Industry Sponsored Senior Design Projects
Assistive Lift Automation
ALTRIA
The Richmond, Virginia Manufacturing Center (MC) of Philip Morris USA, receives tobacco from
warehousing in various forms to include hogsheads (large wooden casks). Students were focused on
mechanical solutions to reduce the handling of hogshead heads and mats, reducing the impact of these
procedures on technicians, and improving the efficiencies of operations.
Team Members: Troy Adamos, Nicole Orndorff, Alec Williams, Jared Haught,
Tim Wolfangel, Ryan Sybertz
Advisor: Christian James
The Challenge
Design and build a mechanical system to limit
manual handling of hogshead components.
The Goals
Operating time : < 50 seconds
Injury reduction : > 25% (annual)
Wasted tobacco reduction : > 25%
Our sponsors have
been very helpful and
educational during
this entire process.
Ryan Sybertz
Meets FDA regulations
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