What is automation, and why does it matter?

“An automation technician is a technical all-rounder who keeps machines and systems running,” explains Christopher Marthinsen, a teacher at Godalen. With years of experience in the oil industry, Marthinsen has spent the past decade teaching students about automation.

 

“Automation professionals are essential for efficient and reliable production across industries,” he says. They install, repair, maintain, and program everything from factory production lines to warehouse robots. Marthinsen points out how automation ensures that a cola tastes the same no matter where it’s produced. “We need these students to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.”

Sarah and Simen focused on their tasks in the lab, combining practical work with coding.

Smart Solutions with an EV Charger

Sarah Heng Hjørungnes (19) and Simen Andreas Vikre Bruteig (18) have used the EV charger from amina to put automation into practice. In less than a week, they connected the charger to a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), which can control almost anything in a building. They also added an RFID reader to enable user identification via keycards.

 

“This could be used at a hotel or school, where only authorized users can charge vehicles,” Sarah explains. The students designed schematics, programmed, and installed the system. They are now experimenting with features like license plate recognition and nighttime charging to save energy.

It was exciting to set up and automate the system. It gave us real-world experience with relevant challenges.
Simen Andreas Vikre Bruteig (18)

From Classroom to Career

Both Sarah and Simen have ambitious plans for the future. “What I like about this program is that we get to try so many different things. There’s always something new to learn,” says Sarah, emphasizing the strong demand for automation professionals. Simen hopes to secure an apprenticeship in a company offering varied tasks. “Ideally in the offshore industry,” he adds.

The Value of Collaboration

Christopher Marthinsen highlights the importance of partnerships with companies like amina charging.

 

“We rely on goodwill from the industry to provide students with up-to-date tools and tasks. It prepares them for the real world.” amina Charging’s donation bridges the gap between education and industry, reflecting the company’s commitment to supporting learning and innovation.

Teacher Christopher Martinsen enjoys watching his students tackle challenges and shape their future.

The Electric Future

This story from Godalen School shows how collaboration between education and industry can drive learning in technologies shaping the future. Perhaps these students will one day develop the next big innovations in automation and EV charging.

 

The students used an amina S

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