Education hub established to aid academe

Schools and universities are places where engineering creativity is nurtured and ideas can be translated into practical designs before being made, but even the most innovative idea cannot flourish without the proper tools and support.

Today, many educational establishments are finding that they increasingly need to operate more like businesses in many aspects.

There are requirements to manage budgets, people and resources and offer 24/7/365 operations, becoming more and more like organisations with high-level R&D departments.

Therefore, they need support with maintenance and access to the latest technologies and solutions, such as mechanical tools and 3D printing laboratories as well as robotics and advanced electronics. RS is working closely with schools and universities to provide wide and constantly updated ranges of the most relevant products and technologies, in conjunction with maintenance products and exceptional support.

The distributor also works very closely with suppliers to deliver the latest education offers, as well as educational versions of products, such as Tektronix digital oscilloscopes.

Educational product versions are usually the same as standard products but with additional features at no additional cost – for example, including multiple software licences and a full pack of features or accessories.

A stand out product for educational establishments is the Tektronix TekSmartLab, a network-based lab instrument management solution, which enables the quick setup and efficient managing of basic electronics in engineering laboratories.

The TekSmartLab means that everyone can benefit from improved connectivity, workflow and automation.

For example, lab managers can set up configurations of multiple instruments with one click, and instructors can efficiently manage teaching workflow.

In addition, students can retrieve and save test results wirelessly via smart devices; edit and submit test reports electronically; and download materials from the lab server.

The RS education hub, available at, focuses upon a wide range of solutions that have an industrial focus including robotics, industrial automation and electronic engineering, as well as mechanical-based applications including 3D printing, process automation and motion control to help aspiring engineers.