Purdue expands partnership with Rittal, Eplan with launch of engineering technology lab

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University and Rittal and Eplan, sister companies in industrial, electrical and automation engineering, celebrated the opening of a new learning lab Tuesday (Sept. 15) in Dudley Hall. The Rittal + Eplan Lab expands an international partnership announced in October 2025 to strengthen workforce development and prepare students for careers in advanced smart manufacturing.

Purdue is engaged in a five‑year collaboration as the primary U.S. academic research partner within the Rittal + Eplan Partner Network. The collaboration reflects Rittal and Eplan’s broader commitment to strengthening education with technologies and integrated workflows increasingly used across industry.

Developed through a collaboration between Purdue Polytechnic Institute and Rittal and Eplan, companies within Germany-based Friedhelm Loh Group, the lab brings industry expertise and engineering technology into Purdue’s learning environment while helping create a pipeline of skilled talent.

“The Rittal + Eplan Lab presents a unique environment where Purdue students can develop hands-on experience with tools and processes that are critical to a vast array of tech-focused industries,” said Daniel Castro, dean of Purdue Polytechnic. “Purdue Polytechnic has always focused on practical learning and problem-solving skills as we prepare the next generation of job-ready talent. Integrating Rittal and Eplan into our curriculum gives our students insight into a seamless path from design to production.”

Central to Purdue’s School of Engineering Technology, the new lab will give engineering technology students hands-on experience with the digital engineering, physical infrastructure and automation technologies used throughout industry.

By bringing these capabilities into a connected learning environment, students can experience how digital engineering connects with physical infrastructure and automated manufacturing, from electrical design and documentation through system configuration, assembly and production. This integrated approach mirrors how manufacturers are increasingly connecting engineering and production to improve efficiency, standardization and scalability while providing students with industry-relevant skills applicable across major American industries, including automotive, aerospace and manufacturing.

“Industry is changing rapidly, and the next generation of engineers need more than an understanding of individual technologies. They need to understand how engineering and manufacturing work together,” said Sebastian Seitz, CEO of Eplan. “That is what makes our partnership with Purdue so important. Giving students the opportunity to learn in an environment that reflects the realities of modern industry will help them enter the workforce ready to contribute, innovate and lead. We’re not simply investing in a lab; we’re investing in the engineers who will shape the future of American manufacturing.”

As the primary U.S. academic research partner within the Rittal + Eplan Partner Network, Purdue’s collaboration with the companies expands beyond the new lab. The partnership also includes plans for scholarships, internships, workforce development opportunities, and joint research and development initiatives.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 111,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As a land-grant university committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free.

About Rittal LLC

Founded in 1982, Rittal LLC is the fully owned US subsidiary of Rittal GmbH & Co. KG, and is headquartered in Schaumburg, IL. With a main production facility in Urbana, OH, a dedicated Modification Center in Houston, TX, and logistic hubs in Urbana, OH; Springfield, OH; Houston, TX; Sparks, NV; and Atlanta, GA, Rittal LLC is fully committed to providing the United States with quality enclosure solutions.

Founded in 1961 in Germany, Rittal is a global manufacturer of industrial and IT enclosures, racks, and accessories, including cooling solutions and power management systems for industrial, data center, outdoor, and hybrid applications. As the largest enclosure manufacturer in the world, Rittal provides quality solutions for practically any industrial or IT infrastructure application. Rittal is part of the owner-operated Friedhelm Loh Group along with Eplan.

About Eplan

Eplan is a global leader in software and service solutions for electrical, automation, and mechatronic engineering. Specializing in cutting-edge design software for machine and panel builders, Eplan supports 68,000 customers worldwide via standardized and customized interfaces to ERP and PLM/PDM systems. As part of the Friedhelm Loh Group along with Rittal, Eplan is dedicated to pushing efficiency, integration, and automation in engineering-forward. Learn more at eplanusa.com.