ATAS Sponsors Educational Program At Science Center
"Summer Of Manufacturing" Runs Through October 16, 2011
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The ATAS exhibit features displays that include a model panel rollformer (left) and an experiment to show the benefits of cool metal roofs (below).
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Allentown, PA - ATAS International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of metal roofing, wall and ceiling panels, announces its sponsorship the Summer of Manufacturing at the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, PA. The Summer of Manufacturing highlights the manufacturing heritage of eastern Pennsylvania and the companies that contribute to the technology-driven area.
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Dick Bus
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“The Summer of Manufacturing gives children an opportunity to learn more about what their grandparents, parents, and other family members and neighbors do for a living,” said Dick Bus, president of ATAS. “It teaches them about craftsmanship and skills, the importance of learning and inventing new technologies. This area has a rich heritage because of its manufacturing roots, and I am proud to be part of it.”
ATAS embraced the sponsorship opportunity and got involved in many different ways, including creating a mini-rollformer. This machine teaches the children how metal roofing and wall panels are created, as well as how to compare strengths of panels. Instead of metal, the kids receive a piece of flat paper (a panel) for the hands-on demonstration. They first test the strength of the “panel” by placing metal washers on paper that is resting on a support at either end. As the paper buckles under the weight of just a few washers, it shows that a flat panel isn’t very strong. They then run the paper through the rollformer to create a corrugated “panel,” and next they test this “panel” for strength. From the experiment, the kids learn that a corrugated piece of paper (panel) can hold three to seven times more weight than a non-corrugated one.
The exhibit also includes a display of panels in different manufacturing stages to teach how metal panels are formed. The first panel is flat, the second is a piece of metal formed halfway through a rollformer and the last panel is the finished profile. All the panels have corresponding pictures of the rollformer that created them and descriptions to tie everything together.
ATAS also created an experiment comparing asphalt shingles and metal roofing. ATAS staff built two mini-homes—one with an asphalt roof and one with a metal roof. The homes are equipped with temperature gauges inside and heat lamps outside pointing on the rooftops. The children are asked to guess which roof is cooler, and then they can read the temperature gauges for proof. Time after time, the metal roof proves much cooler than the asphalt.
A final experiment gives kids the opportunity to “emboss” metal. The children use fondant mats, paint rollers and aluminum foil to understand the concept of embossing.
Lastly, ATAS created the “I’m a Maker” series of video profiles. The concept for the video profiles came from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” and his tours of factories. ATAS’ three-minute video introduces children to ATAS, its employees and its facility, and the interviews discuss the equipment, skills and technology needed to create ATAS products. Some ATAS employees even discuss the importance of kids staying in school, as well as the value of continuing education within employees’ careers.
“Some kids may groan at this fact, but we are always learning,” Bus added with a chuckle. “Our employees are required to meet a level of continuing education for technical skills, marketing, customer service, sales or other business-related needs. This is an aspect of what sets ATAS apart from other companies. We want our employees to reach a high level of success in their careers, and we know education plays a vital role in achieving that goal.”
The Summer of Manufacturing continues through October 16, 2011. For more information, visit www.davincisciencecenter.org. The ATAS video can be viewed at: www.davincisciencecenter.org/my-experiences/summer-of-manufacturing/im-a-maker-series/im-a-maker-atas-international.
About ATAS International
Founded in 1963, ATAS International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of metal roofing, wall and ceiling panels, produces systems for commercial and residential buildings. The ATAS product line offers more than 20 profiles available in aluminum, steel, zinc and copper. These profiles include: standing and batten seams; corrugated; curved; tapered; shingles; tiles; shakes; and narrow or wide ribbed panels with hidden or exposed fasteners. Rainware, crown moulding and perimeter edge trim are also available with the same finish to match or accent a roofing or wall system.
ATAS offers energy efficient building envelope technology, such as cool roofing products that are ENERGY STAR® qualified and InSpire, the transpired solar collector, which utilizes precision perforated metal panels to preheat ventilation air via solar energy. ATA-Solar, a building integrated photovoltaic product complements ATAS’ sustainable product offerings. Profiles are coated with a Kynar 500® PVDF or Hylar 5000® PVDF finish in 30 standard colors. ATAS has four manufacturing facilities in the United States: two facilities, including the headquarters, in Allentown, Pa.; one in Maryville, Tenn.; and one in Mesa, Ariz. All ATAS locations are certified to ISO 9001:2008 with design. For more information, go to www.atas.com.