exposure to hazards at the press's point of operation. The company also contributed a vertical mill with state-of-the-art interlocked safety shields, motor controls, and enhanced emergency stops.

Along with providing complete installation, Rockford Systems will conduct annual safety compliance validation and Stop-Time Measurement services on the two machines for five years, keeping with OSHA requirements.

Machine Safeguarding Training 
To further support students enrolled in the Safety Management program, Rockford Systems will be conducting safeguarding seminars each semester at Slippery Rock University. The seminar will instruct students on interpreting OSHA, ANSI, and NFPA requirements related to machinery and production requirements. Matt Brenner and Matthew Clutter, Rockford Systems' Director of Training, will teach the seminars.

"In-depth training and hands-on industry experience are key to safety management students being prepared after graduation," noted Matt Brenner. "Today's students will need to address the challenges of reducing the risk of employee injuries and ensuring that the organization they work for complies with fast-changing safety standards so they avoid costly penalties and fines."

In 2020, the Strain Safety Building, home of the Safety Management Program, completed a significant renovation project. The University has named Room 207 in the Strain Safety Building the Rockford Systems Classroom, where machine safeguarding training will be conducted.

For more information, please visit www.rockfordsystems.com.