Regional automation distributor TDS Technology has signed a three-year agreement to supply Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) with a range of technology from German PC control specialist Beckhoff, one of TDS’ main principals. In addition, TDS will be sponsoring two ITE students for overseas industrial attachment at its Thailand office.

The Automation Applications Center (AAC), which will be completed by January 2010, will enable ITE students and staff to become familiar with automation and control concepts using the Beckhoff equipment supplied by TDS, which also plans to organize training, seminars and exhibitions at the Center.

At a letter of agreement (LOA) signing on October 13, Tan Seng Hua, principal, ITE College Central, thanked TDS Technology for its generosity in setting up the AAC and, recognizing that ITE had its training objective and TDS its commercial objective, said he looked forward to a win-win partnership.

For TDS, managing director Vincent Tan said, “As a specialized distributor, we believe in advanced technology and also in giving back to society. We look forward to further and deeper collaboration with ITE in the years ahead.”

Following the signing ceremony, TDS Technology representatives were given a tour of the ITE campus. Over the years, while ITE institutions have had labs sponsored by companies such as Festo and Omron, this is first time a nonprincipal company is sponsoring an ITE lab.