STUDENTS INTERACT DIRECTLY, VIRTUALLY WITH HYTROL PRODUCTS

JONESBORO, Ark. — Local elementary students got the chance to experience Hytrol products from concept to construction.

Students and teachers from the Nettleton School District’s STEAM and University Heights School of Medical Arts toured the Hytrol Technology Center on Dec. 4.

The group of 27 students took turns being immersed in Hytrol’s innovative augmented reality booth. The device was created through a partnership with the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. It utilizes virtual reality eyewear and controls to give prospective clients a 3D representation of how Hytrol conveyors will work for their space before any installation takes place.

But the tour wasn’t just virtual. Students rolled up their sleeves and grabbed a torque wrench to build an E24™ live roller conveyor from the ground up with help from Hytrol’s training staff. They learned about the construction step-by-step from assembling channels to inserting rollers on the powered conveyor. It’s a hands-on approach Hytrol is proud to share with children and adults alike.

“I was astounded by the inquisitive questions and insights these 4th and 5th graders expressed during the student experience,” said Natalie Shew, Hytrol’s manager of academic partnerships. “As students put their conveyor together, they iterated through different ideas, pushed through challenges, and came up with a final product that worked. It was really neat to see them problem solve, work as a team, and light up when they found a solution.”

The students were also shown the same demonstration areas that are available for clients inside the two-story facility. Stops were made at several conveyors used to transport, accumulate, sort, and palletize a variety of customer packaging.

Hytrol Research and Development Team Leader Bobby Brown and Product Manager Seth Elder discussed how products go from drawing board to manufacturing.

“It was great to have these students here to explain our Stage Gate process and how it is used to create the new conveyor models,” Brown said. “They are a bright group which asked some very good questions about the process and its results.”

Educators were thrilled to see their students learning in such an innovative way.

“Hytrol went all out for our students,” Cheryl Russell, Nettleton gifted and talented teacher, said. “Their team created an atmosphere of excitement and learning. Girls and boys alike had hands-on experience building a small conveyor and seeing it actually work. I was delighted as I watched one of the girls manipulate the bolts and screws on the conveyor. The gentle smile on her face said it all.”

“This incredible Hytrol learning experience showed our students that this Jonesboro, Arkansas business has far-reaching effects on businesses all over the world,” added Kim Priest, Nettleton’s gifted and talented district coordinator. “It was evident that Hytrol is community-oriented by the many employees who were dedicated to making this experience a valuable learning tool for our 4th- and 5th-grade gifted students who are studying inventions and inventors.”

For more information on Hytrol, visit www.hytrol.com.

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About Hytrol:

Hytrol designs and manufactures advanced conveyor systems for its customers. For more than 70 years, Hytrol has focused on creating innovative, customized conveyor solutions that help companies achieve their goals.